winterizing

[blt4spd]

This is my first wake boat,what is the best thing i can do for winterizing it until next summer.2001 super air with a 5.8 HO motor.I keep it in Parker Arizonia. It gets cold there in winter. Any suggestion will help.

[mdvalant]

Not that I'd say don't winterize it...but how cold?

[NautiqueJeff]

Here are some instructions for winterizing, but these are for the GM engines.

http://www.planetnautique.com/vb3/co...res-GM-Engines

You might check the GT-40 manual on this site for specific instructions for your engine

GT-40 Service Manual

[gride]

basically change the fluids and oil filter, then drain the block. also a good idea to super clean the inside and outside.

[LR3w8kbrdr]

Bring it down here to FL and I'll keep it nice and warm for u!

Although I did drain ours for a month period last yr but also used a heat lamp and heat blankets to keep the block warm between outings.

Like the others said, change fluids, drain block. Pretty simple process once u do it the first time.

[BKinSoCal]

This is my first wake boat,what is the best thing i can do for winterizing it until next summer.2001 super air with a 5.8 HO motor.I keep it in Parker Arizonia. It gets cold there in winter. Any suggestion will help.

We keep our boat in Parker as well. In general, it goes unused between the end of November and the beginning of March. I winterized our first Nautique six years ago and have never done it again. It's true that it gets "cold" in Parker during the winter, but it doesn't stay cold for any extended period of time. It may dip to 31 degrees during the night, but during the day it will be back to 50. I have several friends with Nautiques and other ski/wakeboard boats in Parker and none of them winterize them.

I was concerned last year at one point because I knew the temps were going to get into the upper 20's, but I was assured that since it is not an enduring cold for days/weeks/months and the temps would rise back to the 40's or 50's during the day, all would be well.


Knock on wood...no issues to this point.

By no means am I saying it can't happen, but I believe we are still good to go. Plus, if I happen to be down during December, January or February and the weather is nice, I'd like to be able to get it on the water. I think the coldest the water gets is about 52 so a 4/3 wetsuit or drysuit would take care of the cold issues if we want to ride.

[mdvalant]

If it doesn't get below 30 I wouldn't touch it. Set a glass of water outside during a 30 degree night and see if it's froze solid.