winterizing your own boat

lake anna boater

New Member
Jul 11, 2008
51
lake anna boater
Boat Info
08 185 sport 4.3mpi
07 lincoln navigator
Engines
mercrusier 4.3 mpi
I have a 185 and would like to know benifits of having the dealership do it or is it something that can be done fairly easy and i can save alittle money?
 
If you know a little about engines it can be done. I use to own a 1989 Sea Ray 160 BR with a 3.0L. I did my own winterizing and oil changes. The oil changes are a whole lot easier on new boats compared to the older ones. If you read the owner's manual it tells you where the drain plugs are on the block to let the water out. Then you will have to either make a device or buy one that you can fill full of RV antifreeze and connect it to the ear muffs on the lower unit. Start the motor and let it suck the antifreeze thru itself. Before you do that you need to hook the water hose up to the ear muffs and let the engine come up to temperature, then do the antifreeze. Once the antifreeze starts to come out of the exhaust port, fog the engine with fogging oil. That part is done. You should do the oil change before you fog the engine. Just make sure the engine is up to temperature when you do it. Like I said it's not to awful hard.
 
"Winterizing" means different things to different people. And the extent of what you do may be dependent on the area of the country you live in and what you wish to consider as part of normal fall maintenance such as pulling your outdrive, changing engine oil and out drive gear lubricant, winterizing fresh water systems, draining your engine block or filling it with antifreeze, etc.

I recommend you review many of the past postings on this subject since there is a myriad of threads on this subject and any number of different way to "winterize". There is a entire separate section on CSR covering Winterizing http://clubsearay.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=30 that you would be better off reviewing first as well.

I also recommend you change your profile to include the area of the country you live in to get better answers. Winterizing for Alaska is a lot different than winterizing for South Carolina.
 
Dealer or authorized merc place, IMO and for my lifestyle.

Ya know, I was thinking about how long it takes and what is involved, and at this point in the year, Id rather pay someone to do it. I got enough to do :wow:

As well, while in there, they will do a tune up, check engine mounts, go over everything.

I dont know, to me piece of mind. With so many hours on the boat in one year already (81) in my case it is also a good time to let them give the engine and drive a once over.
 
I have a 185 and would like to know benifits of having the dealership do it or is it something that can be done fairly easy and i can save alittle money?

Easy enough to do yourself.

Benefits? 1)Save a bunch of money, 2)get to know your boat and how it operates, 3)Piece of mind. Knowing you did it yourself takes the guesswork out of wondering if the screwball you paid to do it, actually did it correctly.

Tom
 
I agree. I don't want anyone messing with my 'stuff'. I have had too many bad experiences like loose oil filters (cost Mercruiser a new motor), loose oil pan plugs (my car blew 5 quarts of oil all over the road) and a loose wheel that flew off my car while driving down the express way.

Maybe I have bad luck, but I have not experienced these kind of stupid things when I do it myself (knock on wood). Besides, trying to convince a mechanic that they did ruin your engine and they need to replace it can be a lot of trouble.

Just make sure you check everything twice and TAKE YOUR TIME. The process is quite simple and should only take you 1/2 a day (and a few beers at the end).

Easy enough to do yourself.

Benefits? 1)Save a bunch of money, 2)get to know your boat and how it operates, 3)Piece of mind. Knowing you did it yourself takes the guesswork out of wondering if the screwball you paid to do it, actually did it correctly.

Tom
 
Dealer or authorized merc place, IMO and for my lifestyle.

Ya know, I was thinking about how long it takes and what is involved, and at this point in the year, Id rather pay someone to do it. I got enough to do :wow:

As well, while in there, they will do a tune up, check engine mounts, go over everything.

I dont know, to me piece of mind. With so many hours on the boat in one year already (81) in my case it is also a good time to let them give the engine and drive a once over.

+1, not to mention a good paper trail of all maintenance records. I have used Sea Ray of Cincinnati for all 8 years of service for my 250DA, and last season they continued service on my 280DA which was purchased new from them in 2001 by the original owner and maintained by them since new. Sure I pay a premium for Sea Ray's service, but I paid a premium for a Sea Ray to begin with so to me it's worth every penny:thumbsup:
 
My first year I had it done, after reading several posts on here and looking at my manuals, I now do it myself. But Dave is right, it all depends on what part of the country you are from. I don't fog mine nor fill it with antifreeze, but mine stays in my garage during the winter and its heated. Changing the oil and drive lube is very easy. Antifreeze looks just as easy. Fogging gets a little more complicated, and anything with the drive, I would recommend a merc dealer for service.
 

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