To winterize, or not to winterize????

[saltfisher]

Im trying to figure out what would be best for me... I have a 1988 black max 150 just got it 3 weeks ago. Previous owner always fogged the engine/winterized in the fall. Mainly because he only used the boat/motor one time per year in canada in summer. Ok... I use my boat pretty much year round. I will be using it in october for dove/geese on a local lake, november/decemer for deer hunting, and jan-feb for goose. Maybe once per week at least. Only time i will not use the boat/motor is when the lake is frozen, which could be for a few weeks maybe even a full month between jan-march. Now is it bad that my motor will sit in below freezing temps unwinterized? I dont want to have to winterize my motor after every time out, but if i really have to i will to save it. I live in PA and november-march can be pretty cold and get alot of snow. What should i do? maybe just winterize the boat when I see there is ice forming on the lake and I wont be using the boat untill the ice melts?

Thanks

 

[Scaaty]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

Go to the FAQ Forum....its all been posted there, so we don't repeat the same thing every year...(anyway, do nothing but leave verticle out of water, make sure fresh Stabiled gas and new LU oil...water/milky freezes, splits the case wide open)

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

as Scaaty said motor store in running postion, change lower oil before first freeze, use stabilizer in fuel, store battery inside, and charge asap after use. make sure all water is drained from boat, including live wells. keep the boat covered. the purpose of winterizing is for the long sleep.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

Fairlure to treat the fuel, fog the engine, change lower unit lub might be one of the mistakes you will come to regret. Especially if you live up in the tundra like me. Water in the lower unit freezes. Freezing water breaks lower unit housings. Those don't come cheap. Untreated fuel gums up fuel systems and carbs. Rebuilds, when done by you are not especially expensive, but are really unnecessary when Stabil or SeaFoam are such inexpensive preventatives. Fogging the motor is also a very inexpensive bit of protection for the engine internals.

 

[saltfisher]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

Think maybe spraying some seafoam deep creep in the carbs everytime I take it out of the water would be a good idea? It says on the can it can be used for fogging.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

Make sure there is not water remaining the motor/lower unit. My winter project is based on a motor with a lower unit split open by the previous owner not getting the water out of the motor and letting it freeze. Yikes....expensive mistake for him to make.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

Im trying to figure out what would be best for me... I have a 1988 black max 150 just got it 3 weeks ago. Previous owner always fogged the engine/winterized in the fall. Mainly because he only used the boat/motor one time per year in canada in summer. Ok... I use my boat pretty much year round. I will be using it in october for dove/geese on a local lake, november/decemer for deer hunting, and jan-feb for goose. Maybe once per week at least. Only time i will not use the boat/motor is when the lake is frozen, which could be for a few weeks maybe even a full month between jan-march. Now is it bad that my motor will sit in below freezing temps unwinterized? I dont want to have to winterize my motor after every time out, but if i really have to i will to save it. I live in PA and november-march can be pretty cold and get alot of snow. What should i do? maybe just winterize the boat when I see there is ice forming on the lake and I wont be using the boat untill the ice melts?
Thanks

If you're truely using it every month year around, if it were me, the only thing I'd worry about is water in the lower unit. Keep it in the upright (drained) position and make sure there's no water in the lower unit oil - if any doubt, change it.

But for the fuel and fogging - the way you're using your boat is no different than the typical boat owner that uses his boat regularly, but might go a month between outings sometimes. Do you think those guys do anything special? No.

It wouldn't hurt to put fuel stabilizer in your gasoline, but again, for monthly use - assuming you burn your fuel within a few months of buying it - it's not needed.

I certainly wouldn't go to the mess and hassle (minor tho they may be) of fogging or anything else.

 

[saltfisher]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

I dont like gas sitting in the tank, so when i go out i figure i may use 10 gallons of fuel, so i will put 15 in. Then i may have a few gallons left. I never fill the tank (30 gallons) just for that reason. I dont have a water seperator yet, so thats another reason. The gas doesnt sit in the tank longer then a week, of whats left when im done the week before. If i wouldnt plan on using it i would run it out, or suck the rest out of the tank and put it into my car.

So i guess this is what my plans are for this winter. Since the boat will be used all winter long unless there is ice on the lakes, and its starting to hit 50's at night time, so within the next few weeks im going to...

Drain and refill lower unit oil (check for water)
Start adding stabilizer to the gas
Lube everything up

Then When it starts hitting colder temps i will lower the motor in a upright/running position.

If its going to be really cold, and ice starts forming on the lake and I know i wont get out for a few weeks, maybe longer... Then I will fog the engine.

Hows that sound?

 

[Scaaty]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

I dont like gas sitting in the tank, so when i go out i figure i may use 10 gallons of fuel, so i will put 15 in. Then i may have a few gallons left. I never fill the tank (30 gallons) just for that reason. I dont have a water seperator yet, so thats another reason. The gas doesnt sit in the tank longer then a week, of whats left when im done the week before. If i wouldnt plan on using it i would run it out, or suck the rest out of the tank and put it into my car.

So i guess this is what my plans are for this winter. Since the boat will be used all winter long unless there is ice on the lakes, and its starting to hit 50's at night time, so within the next few weeks im going to...

Drain and refill lower unit oil (check for water)
Start adding stabilizer to the gas
Lube everything up

Then When it starts hitting colder temps i will lower the motor in a upright/running position.

If its going to be really cold, and ice starts forming on the lake and I know i wont get out for a few weeks, maybe longer... Then I will fog the engine.

Hows that sound?

Good'nuff to me

 

[saltfisher]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

My dad wanted me to ask the same question, but he has a 2007 25hp 4stroke mercury. He will use his boat/motor the same as me, if not more.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

OK -- I re-read your first post and Canada stuck in my head. Up there it needs to be winterized -- in PA, and using it regularly, fuel treatment with SeaFoam but not Stabil is a good idea. There is a difference in the two products. SeaFoam cleans, decarbons, and stabilizes fuel. Stabil -- well, stabilizes it. Store the engine upright to promote drainage.

 

[jtexas]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

do you tilt the motor for trailering? if so make sure you give it enough time in the down position for the powerhead to drain before driving home!

 

[saltfisher]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

Yes the motor needs to be tilted when trailering.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

Yes the motor needs to be tilted when trailering.

What we mean here is tilt it down after parking so the water drains out. I'm with Silvertip on the Seafoam..., and I think running extra oil (like 35/40 to 10), will help coat the cylinders on short lay-ups...just a thought..

 

[Scaaty]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

This could confuse ya maybe...that means like in the normal running position...

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: To winterize, or not to winterize????

What we mean here is tilt it down after parking so the water drains out. I'm with Silvertip on the Seafoam..., and I think running extra oil (like 35/40 to 10), will help coat the cylinders on short lay-ups...just a thought..

What is also meant is that - if it's freezing cold - after you pull the boat out of the water, immediately tip the engine down (to vertical, aka running position) so that all the water can drain out while the engine is warm. Then, after you've given it a few minutes to drain, you can tilt it back up for the drive home. You should be able to tell when it's done draining.

If you drive all the way home tilted up without allowing it to drain, the water will already be frozen inside it by the time you get home.

As for the fuel mix - in my experience 40:1 never hurt anything. On the other hand, I opened up my old mercury recently. It hadn't been run in several weeks, and gets fed normal 50:1 fuel. That cylinder, piston, rings, etc. are very oily. Makes me think that normal 50:1 leaves plenty of residual oil. Plus, OP is only talking a few weeks between outings. That (to me) really doesn't require any special care except make sure the water drains. JMHO of course!