Table of Contents
How do you winterize inboard motor on a boat?
How To Winterize an Inboard Boat Warm the Engine to Winterize Inboard Boat. Fill the Tank to Winterize Your Inboard Boat. Add Antifreeze to Winterize Your Inboard Boat. Spray the Engine with Fogging Oil. Winterize Your Boat with an Oil Change. Clean & Spot Check Everything. Store Your Boat with SecurCare Self Storage.
Do inboard boat motors need to be winterized?
If you’ve got an inboard or a sterndrive (inboard/outboard) boat motor, then winterizing is an absolute must-do. This process prevents gunk from building up, keeps condensation out of the fuel tank and just overall keeps your engine healthy.
How do you drain water from an inboard boat motor?
Drain the Engine (for inboards and stern-drives) Locate and open the petcocks (some engines have bronze plugs similar to bilge plugs) underneath the manifolds and on the sides of the engine block. Remove the water-pump hose from the bottom of the water pump to let it drain completely.
How much does it cost to winterize an inboard 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.
How do you winterize a boat motor without starting it?
Two things need to happen: Oil Change and Anti-Freeze the Raw Water side of your motor. Oil Change works best if you can run the motor for 5 minutes or so and let it warm up. Helps make it flow easier and resuspends the particulates for easier drain/suck out.
Should I winterize my boat myself?
For the handy, self-sufficient boat owner, taking care of winterizing yourself is a great way to save money. Ironically, DIY can potentially even save you some time. Winterizing a boat can be done in less than an hour in many cases, less time than you’d spend just driving the vessel to and from the marina or shop.
Is fogging a boat motor necessary?
Fogging a boat engine is an essential part of the winterizing process. If you’re putting your boat into long-term storage, fogging the outboard motor is vital. You’ll spray it into the carburetors and spark plugs (carefully) so that the oil can coat every part of the motor.
Do you leave antifreeze in boat engine?
Note: Sam likes to leave the engine block flushed but empty for the winter. However, some marine engine manufacturers recommend filling the entire engine with RV antifreeze. Always follow your engine manufacturer’s advice.
What happens if boat is not winterized?
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.
When should you winterize your boat?
To be safe, it is best to start winterizing before temperatures drop below freezing point, 35 degrees Fahrenheit or 0 degrees Celsius and ideally, before they get below 40 degrees Fahrenheit or 4 degrees Celsius.
How much does it cost to winterize and shrink wrap a boat?
You can expect to spend $300-$500 each winter to have your boat shrink wrapped by a professional. If you are inclined you can learn how to shrink wrap your own boat. How much it costs to winterize will be greatly reduced over time with an upfront investment in equipment and an ongoing investment of your time.
How much antifreeze do you need to winterize a MerCruiser?
To winterize the engine with antifreeze, you’ll need a five-gallon bucket, and enough antifreeze for your engine and related plumbing (at least two gallons). If your engine takes a lot of antifreeze, you might also need a helper to add antifreeze to the bucket as needed.
What happens if boat engine freezes?
It’s the water inside your engine which freezes, and that can damage improperly winterized and un-winterized engines. Water expands when it freezes, and the force it can exert in expansion is strong enough to split rubber hoses, crack iron, and rupture aluminum. Your engine is anything but a solid block of metal.
How long can a boat sit without being winterized?
The rule of thumb we use is 2-3 days of consectutive freezing temperatures, day and night, and you are in trouble unless you winterized. For example, the past 2 nights here have hit freezing though the daytime temp is 50+ degrees so no worries. Yes, the boat being in the water does help, a lot.
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 it necessary to winterize an outboard motor?
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.
