Do I need to winterize???

[FLCERIK]

I have a 01 SAN and keep it in the garage all winter long. The temp in the garage never goes below 40. Since the boat will not move untill late May should I drain the water in the engine or just leave it? If I leave the water in the engine do I need to worry about rust?

[78LS2]

RE: Do I need to winterize???

I'd drain it. Doesn't take too long (from what I can tell reading the manual). And it is cheap insurance.

[Skier12]

RE: Do I need to winterize???

I've always thought your suppose to winterize an engine if its not going to be run for a while. I'd say winterize it doesn't cost much if you do it yourself and it protects the engine.

[G-man]

RE: Do I need to winterize???

Don't forget to stabilize the fuel

[DanielC]

RE: Do I need to winterize???

Can you guarantee that you will not lose power in a severe winter storm? Even if your home is heated with Natural Gas, can you guarantee that there will not be any disruption in service?
Your issue is long term storage without running the boat. That is why you should "winterize" your boat

[jsimpson]

Install a Perko flush out kit and let the water pump draw antifreez into the cooling system. I have a flusk kit on my 206 and it works great!

http://www.marineengine.com/products...php?in=2820455 :razz:

[78LS2]

can't you just take off the main water supply line, put it in a bucket, and let the pump suck the antifreeze out of the bucket? probably the same net effect, just a bit less expensive

[Fredk]

We winterize every year even though our 206 is garaged also. We did it ourselves last year because we couldn't get into Jim at Marine Specialties in time before that first freeze hit us last year. We usually have our yearly service done at the same time ... that way we are good to go as soon as it warms up. Hint ... there is a new private lake that is fed by geothermal water south of Lahonton, we'll be in the water in March or early April Yellow_Flash_Colorz:

[SGY]

Fred. I'm jealous. How warm does the water get?

I'd winterize--at least stabilize the fuel and change the oil and tranny fluid. It's also a good idea to fog the engine.

[Fredk]

SGY,
Comes in at 145 degrees, usually stays in the 60's during winter (so the owner says. We just started skiing there this spring). Air temp is what kills in the winter!

[uncle-buck]

SKIDIM sells a nice engine drain kit for about $70. Just installed one on my 1990 SN. Very handy. Doesn't usually get that cold here in Houston, but it's nice to run the motor once or twice a month during the winter - and then be able to drain it quickly and easily after it cools down.

[GroovyNautique]

winterzing is extremely simple you can just drain all the water and it will be just fine. make sure that water comes out of each drain plug to ensure there is no blockage, otherwise you might be in for a surprise (ie a new engine due cracked block. surprise!). for added measure you can simply suck 5 gallons of cheap pink anti freeze through the water intake line. it's easily disconnected.

[ag4ever]

If the temp does not dip below 30 for more than a few hors, i personally don't see the reason to drain the block. The block will not rust if there is water in it, but if it is drained, the exposed surface will rust. That is why I put antifreeze in my boat when I winterize it. And I only started winterizing it when I started storing it more than an hour from the house. Before when i kept it at the house, I would only winterize it if the temps went below freezing for more than a day, and that rarely happens here in Houston.

The only other thing I do is keep stabil in the tank, but I do that year round. Don't ever know when my next ski trip will be, so I must prepare for the worst. Unfortunatly, it has been the worst for the last couple years. Only used the boat 4 time this year so far. Now hunting season is coming, and I doubt we will be going much more.

[FLCERIK]

Are you saying that if you drain the blocks and do not have water or antifreeze in them they will rust? Am I better off having the blocks full of water rather than nothing at all? Assuming the temp is never below freezing???

[78LS2]

you can't assume that the temps never dip below freezing, b/c you have no way of knowing what will happen.
at a min, drain the block. this is better than having them full of water. sure, you might get a bit of corrosion in the water jacket, but that is better than a cracked block.