Opinions on using boat after winterizing

[superbenk]

I'm not certain if I'll use my boat anymore before winter hits this year, so I'm considering winterizing it. However, I winterized last year around this time & November & December got pretty nice. I wished last year I had waited, but I had no idea.

What are the opinions here about using the boat before the winter freeze, but after winterizing it for the year? There really isn't much to my boat & it only goes in fresh water, so I'm thinking all I'd have to do before laying it up is just drain the block/manifolds and re-fill the gas tank. Is there any downsides to using it after doing the oil change & then laying it up for the winter?

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Opinions on using boat after winterizing

Not a big problem if you keep Sta-bil in the fuel and make sure everything is drained.
A few hours on the fresh oil is not that big of deal.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Opinions on using boat after winterizing

Ohhhh havnt alot of us been there . Prob not the end of the world if you use it once or twice. The oil just wont be perfectly clean anymore. I would want to run the heck out of it to be sure it gets up to operating temp for awhile to burn off any condensation in the crankcase. I would worry more about that one run being the time your outdrive has a seal crap out and getting water in the gear oil-freeze ,crack. Other then that, its just the hassle of flushing on muffs, draining water and refogging.... I think....

Ps ... those late season boat rides can be wonderful though. No launch lines no traffic, peace and solitude and here in Mn, going out on the river when the leaves are in thier full fall splender, maybe even after a dusting of snow, with a warm companion and a thermous of hot coffee.. Is its own type of magic ! I say Go 4 It if the opportunity presents itself !!! Hell yeah !!!

 

[superbenk]

Re: Opinions on using boat after winterizing

Ohhhh havnt alot of us been there

Ps ... those late season boat rides can be wonderful though. No launch lines no traffic, peace and solitude and here in Mn, going out on the river when the leaves are in thier full fall splender, maybe even after a dusting of snow, with a warm companion and a thermous of hot coffee.. Is its own type of magic ! I say Go 4 It if the opportunity presents itself !!! Hell yeah !!!

Wow, I never thought I'd look forward to winter, but after that description...

Sounds like I don't have much to worry about. Probably start winterizing next week, I guess.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Opinions on using boat after winterizing

Wow, I never thought I'd look forward to winter, but after that description...

Sounds like I don't have much to worry about. Probably start winterizing next week, I guess.

Go for it Skipper ! It just makes you a -richer- boater. Experience wise. One more boating dynamic to add to your memories

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Opinions on using boat after winterizing

The big difference would be between doing a long-term all out winterization or doing a short-term winterization I would guess. If you just protect it from freezing between uses and then use it once a month or so, all the fuel preventatives and fogging are not as big an issue.