Why pay to have winterization done?

Air O'Nautical said:
If you have the skill and tools go for it, save the money.
If you don't, pay for it. Winterizing is an easy job for the pros.
Mark.
Click to expand...

That's the plan for now. Trying to double check that I know what to do and what tools I need, haha.

I do know that a micrometer would be good to have for car stuff, not just checking the boat outdrive shaft, so maybe I'll buy one of those eventually. I really don't think I need to check that until late next season anyway since it was just done 3 months ago and the boat is only 3 years old.
 
Annual alignment....yes.

The engine can settle or shift on the engine bed and pulling the drive and checking the alignment annually is a bunch cheaper than pulling the engine to replacing a coupler worn due to neglected alignment.
 
fwebster said:
Annual alignment....yes.

The engine can settle or shift on the engine bed and pulling the drive and checking the alignment annually is a bunch cheaper than pulling the engine to replacing a coupler worn due to neglected alignment.
Click to expand...

Good to know. I am going to wait until next year to do this, however, since it was just done 3 months ago. But i'll put that on the check list from now on. Gives me time to find a good deal on a micrometer too.
 
What are you planning on using this micrometer for? Checking the prop shaft? I'd go dial indicator, easier to use and read.

I've met other techs that still can't read micrometers correct. If you can, you should join the field.


OT- We grease the wheel bearings and check tire pressure on all trailers before they leave.:thumbsup:
 
Last year MM did my work total cost $5k that included $300.00 for removal/discard of shrink wrap. This year $1000.00 for a total cost savings of $4k. Besides now I know it's done right. As a point I visited my boat last year mid winter only to find that the shrink wrap was inproperly installed, a hole was burnt thru leaking water onto the helm seat! So much water that the deck had an inch of ice on it. Also upon further inpsection I found boot prints on my seats where the worker steped to reach over the radar arch. Not to mentioned that when I pulled the boat last week bothe props where loose from being improperly installed, thank god for cotter pins. I guess i know where the vibration was comming from now. Such a deal fo only $5K!!
 
Again, for me I am a perfectionist. I have hardly ever had someone else set foot on my boat and do any job to the standard that I would want it done. My buddy and I have a joke that if you ask someone to do five warranty things on your boat they will break or mess up at least three more things that you will find right when you get the boat back and another two things that you will find later when it breaks/does not work. I for one would rather just do it myself.

Josh
 
I do the complete winterization of the mains, gen set, transmissons, Heat/AC, Freshwater, etc. myself. There is nothing hard about it. When I do it, I am assured that it is done correctly. I can do the entire annual services/winterization and shrink wrap the boat in the water (I have that done) process for under $1K.
To have the dealer do the same work would be nearly $6K, or half the annual fuel budget.
As to having records of the work, that is what a service log is for. Just like maintaining oil sampling results, etc.
Some day I will live in a more moderate climate and boat 365. Until then, I have to winterize and prefer to do it myself.
My .02.

regards
Skip
 
Thanks guys. Good to see more that are doing it yourselves, especially on those larger ones!

Why do you shrink wrap though... don't quite see the point of that yet.
 
glocklt4 said:
Thanks guys. Good to see more that are doing it yourselves, especially on those larger ones!

Why do you shrink wrap though... don't quite see the point of that yet.
Click to expand...

It prevents the snow from damaging the boat. If you let the snow accumulate on the deck, the sun will melt it during the day and it will freeze solid at night. This can wreak havoc with the boat. The water gets into crack & crevices and the expansion of the ice starts breaking stuff. The big chunks of ice and snow will slide around and damage things. The largest factor is the weight of the snow. A boat can hold a lot of snow. Snow is heavy. If the wind blows a bunch of snow to one side of the boat, it could tip it over...

The shrink prevents the snow from getting onto the boat to begin with....

Michael
 
A secondary benefit of shrink wrap is that the boat stays much cleaner. I will wash the boat before Mr. Shrink Wrap arrives, and if the weather permits, put a coat of wax on the foredeck and arch. This way, when we cut the shrink wrap in March, the boat comes out much cleaner and is ready for a full detailing to start the season. Worth it? Last month I was in a transient slip next to a white '06 44 DA. One guy walking by asked if mine was an '08 "because it looks brand new"
My thanks to the great people at Makita who make a superb rotary polisher.
Git 'er done!
regards
 
Big boat, small boat, twin engine or single. 1 sink or 3. It doesnt make a difference. It's like cooking for one or twenty. You just need more materials for the bigger crowd. Winterization is simple work, albeit time consuming. You need a bit of knowledge which you can gather by asking questions or watching someone do it. If you do NOT have the time to do it right, let someone else do it for you but be prepared to pay handsomely. If people saw what goes into an oil change or pinking a boat's water system, they'd be pissed about the size of the bill that's handed to them.
 
glocklt4 said:
Ah yes, forgot to mention fogging the engine.
Click to expand...

Did not see this mentioned, but one does not fog multi-port EFI engines. GM installs the injectors on the floor of the manifolds where fogging oil will pool and gum up the pintle. Then you get to buy new injectors and have them installed next spring when the engine won't run right. That will more than negate the do-it-yourself saving from winterizing.

Best regards,
Frank
 
I don't shrink wrap because it hurts to piss away about one large for 5 months of use and then toss it. I do have a mooring cover that I have been using for the past 5 years that does a good job of protecting the cockpit area. It runs from the base of the windshield to the stern of the boat under the radar arch. Admittedly the arch and its two speakers are exposed but thus far,......no problems. At this point the cover owes me nothing and if it fails this season, I would do the same thing all over again. Just my $.02.

Hey Scott....did I spell everything correctly ?
 
I'm with Frank H. on this one.

Right now, I tarp the boat, so snow and rain don't get on the boat. I have been using 2x4 supports to prevent sagging. This year, I will take the time to create a PVC structure for support. I will be looking into a winter cover next season.
 
I was shrink wrapping the boat. It does a very good job protecting everything. But the marina changed the rules and is prohibiting owners from shrink wrapping their own boats. We are being forced to pay them to do the job. We're also not allowed to use our own contractor. I won't use the marina's services because they won't guarantee a date that they'll cover the boat. What's the point of washing and waxing the boat when the idiots who are getting top dollar to shrink wrap it don't do they job for two or three weeks after the boat is ready?
 
fc3 said:
I was shrink wrapping the boat. It does a very good job protecting everything. But the marina changed the rules and is prohibiting owners from shrink wrapping their own boats. We are being forced to pay them to do the job. We're also not allowed to use our own contractor. I won't use the marina's services because they won't guarantee a date that they'll cover the boat. What's the point of washing and waxing the boat when the idiots who are getting top dollar to shrink wrap it don't do they job for two or three weeks after the boat is ready?
Click to expand...

So what are you going to do now? The marinas on the Delaware are becoming super stringent as well. No more owner bottom paint, etc. What a pain...

Doug
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Forum statistics

Threads
113,187
Messages
1,428,211
Members
61,098
Latest member
Klawson83
Back
Top