Winterizing

[talbertini]

I usually winterize my boat but am thinking about not doing it this year. My boat is stored in my heated garage during the off season. Where I live in Oregon, temps rarely drop below freezing for too long anyway. I figured I'd just garage it for 3mos and have it serviced in the spring. Any reason why I should winterize? It's a 05' 206 with 76hrs on it. I'd be interested it any input here.


Tony

[ag4ever]

RE: Winterizing

If you see freezing temps for less than a full day, winterization is not generally needed. With that in mind, even if I saw a hard freeze for a week outside, and the boat was in a heated garage, there would be no need to winterize.

I have a small space heater I use in a storage facility to just keep the area around the boat a little warmer to prevent freezing.

[talbertini]

RE: Winterizing

Should I remove the impellor so it isn't sitting in one position that whole time or should I just be replacing it in the spring anyway? How about fuel stabilizers?

[east tx skier]

Re: Winterizing

Any reason why I should winterize? It's a 05' 206 with 76hrs on it.

That is the answer to the question, or at least the reason for what my opinion is on the subject.

With my boat in an attached garage in Texas, I think our situations are similar. At the very least, I'd stabilize the fuel, pull the low ends of the hoses, drain the block, and spin the motor over with the safety lanyard pulled to get the water out of the pump housing. If you decide to hit the lake over the winter, you can get it ready to go in under 10 minutes. With so much invested in your boat, the turn of a few screws doesn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things.

Apart from that, I think the best reason to winterize in spite of climate is that it's a perfect excuse to get other annual maintenance, i.e., fluid changes, done in the fall.

I heard someone say once (no idea as to the validity) that most boats that freeze are in places like Texas where freezes aren't the norm, but where people decide not to bother to winterize their boats because, for example, they're in a garage and freezes aren't the norm. Nine times out of ten, you'll be fine. But the unexpected scenario is what would concern me.

Just my $.02.

/edit. I leave my impeller in because with a carb boat, I like to drag it out once a month and run it in the driveway. I replace it every spring so I don't worry about the vanes becoming formed in the housing, which they will. If you don't plan to replace it in the spring, I'd take it out.

[DanielC]

Winterization necessary?

Tony, I live in West Linn, just south of Portland, and like you, I could get away with keeping the boat warm. Last week, we had a three day spell of slightly below freezing weather, and I drained the water out of my Ski, with 1820 hours on it. Probably not necessary, but for peace of mind. It can get cold here, and I suppose it can get cold in Eugene, but not very often. On an average, we get 5-15 days slightly below freezing. However, in my life, I have walked across Lake Oswego, on the ice. I have seen a two week spell of below 20 degree weather, with a strong wind. If you lost power in those conditions, and you cannot keep your boat warm, It will freeze, and crack the block. The GM block is a modern thinwall casting, and is not as tolerant of freezing as the older blocks made by Ford.
More of an issue in my mind, is annual service, and the long storage of a motor. The fluids should be changed, engine, and trans. The engine should be fogged with oil. You should put fuel stabilizer in the gas, and run the engine for a while. You should check your water pump impeller.
Can you do nothing but keep it warm, and get away with it? maybe, but I would do some work on it now. Did you not spend 40 or 50 thousand dollars on this boat? Protect your investment.

[talbertini]

RE: Winterization necessary?

Very good points!

[DanielC]

RE: Winterization necessary?

Tony, since I am in there anyway, I pressure wash gunk out of the bilge area, and clean the carpet also. Do not forget the heater and shower, also.

[Quinner]

RE: Winterization necessary?

If you have the Faria Gauges there is a computer board in the trunk of your 206, it's behind that plastic cover in the middle rear, remove it so you can disconnect the speedo tubes which will allow them to drain, I have been told it is also a good idea to keep that whole box somewhere warm and dry. If you do remove the electrical connections mark the center rectangular one for the dash lights, I believe it is the only one that can go in (2) different ways. I would drain the exh manifolds for sure, they usually let alot of junk out. I would also change the fluids then run it a bit before laying it up.

[talbertini]

RE: Winterization necessary?

I have no idea what any of that is. I grew up skiing and that's all I do today but I know squat about any of the mechanical workings of my boat. I press the start button and it starts the stop button and it stops. Maybe I'll just take it to the dealer and get it winterized after all. I just didn't want to make the 2 hour trip or spend the $200. It might be worth it though! Thanks for the input.

[Hollywood]

RE: Winterization necessary?

I suggest atleast trying it yourself first. If you can't figure it out, then take it in. Even slight tinkering around will enlighten you to the workings of your motor. This way when something simple fails you might be able to fix it yourself, instead of posting about how ****ty your dealer was when your boat broke down on vacation.

[Quinner]

RE: Winterization necessary?

Talbertini,

If you are refering to my post quite honestly it is pretty easy, 4 phillip head screws hold the box, once those are out you can move the box around, on the underside there are all the electrical plugs and the 2 rubber hoses coming from your pitot tubes, remove the rubber hoses and blow in them a little, thats really it. Like I side if you do take the box completely out all but 1 of the connections can only go back 1 way, they are all different shapes so you can literally put the triangle in the triangle, etc.
The only reason I know this is that appearantly mine did not self drain last year and the water backed up into the circuit board, this spring alarms, dash going crazy, etc., I also know one connection can go in two ways because once I got the boat back from the dealer I had no dash lights, I found that the one plug that could go in two ways was my dash lights and the dealer put it in the wrong way, I flipped it and all was good.

[Resqfish]

RE: Winterization necessary?

I have an 04 210 team I bought this summer. I put it in my garage for a so cal winter. I would like to drain the water out of the engine. How do I go about doing that? I just had the 50 hr service done before putting it away. Is there anthing special about starting it on the first time use after winter since there will be no water in the lines?
Thanks guys

[darrel409]

RE: Winterization necessary?

Resqfish,
Im in SoCal, for us, a super cold night is still in the 40's no chance of freezing. I dont drain the block...I'm not sure there are any benefits. If your not gonna use it for a few months...i'd add stabil to the gas, fog the cylinders (i like Marvel Mystery Oil, i'll put it in the gas too and run it a bit thru the motor), and remove the impeller if it was changed during your 50 hr service. If not, change it out b4 your first trip in the spring.

[Resqfish]

RE: Winterization necessary?

Darrel,
Pull the impeller, I can do that ( it was changed) , what does fog the cylinders intail? Thanks

[east tx skier]

Re: RE: Winterization necessary?

I suggest atleast trying it yourself first. If you can't figure it out, then take it in. Even slight tinkering around will enlighten you to the workings of your motor. This way when something simple fails you might be able to fix it yourself, instead of posting about how *** your dealer was when your boat broke down on vacation.

I'll second that. I had no experience doing anything with engines. If I can do it, anyone can. If you can turn a screwdriver and a wrench, you can do most of it (you'll need a pump for the transmission fluid). The best part is that you'll learn a whole lot about your boat in the process of learning to winterize it.