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Winterizing my boat

J

jesse c

Guest
"This may sound like a stupid

"This may sound like a stupid question but i am new to boating and was wondering how to winterize my boat...Here in CT they charge and arm and leg, and want to try it myself...I have a 20ft bayliner capri cuddy with a 3.0 mercruiser 4 cyl alpha one gen 2.. Thanks in advance."
 
Its so easy that if we tell ya

Its so easy that if we tell ya we will have to take ownership of yer boat............

I am going to let the others answer this so I can see who does what and how and why.

Also do you have a water tank for potable water?
 
"If you're new to boating

"If you're new to boating and haven't bought a manual, like the Seloc manual shown on the right of your screen, you need to get one. Not 'cuase we're grumpy about helping out, beacuse you really need to do some reading to understand what you have, how it works, and how to take care of it, etc. It'll save you a ton of money in the long run. All the more popular manuals have sections on winterizing.
Do that first, then if you have some specific questions, let us know.
If you are persistent and really don't want to buy the book, let us know, we'll still help you out."
 
"Start the engine and allow it

"Start the engine and allow it to warm to normal operating temperature.
CAUTION: Water must circulate through the stern drive to the engine any time the engine is run to prevent damage to the water pump in the stern drive. Just a short while without water can damage the pump.

If the engine is equipped with a closed or fresh-water cooling system, check the anti- freeze.
Add rust inhibitor if the anti-freeze has been used for more than one season.
If the solution is contaminated; flush and re- place with a new mixture of 50/50 ethylene glycol and water.

Stop the engine, drain the oil in the crankcase, and remove the oil filter.
Install a NEW filter element; and then fill the crankcase with the prescribed weight and amount of oil.
Start the engine and allow it to run at a high idle for a few minutes.
Stop the engine and check the oil level as indicated on the dip stick.
Some amount of oil may remain in the engine without draining down into the crankcase.
A slightly lower reading may be indicated on the dip stick.
Add only enough oil to bring the reading into the safe running range above the ADD mark to allow for the amount of oil still in various areas of the engine.

Add the recommended amount of 2+4 Fuel stabilizer to fuel tank and fill tank with fuel to prevent condensation build-up over winter.

Start the engine and run it at a fast idle.

Remove the flame arrestor and SLOWLY pour about a pint of 20-20W SAE oil into the carburetor air intake while running the engine at a fast idle.
Pour the last 4 or so ounces in fast enough to shut motor down or turn it off immediately.

Order storage and fogging spray or it can be purchased at your local Boat shop to spray in carburetor and in spark plug holes instead of 20-20W oil.

Clean the fuel filter and sediment bowl. Install the bowl with a NEW gasket.

Clean the flame arrestor in solvent, and then blow it dry with compressed air.

Lubricate the steering, throttle, and shift control linkage.

Remove all of the spark plugs and squirt about a teaspoonful of 20-20 oil or spray Fogging oil into each cylinder.
Crank the engine over several times to allow the oil to coat the cylinders.
Remove any excess oil from around the spark plug holes, and then install the spark plugs.

If the engine is equipped with a raw-water cooling system, open all of the engine and manifold water jacket drains.
Allow the water to drain completely.

ALWAYS have the stern drive in a horizontal position when draining the system to ensure all of the water is able to leave the system.

If the stern drive is not horizontal, water will be trapped inside.

Leave all of the drains open.
Disconnect the water hoses at the lowest end and allow them to drain.
Loosen adjustment bolts to relax tension on fan belts as needed.

Hit all the grease fitting with your grease gun and apply some lube to moving parts,linkages, etc.

Clean any rusted areas on engine and touch up with paint or primer.
After that dries wipe entire motor down with an oily rag or spray with a good corrosion and rust preventive.

You're about done in the boat; cover the engine; disconnect the batteries and remove them to a cool dry area inside your garage for the winter.

I haven't covered washing and waxing the hull or cleaning and preventing mildew etc. in the cabin, but that's mostly elbow grease and soap.

Also, Get a good quality cover for your boat that breathes.

Keep it Clean - Your boat bottom will be quickest if it is perfectly smooth. Dirt and slime buildup will slow you down. Clean the bottom with a strong cleaner. Wet sand any tough bumps in the running surface with 400-600 grit paper.

You don't need wax, in some cases it may slow you down.

Ohhh yea, and dont buy a manual, thats what this website is for!!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAH.....LOL...off the water to fish......LATER...."
 
""Pour the last 4 or so ou

""Pour the last 4 or so ounces in fast enough to shut motor down..."

Doing the above COULD result in hydraulically locking the engine and damaging a rod or two IF NOT DONE RIGHT.

Being a "first timer" you should USE THE FOGGING OIL per directions on the can. BUY A MANUAL OR DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE @ http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=251571

You will need @ least 1.5 to 2.0 gigabytes of RAM memory and WAIT for it to download; may take 10-20 minutes depending upon your computer."
 
"Here's my simple system d

"Here's my simple system developed after years of blood sweat and tears:

WINTERIZING

Aquire a Seloc or Clymer manual, or refer to the Merc manual, but essentially you need to:
-hook up water to the outdrive using muffs, and warm up for 15 minutes or so. Watch temps, oil pressure, and water flow out the exhaust ports on the transom assembly! Allow plenty of water flow. You should not see steam, and the risers should be no more than warm to the touch.
-drain the oil and change the filter while warm (a quick drain makes this much easier)
-install a new Merc filter, refill with fresh 25W40 oil and run for a short while to circulate the fresh oil; 5 minutes is good.
-fog cylinders with Storage Seal just before shutdown
-drain seawater side of cooling system; exchanger and exhaust manifold drains
-if RWC; MAKE SURE YOU GET EVERY WATER DRAIN OPENED AND DRAINED. ESPECIALLY THE BLOCK AND MANIFOLDS.
-drain and refill drive oil with Merc High Performance green. Refill from the bottom only.
-grease all drive fittings, steering fittings, gimbal fitting, and coupler fitting if possible
-check all other fluids (drive lube, coolant, power steering, trim fluid) and top up
-put some stabilizer in the gas
-park the boat and lower the drive
-remove the battery, or hook up trickle charger
-put the covers on
-grease the trailer bearings and check tire pressures
-have a beer (have 2 if you didn't make much of a mess in the bilge)

Check your owners manual; it will usually have a decent section on basic winterizing.

Rod"
 
I do believe that the dealer d

I do believe that the dealer does include fluids etc. He also said he wanted to remove the bellows and check the "ujoint" ?? (or something)which is something that should be inspected every two years?? Not sure what he was talking about. Another reason why I think I should get a good manual and kind of find out for myself. I would have a lot of stupid questions like how to change oil?? etc. You guys would get tired of me pretty fast... lol. I would like to get this winterizing thing done though so I am going to try your method. Let you know if I run into problems. I'll give it a go when I'm back from my fly in hunting trip in mid Sept.

Cheers Norm
 
"No worries sledderdoc. Not t

"No worries sledderdoc. Not that I'm expert now (as anyone on this forum can attest), but I've come a long way from last September, which I was in your shoes. Just keep reading these forums, and visit the wiki in the link above, which contains a lot of tips lifted directly from this forum.

U joint = universal joint...a shoulder-like joint that is used to join the drive shaft to your outdrive. It does need inspection and greasing, preferably every year. Here's a picture of one, with the yoke and everything attached:

http://www.sterndrive.info/sterndriveparts/socket_u_joint_yoke_assembly.html

The short part sticks into the upper housing of your outdrive, and the long part goes through the gimbal bearing and coupler, which links it up with the main engine driveshaft. It has to have that joint so that you can move the outdrive side to side (for steering), and up and down (for trim).

How to change oil: you usually have to suck it out through the dipstick into a container. A handheld pump works just fine.

A good manual will help. Even though the Clymer and SELOC manuals have their problems, they are quite helpful to the novice. I have the Clymer one myself, and I like it.

I can say this: taking care of your own boat is much more satisfying than just taking it to a marine mechanic every time something goes wrong or routine maintenance is needed."
 
"I hear you there Daniel. I am

"I hear you there Daniel. I am very mechanically inclined and have rebuilt several automotive engines everything from ford to toyota, good with quads and sleds too. Outboards no problem but this is my first inboard has a couple of different parts that I will fiqure out in a hurry I'm sure. It runs like a top and I want to keep it that way. Nothing like having a cold beer and workin on your toys!! I just purchased the seloc from this site.

Cheers Norm"
 
"Ayuh,.....

Seloc,+ Cly


"Ayuh,.....

Seloc,+ Clymers is just a tad better than Nothing,...
But not Much...

That's why I posted the way thru the backdoor into Mercruiser Marine's data base....
You just can't beat books written by the same folks that designed the hardware....

Btw,....
I like your wiki Dan,.....
That's a shorter path to the pay dirt that way....
wink.gif
"
 
"Wow........lots of great advi

"Wow........lots of great advice as always.

One other little trick that I read hear last fall was to grease the gimble bearing while the engine is running at idle.
Last winter was my first winterizing and I greased this bearing after I changed the engine oil and before fogging.
Some new ideas from the group that I will be adding to my routine.
Thanks again,
Sweet Baby James"
 
"I think we should take some p

"I think we should take some pictures to attach to the post will help out the rookies like me greatly.
James Taylor, can you take a pic of the zerk where you grease the gimble bearing while idling?"
 
"AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

I do not re


"AGAIN!!!!!!!!!

I do not reccomend doing any service to the outdrive while the engine is running ESPECIALLY for the """ROOKIES LIKE ME"""

You will not gain ANYTHING by doing this!!!

I have serviced thousands of boats and NEVER greased a gimbal bearing with the engine running!

If it is bad it is bad, Replace it!

SAFTEY FIRST!!!"
 
"I own a 1998 Searay 210 with

"I own a 1998 Searay 210 with a mercruiser 5.7 with seawater cooling. I would like to winterize it myself. The manual says to open and drain the fuel cooler plug. In this boat I can barely reach it with my fingertips let alone turn the plug. The engine compartment housing under the seat looks like its never been removed,so I can't figure out how they did it in the past. I've owned the boat for two years and had a dealer winterize it last year. Prior to that they also winterized it every year. My question is; Is it critical to remove and drain the fuel cooler plug? If so, how do remove it on this particular boat?
Prior to this boat I winterized a 3.0 liter mercruiser for 10 years with no problems."
 
"I don't know what type of

"I don't know what type of drain valve it is but if it is plastic then it is probably seized since the first time it was drained and overtightened. No mater what valve it has remove the entire cooler, remove the valve and replace w/a brass 1/4 turn drain valve w/a small handle."
 
"Alex,
Boat is still in the w


"Alex,
Boat is still in the water and will be for at least September. Will try to take a picture for you.
KGhost,
Sorry you feel that way. In no way do I want to have anyone hurt. Rookie or Pro. Period.
I guess I just come from the old school where common sense and paying attention to detail were the norm. If one paid attenion in those classes, then safety would naturally follow.
Thank you,
JT"
 
"JT

No issues here........


"JT

No issues here........

Again I tell it like it is...

I worked in the boat repair industry for several years proffesionally and many many years for myself as a side job. If you could have seen what I have seen you would not assume that people think thay way. Why do you think they put the lever shut off's on the handels of lawn mowers.

To many people were sticking there hands it the blades with the lawn mower running.....Please think about that.

Now go to the next level and put a 4, v6, v8 and a spinning proppeler in the hands of someone who "wants" to be a mechanic and I think you can imagen what would happen next. There is no handle to release to shut the motor off"
 
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