Winterizing

[jamwill]

Been fortunate for the past two decades to use my dad's boat - a boat that magically gets winterized at the end of the season.

My wife and I bought our first boat (2006 SANTE) this past spring and looking to shut it down for the season. Unfortunately, there are not any Nautique dealerships where we live, and I'm considering using the local dealership that sells MasterCraft <gasp>. Is this asking for trouble? Closest Nautique dealership is probably 2 hours away, and hoping to avoid interstate towing if I can avoid it, but definitely dont want to risk anything either.

Any insight would be appreciated.

Side question - I've heard about people putting valves in allowing them to winterize in minutes. That something I could do to my 06 (Excalibur engine), and if so, anybody posted those instructions?

Thanks!
James

[BrickBrock]

Here is the link to one of my favorite winterizing guides:
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...n-ex330-photos

Here is my previous link to changing fluids:
https://www.planetnautique.com/vb5/f...v-drive-fluids

I recommend that you read both of these thoroughly, including the additional posts from other uses (that clarify some mistakes or omissions).

[03SANTE]

A good marina should be able to get it done for you if they are used to doing inboards whether or not they are a Nautique dealer. There are plenty of gadgets out there but none that will have you winterized in minutes so if you don't want to risk it use the dealer. I did my 03 myself with the help of this website and owners manual and I still killed a day because I wanted to be sure and double checked everything. A reputable dealer has a lot to lose if you end up with a cracked block so do some research and you will find multiple options.

[charlesml3]

The Mastercraft dealer can winterize it just fine. They're all pretty much the same.

-Charles

[Tom_H]

The MC dealer will be fine with it. Otherwise, save yourself a few hundred bucks and just do it yourself with a little research. The manual would be the first place to start, which will point out all the drain points. Whether or not you add anti-freeze is up to each person, but simple winterization doesn't take long, although you may choose to do other things at the same time (i.e. change oil, transmission fluid, etc.). As far as valves go, you're really only saving a couple minutes of opening a valve versus pulling the plugs with a ratchet, and based on the valve design, may or may not allow adequate probing of the hole to make sure there isn't any debris blocking water from draining. I would highly recommend NOT putting in one of the single valve winterization kits, as you'd have no way of knowing if any of the 5-8 drain points going to that single valve are plugged up at the engine side of the hose.

[03SANTE]

As far as valves go, you're really only saving a couple minutes of opening a valve versus pulling the plugs with a ratchet, and based on the valve design, may or may not allow adequate probing of the hole to make sure there isn't any debris blocking water from draining. I would highly recommend NOT putting in one of the single valve winterization kits, as you'd have no way of knowing if any of the 5-8 drain points going to that single valve are plugged up at the engine side of the hose.

Couldn't agree more. This was the first year winterizing my 03 and when I removed the knock sensor no water came out after all of the other plugs had drained. My first thought was that the knock sensor broke off and I panicked thinking this was going to be an ordeal removing the remaining broken threaded piece. I poked the area with a small nail and fortunately it was plugged with some loose debris and the water came rushing out. I don't think this would have been picked up with a single valve kit.

[Infinity]

I also use a shop vac nozzle at each drain hole location, it removes more water than passive draining and also sucks out any loose debris, I assume it probably pulls some of the small water pockets that could collect that in my head could cause corrosion during layup. Also keeps me from having to clean the bilge after I am done.
I agree that adding the valves has some risk involved, not something I would personally do.