Winterizing --- Checklist

[Toster]

Ok, I know this has been cussed and discussed. But, I am going to do it for the first time this year. I have put together an excel checklist (attached) and would like to know if I am missing anything or if something should be added.

Please feel free to and or change and then repost with an explanation of the changes

Thanks!

edit-Sorry I posted the attachment twice, I didn't know if it was attached the first time. Both lists are the same.

[HS]

RE: Winterizing --- Checklist

pull the batteries. Store in warm area / not on concrete slab. Put on battery tamer periodically throughout off-season.

[WakeSlayer]

I downloaded your file and added my comments and a couple items to your checklist.
You should also refer to the downloads/reference section on this site for PCM's recommendations.
There are several methods discussed here every season, and we all have our own tried and true ways of doing this sad task.

What I added are strictly my opinions and what I do. I live in a horribly cold place in the winter and have been winterizing Nautiques for 15 years with no failures.

Good luck !

[Boardboy]

These are helpful posts and I understand they are addressing freezing northern winter climates. I would like to hear from someone in Florida (Orlando?) to see if they go as far the posts above just in case we get one of those once or twice a year freezes here in Central Florida.

[DanielC]

Additional winterization items

A few additions. If you have speedometers that have pitot tubes, disconnect the tube at the speedometer, and drain the water out of them. Airguide speedometers are no longer made, take good care of yours.
Likewise, disconnect the tubes from the first generation of gateway boxes that use the pitot tubes.
Drain your ballast tanks, and make sure there is no water sitting inside any of the ballast pumps.
I would change the ATF in the tranny every year. it is cheap, compared to the cost of transmission repairs. The fluid may get some water in it, you do not want the water in your transmission fluid over the winter, or for the next season. Same with the V-drive, even though the change interval on some of them is 500 hours.
If you have V-belts, loosen the alternator. I take the water pump off, and remove, inspect the impeller. I leave the impeller out over the winter.
I choose to leave the drain plugs out, and do not use antifreeze. Where I live, a cold Winter is a week of 20 degrees above zero. We have had winters where it did not freeze, only frost on the windshield of outside cars.
Follow Wakeslayers advise if you live in a climate more like his
I also put a warning tag on the steering wheel

[DanielC]

RE: Additional winterization items

If you live in a warm climate, (Florida?) you are more concerned with long term storage. I believe you need to be more diligent about fogging the motor. Warm climates have a humidity problems. Fill the tank. Or you could run the boat every two weeks.
If your boat is protected from the wind. and you run it long enough to get fully warm, it should be OK in near freezing weather for 48 hours.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Additional winterization items

Daniel's points are also right on. Including fogging in warm weather climates. Which begs my perpetual question to Floridians: Why do you not use your boat year round? Mostly kidding there, dude.
As far as antifreeze, I started using -60* RV last year, switching from automotive. I prefer the idea of semi not so bad a chemical. If you use RV AF, you MUST drain all water as it is not meant to be dulited. Until recent years, the process was drain only, and no one used, nor recommended antifreeze. It is just a good idea to keep an anticorrosive in the engine for long periods.

I cannot believe I omitted the ballast pumps. I attach a hose to my threaded fill/drain through hulls and pump a gallon into each one.

[DanielC]

RE: Additional winterization items

I have found on some of the Correct Craft Air boats with drain ports on the topside of the hull, putting the suction side of a wet vac hose on the port will suck almost all the water out of the lines, and pump, leaving less water to dilute the antifreeze you put back.

[Toster]

RE: Additional winterization items

WakeSlayer, I'm curious why in your notes you have "NO! just disconnect or shut off perko switch". You don't put yours on a timer charger and have it trickle a little juice every week or so for a couple hours?

[Toster]

RE: Additional winterization items

Ok, here is it again with so the above mentioned updates.

[DanielC]

RE: Additional winterization items

I have found it unnecessary to put a trickle charger on the battery when it is disconnected.
In the Spring, when I start the recommissioning process, first step is yo check the water level in the battery, add distilled water is necessary, and put a 6 amp charger on the battery. by tie time I put the plugs back in, reassemble, and install the water pump, tighten the hoses, and get ready to test start the boat, with water being supplied to the raw water pump, the battery is drawing less than 2 amps from the charger, indicating it is fully charged.
I got my boat in November of 1996, I have replaced the battery once. My boat also has over 2222 hours on it.

[Toster]

RE: Additional winterization items

I didn't put in to remove the impeller for winterization, I will just leave the old one in there, and replace it in the spring.

[WakeSlayer]

Re: RE: Additional winterization items

WakeSlayer, I'm curious why in your notes you have "NO! just disconnect or shut off perko switch". You don't put yours on a timer charger and have it trickle a little juice every week or so for a couple hours?

Nope. Never done it, and never will. If your battery is any good at all, and completely shut off / isolated, you will not have a problem. 15 years and never removed a battery. I cannot say with 100% certainty that your climate will treat it the same as mine, but many many nights below zero here every year, and I have never once failed to start in the spring with no additional charge. Carbed or EFI. Not once. I give a lot of guys at my office a hard time cause they hump the batteries out of the boat, down to the basement, and mess around trickle charging them, and then back up to the garage, back into the boat, every year.
Waste of time and back muscles.

[bchesley]

RE: Re: RE: Additional winterization items

You know I have been reading some post lately about this thing called winterizing. I still dont get what it is..........



Must be a northern thing?????





Flame suit on.......

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: Additional winterization items

Dude, you have no idea the level of depression that sets in.....
i am pulling my dock and lifts on the 26th. Winterize Oct 17, and out til late April.

On the upside, I do work on a boat all winter lately. Got the last of the Mustang and a 68 Nautuque on deck this winter.

To say our winters are brutal is an understatement. Sometimes, in the middle of January, I crack a beer, sit in the driver's seat,. and weep.