Winterizing in Dallas

[jjackkrash]

I store my SN 206 in a fully enclosed, but non-climate-controled stall on the outskirts of Dallas. When do you North Texas folks winterize and what is really required to protect the boat? I am planning on taking it to Buxton's this week, but I was just curious on how much winterization is actually required, and how difficult is it really is to do it yourself. I am not very mechanically inclined, but I don't mind getting dirty either. Also, I would still like to take the boat out during the winter, but I don't want to risk damage in the event of a hard freeze. Anyone go without winterization in North Texas?

Just curious,

Jack

[east tx skier]

I'm about 80 miles east of you in Tyler. If you can turn a wrench, you can winterize a direct drive inboard. I lump annual maintenance under the heading winterization/dewinterization though, so it takes a bit more than a wrench and a nut driverto do some of it. But easy all the same.

At the very least, I would (1) stabilize the fuel, (2) change the oil and transmission fluid, open the five drain plugs and disconnect the hoses at their low points, (3) remove the impeller if you don't plan to replace it in the spring (spin the engine over a few times if you don't remove the impeller to get the water out of the pump housing), and (4) remove the spark plugs and fog the cylinders (and turn the engine over by hand.

Things like fuel filters, new impellers, new spark plugs, etc., I do in the spring. I have a checklist I made for my last boat that would work as well with the GT-40 that I can email you. Pretty much the same except for the extra drain on the PCM motors, the fact that you don't fog the intake on the GT-40, the FCC on the GT-40, and the fact that getting the impeller out seems a bit more involved.

I don't run antifreeze through the block. If that's something you feel compelled to do, more power to you. I'm comfortable draining and pulling the boat over a few hills on the way back to storage. I store in an attached garage and draining has always worked fine for me. Others are more comfortable with antifreeze.

I'll be winterizing this weekend.

[surroundsound64]

I'm right around Doug's area (east_tx_skier), and I usually "winterize" 3-4 times a winter. However my "winterizations" are substantially less thorough than Doug's.

I usually get my boat out several times in the winter on the nice days. I just drain the water. Since I run it semi-regularly, I just change the oil as needed, at least in the fall... anytime now... then again in the spring. Spark plugs get changed as needed, or at least cleaned. I just have 2 plugs to pull to let the water out, and 4 hoses, so it doesn't take too long.

I highly doubt you'll be able to make it through the winter if you don't at least drain the water. You could put a drop light or something in there to keep the temp up if you wanted, but it's not that much trouble to drain the water,

[sharkbait83]

To you tyler texas boys, do you boat on lake jacksonville much and if so do you remember a 2000 ski nautique with a red n stripe that was owned by a guy named greg. If so then the update on that boat is that we bought and had it shipped to oregon and we are putting about 75 hours a summer on it in the ski course. Its a awesome ski boat :grin: Had to add a heater and hot water shower for up here though and put in the new faria gauges and a new wood veneer panel. By far the most favorite boat in the ski course around here. Just thought I let you know if anyone remembers it and to say its a small world.
Randy

[east tx skier]

To you tyler texas boys, do you boat on lake jacksonville much and if so do you remember a 2000 ski nautique with a red n stripe that was owned by a guy named greg. If so then the update on that boat is that we bought and had it shipped to oregon and we are putting about 75 hours a summer on it in the ski course. Its a awesome ski boat :grin: Had to add a heater and hot water shower for up here though and put in the new faria gauges and a new wood veneer panel. By far the most favorite boat in the ski course around here. Just thought I let you know if anyone remembers it and to say its a small world.
Randy

I came really close to biddng on that boat when it was on ebay a couple of years ago. Clean clean clean. You could've eaten off the engine. My dealer said nice things about its upkeep as well. You got a good one!

/Never been to Lake Jacksonville, but know of a few people who go there.

[bchesley]

I dont get to Jville much but I remember the boat at my dealer. I like the red N better than any other color. Its just so clean.