Do I need to winterize???

[FLCERIK]

The temps in my garage will never be below 40. My garage is heated not only by the heating unit but by the cars when we pull in at night. I would say the garage is usally the warmest place during the winter months. With that said am I better off leaving the water in the block or draining the block???

[jmo]

FLCERIK - as you have noticed by now, proper winterizing procedures differ based on who you talk to. The Correct Correct dealer here in New England recommend draining all the water out and leaving the plugs out as well - I asked them about the rust issue and they said PCM and the auto dealers said it would take on the order of 200 years of exposure to air to rust out the block, so I wouldn't worry about the rust issue. They have been using this procedure for decades without incident according to their tech guys.

The one thing leaving water in the system might save you from is having to pull your impeller (if it's not wet the fins will set as they dry, or if you dump the water and cycle antifreeze through the system like I do, you still should pull it afterwards since the alcohol in the anti-freeze will cause the rubber impeller to swell and potentially cause problems on opening day next spring) - but I don't know if you have to worry about the fins setting from being in one position for an extended period of time while still wet, so being the paraniod individual I am I would pull it anyways. It's something you want to inspect before the start of every season anyways as fins breaking off and clogging the cooling system probably causes more "down time" on the lake than anything else.

Anyways, just be sure there is no way your boat could get exposed to freezing temperatures: your wife leaves the garage door open overnight by accident, you lose power for an extended period of time, your kids decide to take the boat in December out to upgrade the stereo for you as a xmas gift, etc. :grin:

I guess as long as you don't get cold snaps of multiple days where the temp will be ~25 degrees or colder you probably okay even if you lose power, just remember if the block does freeze, it's a $5,000.00 mistake - hence why most people recommend winterizing it given the ramifications....

Hope this helps,

jmo

[FLCERIK]

JMO

Thank you very much for awnsering my question. You brought up some good points.

[FLCERIK]

OPPS- Spelling

ANSWERING

[jmo]

no problem

[fyrhog]

Can you explain more on this how it is done,,I do have the flush kit installed.
Thanks

[Westlotorn]

I will share the basics of draining. The engine will have two drains normally. One on each bank, look on the side of your block for a brass drain plug, they usually have finger grips or shaped like a T. Spin them loose and water will drain into your bilge. I keep a piece of plastic on hand, mine is 15 inch by 15 inch, I use this to keep the draining water from splashing my carpets. Drain the engine and drain the exhaust system, each exhaust manifold usually has a drain at the rear facing the bottom of the boat, open it and drain, the plastic again helps divert into the boat bottom. The water coming out may have rust in it that can stain the carpets. If you open a drain and nothing comes out this is common also. Unscrew the drain completely and take it out, a nail can be poked through the hole into the engine and open the drain, rust will plug these sometimes and they can be cleaned out with the nail.
I put a bit of marine grease on the threads on install which keeps the drains working smoothly. Both sides of the block will have the same 2 drains. I do not know if the single exhaust needs to be drained in the rear behind the engine.
The fresh Water intake pump has a drain also but I have never drained that one. Never had it damaged by freeze either.
Hope this helps. This takes me 30 minutes start to finish each year.
It is a good idea to park the engine over the winter with fresh oil in it. Old oil can be caustic to a parked engine.

[fyrhog]

Thanks for that info,,,I do appreciate it.

[Mikeski]

So, I will be the exception to most of the posters in this thread. I have never winterized a boat in over 50 years of boating in Northern California. My family has owned boats continuously since 1960, we have never winterized a boat. Based on what you have said about your garage there is almost zero chance your boat will ever suffer any damage from water remaining in the motor. It is mid January and part of my annual ritual is to take the boat and run a tank of gas through it once during the winter. There have been years in the past when we did not do this but is more important to do something like this now than it was before. With the new gas formulas the ethanol is not stable and it wreaks havoc on our fuel systems when it varnishes. This issue has only become a problem in the past couple years, just check in with the local garden equipment shop and they can tell you all about it. During the years when my boat stayed outside on a lift I simply put a 60 watt light bulb under the doghouse to add a little heat when the forecast dropped into freezing levels. Pay attention to the ice on puddles, if it's not thawing during the day and your boat is staying outside then you need to winterize or take necessary precautions to prevent freeze damage. This site has a sponsor with a nice product that provides additional protection a little more effectively than my 60 watt light bulb. Look at the sidebar, there should be a link to anybody interested.

Happy boating.

[fyrhog]

OK thanks,,,looks like we might be in the 70s today here in Nor Cal. This is my 4th boat through the years and I to have never winterized,,,boats kept in the garage.

[nyryan2001]

At a $7-$10k repair bill for a cracked block to have a quality dealer do the repair... you gotta ask yourself..... Do you feel lucky?

[fyrhog]

Well even though I might be on the lucky side of things I will charge my system with antifreeze through the Perko FP. Doesn't seem that difficult to do.I just need to make myself a clear pickup line so I can see the movement of the coolant.

[Yiger]

I left town for Thanksgiving and the temps dropped near freezing unexpectedly. To avoid future heart attacks, I ordered Xtreme Heaters for my boats. They seem to be a quality product and the boats have survived some impressively cold temps (for Florida) already. If you use your boat during the winter at all, engine compartment heaters are a nice alternative to winterizing. I will admit that I have no acceptable back-up in case of a power failure but I can always run down to the dock and drain everything if I'm home when it happens suppose.

[fyrhog]

Im always home so I watch the garage temp,,,,if it starts to drop I can heat things up.

[2001SAN]

At a $7-$10k repair bill for a cracked block to have a quality dealer do the repair... you gotta ask yourself..... Do you feel lucky?

Agreed. why take the chance? 15 mins drains the whole system. I did it every night for a week last winter when using the boat through a cold snap in Ireland. The more times you do it the faster and easier it gets. If you plan on using the boat just leave the dividers and stuff out so access is easier. I found that getting access is the slowest part.

D.