When will you winterize?

Winterization= Goin South. Cant stand to see her in ice,snow,shrink wrap, etc... Leaving for Hilton Head S.C. mid November. Will visit and run her every 4 wks. Bring her home in April. Now thats what I call winterization :cool:
 
Dave,
I am jealous. I like your plan...but i have gotten spoiled in fresh water, so we will winterize 11-12 November and wrap her 13 november...and spring haul mid march and start burning some serious diesel at the end of march 2007!
Skip
 
Dancin Dave said:
Winterization= Goin South. .... Leaving for Hilton Head S.C. mid November. Will visit and run her every 4 wks. Bring her home in April. Now thats what I call winterization :cool:
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Dave:

:thumbsup: I agree.....As soon as I get my own "oil burner" in my northern slip, I will consider the same .....do you have a place down there or do you rent a slip at a marina every season....I would love to hear the details.....
 
Hi Skip and Dom, I've located a slip for the winter for rent in a marina. I wish I owned something there, the island is beautiful.

Dave
 
This will be the first year I've kept my boat in the water during the winter months. I'm planning a staged approach. In November I'll add about 5 gals of pink antifreeze to my fresh water tank so I can continue to use the head into January. Once the river reaches low 40's in December, I'll drain the AC, as the heat pump won't do us much good then anyway. If the weather drops into the 20's, I'll drain the fresh water system and stop using the head. I'm planning to continue using the genset and boat engine (closed cooling), so I'll probably also invest in a bilge heater for added peace of mind. Hopefully, this minor maintenance + an electric cabin heater will get me safely into March, when the weather starts to warm up again here in the Northwest.
 
Did mine last weekend. Our group usually winterizes the last weekend in Oct although we could wait until near Dec and be safe but I hate to do it when it is bitter cold.
 
I'm dropping mine off at the marina for winterization tommorrow.
Hope to have it detailed and buttoned up next weekend. Sad times....
 
thunderbird1 said:
This will be the first year I've kept my boat in the water during the winter months. I'm planning a staged approach. In November I'll add about 5 gals of pink antifreeze to my fresh water tank so I can continue to use the head into January. Once the river reaches low 40's in December, I'll drain the AC, as the heat pump won't do us much good then anyway. If the weather drops into the 20's, I'll drain the fresh water system and stop using the head. I'm planning to continue using the genset and boat engine (closed cooling), so I'll probably also invest in a bilge heater for added peace of mind. Hopefully, this minor maintenance + an electric cabin heater will get me safely into March, when the weather starts to warm up again here in the Northwest.
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I do this every year, just wait and look in what kind of stage the winter is.
Works great for me.

Peter
 

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widowmaker said:
I'm dropping mine off at the marina for winterization tommorrow.
Hope to have it detailed and buttoned up next weekend. Sad times....
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Same schedule here
Dropped mine off today too...sighhhhh

Besides the winterizing going to have some cosmetic work done to clean up a few deep scratches from.... welll.... I am a first time boater ok!? :smt009
 
mrsrobinson said:
We will fill the fresh water tank up with the pink stuff in late December. I will re-install the Boat Safe Bilge heater about the same time. Other than that, we do not winterize as we use her year round, Richmond, VA.
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One thing to think about is the insurance policy. We live in a much colder climate than Virginia. Our boat must be out of the water and stored by November 15 in order for our policy to pay a valid claim. I'm sure the dates vary by market, but we should all know when our coverages begin and end.
 
I was scheduled to be winterized next week, but the dealer called while I was at lunch and said they winterized this morning... :smt089 :smt089 . I wanted one more cruise this weekend.

I had Sta-bil to put in the gas this weekend. Should I go ahead and put it in the tanks now, even though I cannot run the engines???
 
Bottom Line said:
I had Sta-bil to put in the gas this weekend. Should I go ahead and put it in the tanks now, even though I cannot run the engines???
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I would still add the stabil to the fuel tank....Generally, If you plan to winter with full tanks, you would add the stabilizer to the fuel tanks just before fueling in order to get a good mix. Then, let the engines and genie run a bit so that what ever fuel is in the lines, filters and carbs (genie is probably carbed) is also stabilized....especially the carbs so that "Gumming" is avoided....

I would also let the dealer know just in case you have an issue next spring....

By the way, did you have the Fuel tanks full...??????
 
We brought Full Circle II to the boatyard where she'll sleep this winter earlier today. It was a bit chilly on the Patuxent River, but we only had to run across to Solomons and up the harbor a bit.

Still very sad. :smt089

-CJ
 
Dominic...I added fuel last weekend...to about 3/4 full as recommended by MM. I failed to plan ahead and pickup the Sta-bil before I left town and headed to the lake last weekend (the last store on the way was out of stock). So I picked some up this week and planned to add this weekend, and cruise for a little bit to mix the fuel and Sta-bil. Anyway, I think I will at least add to the tanks...it can't hurt.

Also, as a side note, I have been reading your boat shopping details...I know of a 1997 450DA for sale by owner with about 450 hours - priced around 215K. Boat is on a freshwater lake in Missouri (along way from you) ...but if interested let me know and I will sent you details.
 
We were going out today until we got up. About 50 today with 10 to 15 mph winds today much too cold for me. I will leave that weather to Todd. I took her in to our favorite Sea Ray dealer for some TLC today.

In a couple of days we will pick her up and take her to her home for a long cold winter. In the mean time plans for next summer are under way...

Have a great day

Paul
 
SearayPaul said:
We were going out today until we got up. About 50 today with 10 to 15 mph winds today much too cold for me.
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Sounds like a heat wave.....33 degrees as I type....calm winds....
 
Bottom Line said:
Anyway, I think I will at least add to the tanks...it can't hurt.
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Actually it will help....it will stabilize the fuel that is in the tank....It won't help the fuel in the lines, carbs and filters.....As for the 3/4 full, with the E-10 fuel that is out there........ :huh:
 
Well its almost done! :thumbsup: Wednesday I had the mechanic winterize the boat. Thursday I picked her up and parked it in the back yard and removed everything, washed her inside and out, 303'd the vinyl and waxed the top and sides. I actually took the afternoon off since it was 70 degrees and sunny. I was a little sore last night but it felt good. Tonight it will be rain mixed with snow so I think I called it right.

After she dried out I put on the snap-on cockpit covers with supporting poles. I used some nylon twine pulled real tight in a "x" pattern using the fore and aft cleats to help support the other covers. I then put on the new endura cover and the old sharkskin cover over that. The sharkskin will be the sacrificial cover I figure since it's about 3 years old. I didn't get to rub out the wax but hopefully it will warm up another day pretty soon. I still need to pull the battery and install the new IAC valve and set the mouse traps.

Does anyone use those mildew proof bags? What' in those things. I'm thinking I might put one in.
 
Umm.....yesterday! Low last night was 12 and high today is 38. Probably 5 hours of above freezing temps and low is 17 tonight. 1st winter with this boat ('93 300DA) and I hope to take it out at least once during the winter (sans water and head). Oh.....BTW....1st post :grin: :grin:
 
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