Table of Contents
How do you winterize a boat step by step?
How To Winterize Your Boat Step 1: Replace engine oil. Step 2: Flush and drain cooling water. Step 3: Stabilize fuel. Step 4: Protect internal engine components. Step 5: Replace gear oil. Step 6: Grease and lubricate. Step 7: Remove valuables. Step 8: Clean and wax.
How do you winterize a boat engine?
The basics of winterising your outboard Give the motor a good freshwater flush. Change the lower unit oil. Since the introduction of ethanol, adding a fuel stabiliser for the winter is an absolute must. Hook up the water again and run the motor for a good 10-15 minutes, to work the stabilized fuel through the motor.
At what temperature do you need to winterize a boat?
As soon as the weather gets below 32 degrees, water begins to freeze, with water with impurities or saltwater in it starting to freeze at 28 degrees. In most cases, the water will not freeze solid (leading to cracked engine blocks) until the temperatures stay below 32 for several days and nights.
What does boat winterization include?
At its most basic, winterizing means draining any water aboard or replacing it with enough of the right kind of antifreeze to protect against the lowest temperatures your boat might experience. Winterizing most boats takes from an hour to a day.
Is winterizing a boat necessary?
Winterizing a boat is an essential process unless you plan to make necessary repairs to your boat come springtime. If you do not winterize your boat, any water droplets left could freeze, expand, and crack the components they were in. This could cause anything from blowing off a hose to completely ruining your engine.
How much does it cost to winterize a boat?
If you winterize your boat yourself, it will cost you about $250. This price includes the cost of winterizing the engine, the other systems of your boat, and cleaning it, stem to stern, inside and out. However, if you have the work done at a boatyard, expect to spend $500 up.
Do you drain the oil when you winterize a boat?
Drain the engine Draining the Engine is crucial in winterizing your boat. If you don’t drain the engine, any leftover water can freeze, expand, and crack the engine block and manifolds. Outboard engines self-drain and never require this step. Cost if you do: $0.
Do you have to use antifreeze to winterize a boat?
Do you have to use antifreeze when you winterize your boat? You should use antifreeze to winterize your boat if you have an inboard engine or any systems with pipes or that carry water. You should also consider using it in your bilge. For outboard motors, you don’t have to use antifreeze.
Do outboards need to be winterized?
If you want your engine to start in the spring and last you many years and plan on not using your engine all winter, you do have to winterize an outboard motor. Winterizing the engine helps to prevent damage during disuse, which is the chief cause for engine failure. Failing to winterize may lead to complications.
What happens if you don’t winterize your boat?
If You Don’t Winterize Your Boat, Here’s What Happens: Water freezes and expands and can damage anything it’s trapped inside. Water may seep into unprotected spaces to do this. Acidic and corrosive wastes, salt and corrosion buildup can damage delicate parts in engines. Fuels break down or grow dirty.
How long can a boat be winterized?
How long does boat winterization last? Ideally, one year. But many a boater have pushed it to two years or more. Keep in mind when winterizing your boat for more than a year, you will need to take special care to check rubber parts and components for dry rot like hoses, impellers, engine primer bulbs and belts.
Do you need to winterize boat if stored inside?
Keeping your boat indoors in a designated facility with climate control is the most preferred way of storing during the off-season. Therefore, they should be winterized much sooner in the season compared to the boats kept in the water.
Can you use car antifreeze in a boat?
In contrast, auto antifreeze is designed to be used both as antifreeze and coolant for your car engine and can be extremely toxic and environmentally damaging. Car antifreeze should never be used in a boat engine.
Should I leave my outboard motor up or down?
You want to leave the engine in the totally trimmed down position. This will allow all of the water to leak out of the engine, midsection, and lower unit. Making sure that there is not any water in the Lower Unit that could rust gears or freeze and destroy the gear case by flushing the engine with fresh water.
How do you Summerize a boat?
How To Summerize A Boat! Check the Lower Unit oil for water. Flush & Fog the Engine. Drain the Engine’s VST or Carburetors. Turn off Battery Switches, or disconnect the ground lead from the battery but leave the bilge pump float switch hooked up. Remove or cover all of the boats cushions.
