Re: Winter storage.
You will get tons of opinions on winter storage procedures. I've found the hardest info to pull from is actually the manufacturers themselves since they start every other sentence by saying something like "we recommend you bring it into an authorized ******** dealer for any routine service" Not a real helpful feeling but this gives me the impression they don't want to offer too much "free" service information. I am not a cheapskate but I feel perfectly capable of changing my own plugs, oil, filters, and other small preventative maintenance tasks. Plus the dealer is over a 100 mile round trip for me which means after I return to get the boat I've logged over 200 miles to and from the dealer.<br /><br />Now to answer your question:<br />In cooler climates where things get into the single and sub zero temperatures, we have to be careful there is nothing in the motor that has potential of freezing up and cracking. You probably don't have to worry about this in your area but in a warmer climate you will have to worry more about condensation into the fuel system and evaporation of fuel resulting in the residual varnish as you indicated. A good fuel stabilizer will probably serve you well until it's time to visit the water again. You also may want to consider installing a fuel/water seperator if you don't have one already to capture and drain off condensation which has built up in the tank during your storage periods.<br /><br />Also, consider keeping a logbook with when and how much fuel and stabilizer you put in along with your other maintenance tasks. It is easy to forget and hard to prove specifics when you are left to guessing.
