Winterizing in Texas

ekinnee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
62
Winenut inspired me to ask...

Given that there are only a couple of freezing days in the Dallas/Fort Worth area every year, when do you winterize if at all? When do you wrap up regular boating period or what would you consider the end of the season? I figure we're good into at least October with maybe a few days off here and there.
 

Pierutrus

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
721
Re: Winterizing in Texas

Same answer as I gave winenut.
A couple of days staying at or below 32 will cause problems.
If you have an I/O, you wouldn't want a cracked block.:eek:
 

ekinnee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
62
Re: Winterizing in Texas

Same answer as I gave winenut.
A couple of days staying at or below 32 will cause problems.
If you have an I/O, you wouldn't want a cracked block.:eek:

Sure, I understand that part. We don't get too many consecutive days of freezing weather around here. That's why I also asked about when the folks in this area might winterize or what they considered the end of the boating season.
 

tommays

Admiral
Joined
Jul 4, 2004
Messages
6,768
Re: Winterizing in Texas

I have spent enough time in DALLAS sliding around in the snow to know it can get COLD enough LONG enough ;)
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Nov 11, 2005
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51,019
Re: Winterizing in Texas

what do you have, make this a fair question to answer.
 

shorts&chanclas

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 27, 2008
Messages
125
Re: Winterizing in Texas

My opinion would be based upon open or closed/protected storage during winter and keep in mind i am 4 hours further south than you. Almost any closed structure will eliminate a potential for freeze here.

I dont do the full winterizing due to my boat being in an enclosed and protected barn during off season and having the ability to pull it out and give her a few minutes of run time every couple of weekends or even an afternoon cruise.
 

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Winterizing in Texas

To answer a winterizing question one must look at what "winterizing" actually consists of. For outboards, it is nothing more than draining and refilling the lower unit, stabilizing the fuel, running the engine long enough to suck up the mixture and get it into the fuel system and if storage is longer than 90 days, perhaps fogging the engine. Put a smart charger on the battery and put it to bed. For I/Os the process is the same but the engine and manifolds must be drained. Since lower unit service should be done each year, why not do it just before you hit the cold season where you live. The reason for changing lower unit lub is to see if there is any water in it and to get it repaired if necessary. It's the water that freezes and breaks lower units, not the lub. If that's done the unit can sit outside at below freezing temps with no problems as long as no water is present. Outboards are self draining so you can simply put it to bed and pull it out on nice warm days if desired. Be sure to check for water again before retiring it again. For I/O's if you have just a few days of cold weather, put a small light bulb in the engine bay to keep the temp above 32 degrees and there will be no need to drain anything. When I had an I/O we used to boat many nice pre-winter days but nights could get very cold. I installed a block heater just like the one for a car. They fit in one of the core plug holes. Plug it in if temps are expected to be below zero. As for when the season ends, that depends on you. Up here in the tundra we have boated into November some years. Some years it ends in late September early October. The season ends when YOU say it ends. You need to determine if your end of the season corresponds with the onset of cold weather and you need to take appropriate measures at that time.
 

ekinnee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
62
Re: Winterizing in Texas

what do you have, make this a fair question to answer.

It's an I/O and once ready to be winterized I'd have the dealer do it as it's a new boat. Just not sure when to do so around here or when most folks think it's time to lay up until spring.
 

cdnfthree2

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
402
Re: Winterizing in Texas

I have lived in Fort Worth since '05and have had at least one outboard boat (sometimes 2)since 2003. I only stabilize my fuel, and pull/ charge the battery mid December. February has always seemed the month when it gets coldest (I work semi-outside alot so I know). Magically, as you know in North Texas, March is instantly warm enough to dewinterize and get back on the water. When I lived in Rockport Texas (03-05) I never had to winterize because I used the boat at least 3 times a week regardless. Shorts in December down there.
 

ekinnee

Seaman
Joined
Jul 24, 2008
Messages
62
Re: Winterizing in Texas

I have lived in Fort Worth since '05and have had at least one outboard boat (sometimes 2)since 2003. I only stabilize my fuel, and pull/ charge the battery mid December. February has always seemed the month when it gets coldest (I work semi-outside alot so I know). Magically, as you know in North Texas, March is instantly warm enough to dewinterize and get back on the water. When I lived in Rockport Texas (03-05) I never had to winterize because I used the boat at least 3 times a week regardless. Shorts in December down there.

that's pretty much the time frame I was thinking. Most of the freezes don't really come until February. I'd just like to spend as much time on the water a possible!
 

tmcalavy

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 29, 2001
Messages
4,005
Re: Winterizing in Texas

I button up my boating season on Halloween, because hunting takes precedence for the next two months. Too cold to go out in Jan.-Feb. and most of March. I start boating again around Easter. Now I am at 3,500 feet altitude out here in Lubbock and it does get consistently cold enough to damage marine equipment. When I was a kid growing up in Big D, a friend and his Dad would go out and do the high-dollar bass fishing thing in their rig even in Jan. and Feb...with ice literally forming on the bow. Crazy.
 
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