Winterizing for Canadian winter

[Dam2009]

I recently brought my boat to the marina for the "first 20 hours" maintenance service. Had my oil/filter changed and shaft lubricated.

I haven't taken the boat on the water since, so my question is: should I go back and have it "winterized" regardless or would the 20 hour maintenance service suffice. Boat will be kept inside garage, but keep in mind.. it's Canada.

Thanks all.

 

[Volphin]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

I recently brought my boat to the marina for the "first 20 hours" maintenance service. Had my oil/filter changed and shaft lubricated.

I haven't taken the boat on the water since, so my question is: should I go back and have it "winterized" regardless or would the 20 hour maintenance service suffice. Boat will be kept inside garage, but keep in mind.. it's Canada.

Thanks all.

Yes, you should have it winterized. They will drain all the water from the manifolds and engine block. If you lose power, air does not freeze and crack engines. They probably already changed the engine oil and the oil in the out drive. So all you will have to do in the Spring is hook up the hoses and hit the water!

 

[Volphin]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

I think I'm long overdue for my annual shaft lubrication as well.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

20 hour maint. and winterizing are two completely different items. You need to protect your engine from the freezing, if you don't winterize you could crack the block on your engine. You didn't say if you have a I/O or and outboard, or if the garage was heated. I'm assuming, I/O and no heat.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

^^X2. If it's an I/O then lots more to do to winterize it, but if it's an outboard with only 20 hours on it then it's probably ok.

 

[moosehead]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

Despite the humorous analogies, I suspect getting ones shaft lubricated means a prop shaft on an I/O.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

You wont need to re-change the oil, but you do need to winterize the block and manifolds.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

What boat? What Engine/Drive?
There may be more to winterize than just the engine!

 

[jkust]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

Regardless of what you consider 'winterizing' to be...at a minimum you need to drain the block and anything else of water and ensure the lower unit fluid is drained and refilled for fear it has water in it which in your case I doubt. Everything else is secondary and at worse a minor annoyance to correct in the spring as the worst case scenario. We get -45 F and colder here in MN which I realize is like a fall day in parts of Canada.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

Regardless of what you consider 'winterizing' to be...at a minimum you need to drain the block and anything else of water and ensure the lower unit fluid is drained and refilled for fear it has water in it which in your case I doubt. Everything else is secondary and at worse a minor annoyance to correct in the spring as the worst case scenario. We get -45 F and colder here in MN which I realize is like a fall day in parts of Canada.

Ayuh,.... I completely agree with ya,....

As for temps, once it hits 'bout 28?, it don't matter how much colder it gets,...

 

[ricohman]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

Why take it back?
Drain your motor as per the manual and remove the battery. Maybe spray some anti-corrosion on linkage for the 10 long months it will be sitting. I can drain my 4.3 in about 5 minutes so I think it would take you longer than that to even hook the boat to the truck.
I don't think it gets colder anywhere in Canada than where I live (Saskatchewan) so no adding any antifreeze.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

Ayuh,.... I completely agree with ya,....

As for temps, once it hits 'bout 28?, it don't matter how much colder it gets,...

I recall the 28 days when I lived in Pa/Oh but -45 the OP mentioned is beyond comprehension. Best thing I did was MOVE south. No Mo sno

 

[rallyart]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

Hockey

I really don't need to say more. Except, just make sure the water is out of the system and any heaters or shower you may have.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

They have a different kind of cold up there in the Great White North, they have that Freezin' Arse cold!

That's where you have to keep your beer, sodas, and bait in the cab of the truck when you go ice fishin' to keep them from freezing up in less than 5 minutes on the outside. Bait fish will freeze so hard you can't even drive a razor sharp hook through it!

I'd learn how to do my own winterizing up there and start when the temps started dipping down into the low 40's (that'd be aboot +5* in Canuck speak), then if I wanted to go out again just fill it back up with water and drain it back out when I got home........... better yet, just use outboard motor power and don't worry aboot it.


2/4 and back bacon eh!?

 

[pckeen]

Re: Winterizing for Canadian winter

I recall the 28 days when I lived in Pa/Oh but -45 the OP mentioned is beyond comprehension. Best thing I did was MOVE south. No Mo sno

Wuss. :laugh: