"Unwinterizing" a Boat?

320Bob

Active Member
Nov 2, 2009
1,314
AZ
Boat Info
2012 Chaparral 267 SSX Sold
Engines
Boatless
I just got a Spring launch request from my dealer and one of the options was "Summerizing" the boat which I declined. My understanding that this is simply running the engines and generator to suck in water that pushes the antifreeze out of the water system. For the water tank running all the faucets until all the pink stops coming out and then refilling with water and perhaps flush the system again. For the holding tank the first pump out will take care of it. Did I miss anything?:huh:
 
Many people that winterize remove the blue plugs and hoses from water pumps to relieve the water from their connected passages. Do you know if that was done, where they all are and how to reconnect them?
 
I am also on the first Summerize too! For me I winterized the water and AC. I by passed my hot water heater just to save filling it up with antifreeze. Check that and be sure if it is bypassed to unbypass it. I am going to empty the antifreeze out of the system, unbypass the heater, fill and flush the system. You do not want to turn on the hotwater heater until you are sure its filled with water, doing so will ruin the heater, did that last season...

Make sure the seacocks are open and turn over the engines and let them come up to temp. Make sure they are the dumping water volume from the through hulls at idle is consistant not constricted.
 
Depends on how you put your boat away. We go into storage with all systems completely serviced. Since we are stored in a heated building, all we do is move the boat outside, drop it in the water and turn the keys. I sanitize the potable water system and ice maker and we are good to go for the season.
 
Many people that winterize remove the blue plugs and hoses from water pumps to relieve the water from their connected passages. Do you know if that was done, where they all are and how to reconnect them?

Since this is the initial delvery from my dealer who both stored and winterized the boat, I am pretty sure that all hoses will be connected and the drain plug(s) installed. But I will ask just to be on the safe side before delivery.

Alegria,
Thanks for the tip on the water heater. I will definitely make sure all the antifreeze is flushed from the hot water lines before turning power on to the heater.

I simply don't want to pay my dealer for something that I can easily do myself. I flushed and sanitized the the water system on my old boat so I know how to do this.
 
Bob,

Did you take delivery on this boat from MM? I somehow got the impression you bought it from them and have not taken full delivery yet. If so, they should not be charging you for commissioning and putting her in the water. They should have everything ready for you to take delivery in the spring with a complete orientation of the boat and all its options.

Good luck with her!
 
Bill,
I bought it from Chicago Sea Ray (part of Skipper Buds) in Round Lake, IL and expect it to be fully commissoned with delivery captain service to show me and my wife how to operate and drive the boat.

I asked them not to "summerize" the boat for two reasons. One, I don't want to pay for something simple I can do myself. Second, I am planning to take delivery on March 26th. Since there is still a chance of below freezing temperatures at that time, I want to keep the water and holding systems winterized. My engines are FWC but I plan to get a bilge heater that keeps the temperature in the engine compartment above freezing and is ignition proof to protect the water circulation systems from freezing. I will be connected to shore power so the cabin will be heated.
 
+1 to what Bill mentioned this should all be done for delivery..

Don't take it for granted that all the hoses will be connected... Our water heater was missed at delivery and I missed it too, as both the hot and cold faucets worked just fine and being in a new boat it did not jump out at me. UNTIL I turned on the hot water heater left it on and got no hot water. Even the delivery captain missed it when we went over the boat, we even turned on the water heater together, and missed it even then... It jumped out to me immediately when I went to troubleshoot it and saw the red and blue hoses connected together...GRRRR...

MM took care of me on that one, but I should have caught it prior to the failure..
 
320... Bob It would be commission the boat for summer and decommission the boat for winter. Summerizing....no
 
320... Bob It would be commission the boat for summer and decommission the boat for winter. Summerizing....no

Perhaps that's what you high falootin' Long Islanders call it but here in the Heartland we use more pedestrian terms! "Summerizing" is the term Chicago Sea Ray used in their contract. For me it's put C3H8O2 in for the winter take the C3H8O2 out for the Spring. Oh that's right it's probably "pink" in Long Island!:smt043

BTW I have always associated commissioning with putting a warship into active military service but then what do I know.:huh:
 
320 Bob,

I too bought my 320 from Chciago Sea Ray in 9/2008. I winterized it with them that year and it included them summerizing it. Last year I did not have them winterize it and had the marina I have a slip with on the Chain store it and winterize it. So this spring I will summerize it myself. I will have them detail it though as I am getting lazy in my old age. Since Chicago Sea Ray is not on the water on the Chain it is a hassle to have them pick up and deliver the boat to where you want. That is why I stayed with my marina last fall. Chicago Sea Ray does good work though, they just charge a fortune for it and their parts. It is like every part you buy is made out of gold. I bought a replacement light bulb for the cabin and it was $20.00??
 
320 Bob,

I too bought my 320 from Chciago Sea Ray in 9/2008. I winterized it with them that year and it included them summerizing it. Last year I did not have them winterize it and had the marina I have a slip with on the Chain store it and winterize it. So this spring I will summerize it myself. I will have them detail it though as I am getting lazy in my old age. Since Chicago Sea Ray is not on the water on the Chain it is a hassle to have them pick up and deliver the boat to where you want. That is why I stayed with my marina last fall. Chicago Sea Ray does good work though, they just charge a fortune for it and their parts. It is like every part you buy is made out of gold. I bought a replacement light bulb for the cabin and it was $20.00??

I will be having my boat serviced and stored this season at my new marina because CSR is 80 miles away and it would cost $500 each way to haul my boat there and back. However their heated winter storage rate was about $1,300 less than what my new marina charges so I can't complain about their labor costs. Their rates are not much if any different from Springbrook Marina where I had my last boat.

General question for the forum. The CSR Service Advisor said the Chain of Lakes has started to restrict flushing antifreeze into the water up there. I thought the primary reason they use propylene glycol (pink) to winterize boats was its low toxicity so that it could be safely flushed out into the water. Is flushing prohibited elsewhere in the country or just there?
 
Thats interesting because I know here, at least what I am told, the state DEP has issue with dumping on land but the feds say its ok to dump in the water. Go figure?!
 
Thats interesting because I know here, at least what I am told, the state DEP has issue with dumping on land but the feds say its ok to dump in the water. Go figure?!

Since the river is a commercial navigable waterway I am assuming the Feds (Corp of Engineers) governs so maybe I can kill or mame an Asian Carp this Spring with some pink.:grin:
 
And "unwinterize" ?? Really???

Yes,
Summerize is the term used by my dealer, however I came up with "unwinterize" simply to draw more attention to the thread. I wouldn't be surprised if Long Islanders refer to carbonated drinks as "soda" while we Chicagoans call it "pop." Same thing just different terms.:thumbsup:
 
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320 Bob,

I have been on the Chain for the last 7 years and I have always put my boat in the water and turned it on to flush out the system? This is news to me and most people on the Chain?
 
320 Bob,

I have been on the Chain for the last 7 years and I have always put my boat in the water and turned it on to flush out the system? This is news to me and most people on the Chain?

I suggest you contact Patty at Chicago Sea Ray who mentioned this to me on Monday and see what's behind it.
 

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