Winterizing for a year

[spikedaddy99]

Hypothetically, I could see us using the boat very little next summer 2023. My twins will be 17 entering their senior years, and I see lots of college visits. One daughter will be in college and oldest daughter entering her senior year of college. Has anyone ever left their boat winterized for a whole year? What are your thoughts on doing this? Would it be better to still put her in the water despite little use, or leave in the garage for a year? When we make it through NEXT summer, I will be on the boat A LOT more

 

[paulswagelock]

I suggest it stays in a garage if that is an option. Do the regular winterizing as required with special attention to the fuel to keep it from going bad or ruining the fuel system components.

 

[Lazy Daze]

As long as the process is done properly, it's totally fine to leave it sit in the garage. The only thing I'd add is to make sure you have ventilation when the weather gets warm to combat moisture/mold/mildew.

Must be one heck of a "garage" you've got there!

 

[spikedaddy99]

Dennis, the storage facility. Although my garage is 40x90, getting it there would be difficult

 

[Jeremygavin]

The warmth of the summer would be my biggest concern. Do you have access to 110v power? Could you have a dehumidifier running inside the cabin for the warm months? That would help a lot with mold issues.

 

[Blueone]

we had friends building a house in florida and left their boat inside heated for the summer....didnt do anything special from winterizing.... they did get screwed coming back to the marina.....so make sure you have that figured out

 

[Strypes]

Hypothetically, I could see us using the boat very little next summer 2023.

Put it in, we'll use it for you!

 

[Lazy Daze]

Dennis, the storage facility. Although my garage is 40x90, getting it there would be difficult

I'm still jealous, though

 

[Skybolt]

I would set up fans inside where you can and in the engine room and let run non stop. Keep the mildew and condensation down. Throw extra biocide in the tanks, they'll start right up.

 

[Woody]

My friend had a 35' trawler. It went from storage to slip and back each year, about 6 miles a year. He lived on the boat each summer for 12 years but that's all it was run. He sold the boat, the new owner ran it down to somewhere on Lake Michigan with mostly 12yo diesel but had no problems.

 

[sbw1]

In the Wisconsin climate you do not have much to worry about from a mold and mildew perspective if you make sure things are very clean and lockers are left open for air circulation. I'm sure you do that anyway. I have heard of impellers getting sticky but that is easily checked when you start things up again. Depending on conditions, rodents could be the biggest threat. Your storage facility probably has that issue addressed. If unsure, ask the management. Fuel treatment is also important and fluid changes prior to storage as I'm sure you know. Also, scrupulously cleaning the heads and holding tank will prevent odors. We always irrigated those lines and the tank to the extreme prior to storage and our boat always smelled fresh and clean.

 

[Fill Ess]

Hypothetically, I could see us using the boat very little next summer 2023. My twins will be 17 entering their senior years, and I see lots of college visits. One daughter will be in college and oldest daughter entering her senior year of college. Has anyone ever left their boat winterized for a whole year? What are your thoughts on doing this? Would it be better to still put her in the water despite little use, or leave in the garage for a year? When we make it through NEXT summer, I will be on the boat A LOT more

If it were me I'd put it in the water. As a long-time boater, do you think you could realistically take off an entire season. Even one weekend a month would be good to keep things exercised.

As for college visits, I went to college a year early and didn't do any campus visits but I went to a big school that was popular and my older brother had seen the campus so that was enough. Even if you do, would your wife and kids miss boating?

Oh and I hate you for having such a big garage

 

[ErikE]

My only concern would be with the fuel. Even fuel stabilizers don't hold up to a year. Not in my experience anyhow...maybe others have different opinions.

Maybe get as much out as possible before storing and add fresh fuel before running?

 

[KrazyKarl]

Most fuel stabilizers like StaBil last two years, I run it in my emergency generator. Every two years if I haven't used a whole tank full, I siphon it out as much as I can then run it until it quits. Then refill with fresh stabilized fuel. I haven't had any problem getting the generator started when needed.

 

[sbw1]

Most fuel stabilizers like StaBil last two years, I run it in my emergency generator. Every two years if I haven't used a whole tank full, I siphon it out as much as I can then run it until it quits. Then refill with fresh stabilized fuel. I haven't had any problem getting the generator started when needed.

I also run my genny dry, but add fuel only if the power goes out in our subdivision. Once I need to run it for power I keep it running until it uses all of the stabilized fuel. Storing a penny with fuel in the tank is asking for extra work when it needs to be serviced.