Post Winterization of 1995 Bayliner Capri ???

[Ramblin'man]

This is the first year summer owning a boat post winterization. The boat was winterized by a boat shop and I would like to have some advice on all the things to do and to take into considerdation before putting her on the water for the first time.

Im aware that I have to charge the battery as it has been sitting for about 3 months but what type of charger is best to be used? speed charger, trickle / slow charge etc....

Any additives for the fuel to help performance and to push the "winterization" out of it?

Excited that boating season is finally nearing us once again!

[NYBo]

A smart charger with a 10 to 15 amp charging rate will work fine. You may be surprised at how little the battery has run down, but charging once a month is probably better for the battery.

If the fuel was stabilized prior to storage, no additive required. Just fill up with fresh gas and go!

[Ramblin'man]

You must be the Bayliner king on IBoats because I see your name on just about every post I read. Guess you dont get to Captain without knowing your stuff!?

The fuel was stabilized during winterization. I have heard a lot about Sea Foam. What is your take on this stuff. We bought the boat last year when it was fresh out of winterization. Before purchasing, I took it to a boat dealership and shop to have a full inspection. The inspection turned up nothing but praises which was a surprise given their opportunity to make more money.

When at full speed, the boat would sputter for a second, then full throttle. It even actually died once, but usually it will do it a couple times, I back off the throttle and it will go away. It did not happen everytime we took it out but seemed to happen only in full throttle and quite often. I talked to the boat shop that winterized it and said that may happen until the stabilizer was flushed through the system. I tend to fill my boat up every time I pull it off the lake so my tank is rarely past half full. It didnt seem feasible that there would be enough stabilizer in the fuel to keep this happening but I am a new boat owner.

Whats your take on this?

[NYBo]

If the proper amount of stabilizer was added and the motor was run long enough for the treated fuel to completely fill the fuel bowl in the carburetor, the issue is elsewhere. Water in the fuel, for example, or fuel starvation caused by a partially clogged fuel filter.