When do you winterize?

[Loneranger]

I think it would be interesting to read when other people winterize and recommision their boats (if at all) with info on where they are located.

We are in Knoxville TN and winterize everything sometime in late November (got to make it to the home football games), although I have had December boat rides. We usually are back on the water by April 15th just after taxes are paid.

If you do not winterize what strategies do you use to prevent problems? Is it where you are located? Or do you use heaters, etc?

John

 

[Against The Wind]

Martina closes Oct 15th, :smt021 boat being taken out 1st week Oct shrinked, winterized and blocked by Oct 15,

Shrink off 1st week of April, splash into water on May 12-15th,
"opening Day" is 15th:smt038

 

[Nehalennia]

I'm going to see if I can keep boating over the winter. Yes we have cold snaps(rarely in the teens) but I intended to use one of these winterizing kits so I can get Antifreeze into the raw water pump and that side of the exchanger etc.

Our normal winter temps are in the 40's

 

[Weave]

Depending on weather here in MA but season ends sometime in October.
Up here we do the full deal of draining block, etc.
I choose to fill with anti-freeze as well along with Mercs other recommended yearly/hourly service

 

[sbw1]

We store inside in a heated building and do not winterize anything. Just put it away freshly waxed above the rub rail and everthing clean. Comes out of the water October 15-17 when the weather is still nice. Goes into the water April 15-17, just after the ice goes out western Michigan.

 

[Still LauCo]

We store inside in a heated building and do not winterize anything. Just put it away freshly waxed above the rub rail and everthing clean. Comes out of the water October 15-17 when the weather is still nice. Goes into the water April 15-17, just after the ice goes out western Michigan.

Exact same here in Southeastern MI.
It's 80 and sunny this weekend, one last great weekend on the boat, only one hockey practice getting in the way, so we are going to take advantage of it!

 

[highslice]

Winterize late October. Recommission late March.

 

[Nehalennia]

Exact same here in Southeastern MI.
It's 80 and sunny this weekend, one last great weekend on the boat, only one hockey practice getting in the way, so we are going to take advantage of it!

We're heading out Sunday as well

 

[sbw1]

Exact same here in Southeastern MI.
It's 80 and sunny this weekend, one last great weekend on the boat, only one hockey practice getting in the way, so we are going to take advantage of it!

We spend every Friday night on the hook this time of the year until the week prior to pulling the boat. Love Fall.........

 

[midway]

Don't winterize, change fluids, filters and grease, cover, nice day go boating, if a cold snap comes, pull 5 blue plugs, go back in the house, a few days later it is warm enough, install blue plugs go boating. Tonight 60 low, tomorrow 88 high, 10% chance of rain. Boating

 

[Four Suns]

If you do not winterize what strategies do you use to prevent problems? Is it where you are located? Or do you use heaters, etc?

I'll actually try and answer the question.

You have to ask yourself how long will your boat be inactive as well as worry about the cold weather problem. Things like impellers, engines, etc. don't like sitting and so there are manufacturers recommendations on many of those things if your boat is sitting for months on end...

As far as cold weather, I used to use a couple of Xtreme engine room heaters to heat that area. I've installed Wolverine engine heaters this year so the Xtreme heaters are gone... I use my boat up through the end of January (fishing) and what people do here with the sport fish boats is put an oil-filled heater low in the cabin. I keep the doors open on the heads as well. Some people will jump up and down and scream "YOU SHOULD NEVER HAVE A HEATER IN YOUR BOAT!!!" Check with your marina and insurance company and see what they say first. I asked my marina and they are the ones who said to put the oil filled heater in the cabin.

Other things to do is close the sea cocks off. A hard freeze in the in the engine room could sink your boat by breaking a hose... I've never had that issue as the water temp is alway above freezing here. The coldest I've seen it is 38 degrees.

Even if you heat the cabin, you probably should blow out the water (or pump pink stuff) in the outside water outlets. I have a rear shower spout, a hose bib in the fish box and one up by the anchor locker and those need to be blown out with air every year.

That's what I do... our climate might be a little warmer than yours though as we are pretty much on the ocean here.

If you are looking just to delay winterization until December and your water stays above 40 degrees, just run the heater in the cabin for the nights it gets cold... and put an engine room heater in.

 

[Loneranger]

I have a Boat Safe heater in the engine compartment of the Cobalt to extend its season although I installed it last year and did not use it. I just winterized the engine as usual.

I also have a pontoon boat that is located closer to my house which is outboard, easier to winterize, and we use it now if we want to take a winter cruise. It is located on Cherokee Lake instead of Loudon where the Sea Ray and Cobalt are located.

This will be the first year I have had to winterize a boat with a fresh water system, toilet, AC, etc.

John

 

[280 SeaRay]

There is no need to winterize in our area. We boat all year long. To answer your question our location is key to avoiding winterization. The boat will be in the water at the marina all winter. We traditionally log 30-40% of our boating hours during the winter. Our "winter" avg temps are just a few degrees cooler than what Todd will see tomorrow. It is supposed to be 97 tomorrow around here.

 

[Nehalennia]

.... It is supposed to be 97 tomorrow around here.

you better be going out tomorrow.......

 

[KRB64]

Don't winterize, change fluids, filters and grease, cover, nice day go boating, if a cold snap comes, pull 5 blue plugs, go back in the house, a few days later it is warm enough, install blue plugs go boating. Tonight 60 low, tomorrow 88 high, 10% chance of rain. Boating

5 blue plugs???

 

[MAKC]

I winterize late november (after turkey day the past 2 years) and recommission the first week of April. I try to be the last one out and the first one in. Boating season is too short as it is.

 

[Weave]

5 blue plugs???

Merc used blue plastic wing nut style plugs on some of their engines. Not quite sure of the year range.
Instead of the brass petcocks they replaced them with these blue plugs

 

[mwph]

Really hope this thread continues as I desperately need input.

As I try to gather information from locals I hear both extremes. Some say full blown winterization. Some drain the fresh water system only as the lake water never freezes. A guy at my marina told me today that he stays in the water year round, a bilge heater is only for piece of mind.

My first winter so any input from you guys would be great.

 

[Zeppi]

We just left our 185 at the dealer yesterday. they are going to do some warrenty work, gel coat touch up,winterize (to include an oil change) and shrink wrap.

We hope to have it back in a couple of weeks so we can put it in storage.

The water and air temps start to drop in a week or two so we'll have to look at this summers pictures and plan next years trips.

 

[midway]

5 blue plugs???

As Weave said Merc put Blue plastic wing nut plugs in place of the brass drains, that is what is in my 2004 engine, I have read about a single point drain after that. If I can find a picture or parts breakdown of that I my just put it on my engine. I would really like to get rid of the plugs.