Tips for Winterizing the Boat and Motor

[David CVX-16]

Wondering if we can share information on storing the boats and motors for the winter.

I winterized mine Sunday because the weather was warm.

My tips are:

1. Change sparkplugs every year. I noticed that the electrodes after one year no longer had sharp edges.

2. Fill the bow tank full to prevent corrosion.

3. Use engine tuner or power tuner sprayed into the carburators and sprayed into the combustion chambers to sit for 1/2 hour before inserting the plugs and running the   engine to prevent carbon deposit buildup.

4. Put Bounce laundry sheets and moth balls in the boat to prevent rodents.

 

[wexrocks]

Aside from leaving an outboard down to fully drain of water, and circulating antifreeze through an I/O and then pulling all drain plugs and hoses, combined with keeping the outdrive down all winter to drain and keep water out to prevent cracking the housing... I'd also add to the list stabilizing fuel in the tank and running long enough to ensure it gets into the entire system. I usually add it to whatever tank of fuel I think might be my last on the water.

Pull the battery and store in moderate temps with occasional tend charge, change lower unit oil, water separator filter...

I'm sure more ideas will pop up, just throwing that out awhile.

For stabilizer I use Startron. That's... Startron... The greatest fuel additive ever made.

(Sorry, perfect opportunity for a long running joke)

[CVX Fever]

Adding to David and Wex:

I release the tension on the the trailer winch & transom strapes.

I crack seat cushions where I can so that air can circulate in and around everything. And I tend not store stuff in the boat that can get damp and hold moisture.

When you grease the gimble on an I/O do it while the engine is running. That way the bearing is spinning while your pumping grease into it.

When draining an I/O I stick a nail or something similar into the drain holes to make sure sand, rust ect. isn't plugging the drain hole. That way you know all the water is out.

When I change the water separator filter I fill the new one with gas so I don't have to crank the engine as long to get it started.

For fogging an I/O I spray 2 cans of fogging oil down the carb throat which seems to work a lot better than one.

[Jerry]

I cover it.

[Rich_V174SS]

Here's my thread on winterizing your engine:

http://www.classicglastron.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3616&hilit=winterizing

When I cover my boat I usually build an A-frame and cover it with a heavy-duty tarp. This way the snow slides right off without crushing the windshield or collapsing the cover. Just like the guys that shrink-wrap boats, but without the expensive shrink-wrap.

[David CVX-16]

Anyone jack up the trailer axle to take the weight off the tires?

[75starflight]

Anyone jack up the trailer axle to take the weight off the tires? A side benefit is theft deterrent. 

I do, it allows the springs and tires to relax.

[wexrocks]

All good stuff.

Something I learned from having fiberglass hull houseboats... When you tarp the boat tight, sun warms the air inside the boat. The hull on the bottom is cold, moisture condenses on the inside of the hull. Keep the nose up and the drain plug out. That also allows any water trapped in tricky spots or compartments that have semi-clogged drains to slowly drain out.

[wiliermdb]

I park mine under the carport, cover it and look forward to a Thanksgiving and Christmas cruise on the river. Sorry fellas, you can keep all that snow and freezing temps. We went out one night last Christmas to look at the lights people put out on their homes on the river.

We go speckled trout fishing here in January.

[Tom]

We go and play in the snow!   Average winter I put over 2000 miles on my snowmobile here in the Brainerd area.

[CVX Fever]

Right on Tom! My oldest son loves winter. Skating/hockey, snowboarding and riding his snowmobile, what could be better?

[WetRaider]

David - I planned on it with my old trailer, but once I had it parked under the cover, I barely had room for a coke can between the top of the motor and the underside of the cover ... it wasn't enough to get the tires off the ground.  Thankfully, that was the old trailer with the old wheels - the following spring I bought new wheels and tires, drug the boat out of it's hole and made the swap - there was definitely some deformity going on with the old tires after sitting for so long.
New trailer?  Definitely going to jack it up.  I'll have the clearance, now that the boat sits about 8 inches lower than it use to.  Time for some jack stands.

[David CVX-16]

I also stuff steel wool in the exhaust hub of the lower unit after hearing from Mercury mechanic Mike Foner that a mouse crawled up the exhaust tube, settled, and died in the combustion chamber over the winter. Engine blew up when started in the spring from the extra compression of the mouse in the cylinder.

[kert0307]

Reminds me of when my father in-law restored an old Willy's jeep. When he went to start it the first time he found out a squirrel had packed the headers and muffler full of acorns for the winter... lucky for him it didn't actually get into the motor. 

[dorelse]

Boat should be going off to storage in a week.

Do you guys plug up the exhaust relief holes to keep mice out of there as well?  Was thinking steel wool would work?

Do you also pull the 'good' prop?  Thinking I will?

OH...and I'm pulling the carb for a rebuild over the winter...should I tape the intake shut, or just cover it with a few air holes, so it can breathe?

[wexrocks]

Doran,
I don't know that I'd necessarily pull the prop, but, you want to keep the outdrive down, that makes sure all water is drained and nothing can collect in there, if it does, it can freeze and crack the case. If you think a flat tire would put the prop on the ground, pull it. It's good to pull the prop and grease the shaft (no jokes Gregg!) once a year anyway.

Anytime I pull a carb I shove t-shirts in the intake, if you think there are mice in the storage area that might chew through t-shirts, you could cut a template out of something to slide over the hole... Use the gasket as a pattern for the bolt holes on whatever you use for a "cover".

[dorelse]

Can't put the drive down unfortunately...I found a reputable storage place that uses a couple greenhouses to store boats/cars/campers, occasionally the boat has to be moved if someone behind me wants their boat out.

He checks on everything 3x a week, and always after storms.  Traps mice actively, and its $150 for the season...so I'm gonna give it a shot.

[84carlson]

$150 a season, seems like a great deal to me....

[Rosscoe]

One thing that always concerns me about pulling the plug is that it is the lowest spot to the ground and a sure "in" for mice.
I have pushed screen in the hole (from the inside) before but I am sure they can probably pull it out or chew it.
Lots of mice poison going in the new cave.

[wexrocks]

Can't put the drive down unfortunately...I found a reputable storage place that uses a couple greenhouses to store boats/cars/campers, occasionally the boat has to be moved if someone behind me wants their boat out.

He checks on everything 3x a week, and always after storms.  Traps mice actively, and its $150 for the season...so I'm gonna give it a shot.

In that case I'd let the drive drain as long as possible full down, then wrap it up tight in case there are leaks in the green house to keep water out... Cover the water pickups on the sides, everything.