2019 G21 ZR4. winterization step by step- advice/ help needed

[Hesch]

Hey PN members-

I’m new to the forum and am in season 1 of our G21 w/ ZR4- heater option

Ive searched the forum for a how to on winterizing my boat but didn’t see anything w/ details. Would appreciate step by step help! Thank you!!

In particular-

1. How to winterize the ballasts- sounds like I could put in anti freeze (RV) or remove impellers? Any pics or description of where to pour in antifreeze?

2. Heater option- it’s unclear if I have to do something special with the heater. If I do, step by step with any pics would be great!

3. Winterizing the engine- what needs to be removed- blue plugs - any pics? What else needs to be removed? Do I put RV antifreeze in anywhere? I did with our old boat (I/O Sea Ray)

4. What do people do with the batteries? Battery tender and leave in boat or remove from boat?

5. Anything else that I need to do or questions I should be asking?

Why do it myself? The dealer is too far to trailer for this service. It would ultimately save a lot of time if I do it myself as I do with other boats we have.

Thank you!

David

734 Two Two 3 8 five 2 seven

[kylant]

I looked at the PCM manuals for the motor and drivetrain. It looks very complex to winterize. I didn't even attempt it, and I had winterized my 2000 for 17 seasons.
Take it to the dealer especially since it is under warranty!

[Adrenaline1]

Hey PN members-

I’m new to the forum and am in season 1 of our G21 w/ ZR4- heater option

Ive searched the forum for a how to on winterizing my boat but didn’t see anything w/ details. Would appreciate step by step help! Thank you!!

In particular-

1. How to winterize the ballasts- sounds like I could put in anti freeze (RV) or remove impellers? Any pics or description of where to pour in antifreeze?

2. Heater option- it’s unclear if I have to do something special with the heater. If I do, step by step with any pics would be great!

3. Winterizing the engine- what needs to be removed- blue plugs - any pics? What else needs to be removed? Do I put RV antifreeze in anywhere? I did with our old boat (I/O Sea Ray)

4. What do people do with the batteries? Battery tender and leave in boat or remove from boat?

5. Anything else that I need to do or questions I should be asking?

Why do it myself? The dealer is too far to trailer for this service. It would ultimately save a lot of time if I do it myself as I do with other boats we have.

Thank you!

David

734 Two Two 3 8 five 2 seven

Isn't the dealer just 35 minutes up 23 from Ann Arbor?

[Infinity]

Hey PN members-

I’m new to the forum and am in season 1 of our G21 w/ ZR4- heater option

Ive searched the forum for a how to on winterizing my boat but didn’t see anything w/ details. Would appreciate step by step help! Thank you!!

In particular-

1. How to winterize the ballasts- sounds like I could put in anti freeze (RV) or remove impellers? Any pics or description of where to pour in antifreeze?

2. Heater option- it’s unclear if I have to do something special with the heater. If I do, step by step with any pics would be great!

3. Winterizing the engine- what needs to be removed- blue plugs - any pics? What else needs to be removed? Do I put RV antifreeze in anywhere? I did with our old boat (I/O Sea Ray)

4. What do people do with the batteries? Battery tender and leave in boat or remove from boat?

5. Anything else that I need to do or questions I should be asking?

Why do it myself? The dealer is too far to trailer for this service. It would ultimately save a lot of time if I do it myself as I do with other boats we have.

Thank you!

David

734 Two Two 3 8 five 2 seven

I have the ZR409, I think the main difference is that my ZR409 is partial closed cooled so the heater has coolant, not water. But most of the rest should be similar.

Ballast....remove the ballast bags. I then use a funnel to pour some of the pink RV antifreeze down the hose and then reverse the impeller so it sucks the AF thru it. (You can also pull the ballast impellers if you want.

Heater, if water cooled you need to blow out the heater lines and then I would also pour some AF thru it for any residual water.

Your owners manual will show a detail of all the plugs to remove as well as the water flow path. Mine has 7 plugs....don't forget the one under the v-drive. I always suck in the RV AF and run it thru the system. I use a pump to push it thru since once the water is drained the system is not always able to pull the AF thru using the bucket method since there is no water in the system to prime it.

I also remove the impeller tho if you drain and then suck in AF, no water will be trapped in the impeller housing. If you ONLY drain water then you need to remove the impeller so no water sits in there since it wont drain there by removing the plugs.

I leave batteries in the boat but have a 3-bank NOCO that I leave plugged in all winter. Also before laying up, I always check the water level in the batteries and if any cells are low, top off using distilled water only.

Change your engine oil/filter before layup, that puts clean oil in the engine.
Make sure you treat the fuel with stabil and run thru engine before all the above is done.

Personally I change my impeller and the 2 fuel filters (FCC filter and water separator canister filter) in the Spring after I have run the boat 1 good time so they don't sit all winter. The impeller can "take a set" and why I choose to do that in the Spring.

Here is a link with a great write up & pictures that I kept bookmarked on the ZR409....I would think yours will be similar:

http://www.centurioncrew.com/index.p...izing-pcm-409/

[Hesch]

This is helpful. Thank you! If anyone has a ZR-4 I’m still interested in specific step by step w Pics. Many thanks!

[kdonzi123]

I have a ZR 4 and do my own winterize. Gallon of RV antifreeze pumped into the exits of the tanks ( run pumps in drain mode till you see antifreeze coming out of bottom of boat.
On the engine you want to remove all blue plugs , On the port side engine divider there should be a spot that you put each one. On the port side of the engine at the back are the hoses to the heater , they have to be removed and such them out with a SHOP VAC, Then reconnect. On starboard side there are 2 coolers , one transmission and one oil i believe. Remove those hoses and drain the water. Then reconnect. Drain the sea strainer. Fill the strainer with antifreeze. If you have the flush kit i use a 5 gallon bucket filled to the top with rv antifreeze and run the engine until antifreeze comes out exhaust pipe. I usually use 2 cases total. That way i feel confident that its good. That's what all the dealers in my area do.I do believe this is listed in the engine owners manual on how to winterize .

[chief351]

Just in the process of winterizing today. First time winterizing my zr409 closed cooling in my 2015 SN200. I've done everything according to PCMs instructions. My question is do the riser/exhaust manifolds have a fill hole? So I can dump some antifreeze down them. The top of the manifold has a small hex head plug that is facing up (towards the sky) and I'm wondering if people use that for filling... any comments appreciated. FWIW I found my 90 SN and my 04 SN to be simpler to winterize however this is my first time with the 409