The End

thedinz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2014
Messages
151
pontoon pulled, power washed and mostly winterized a few days ago. Good week for it. Gotta go back and do oil, and lower unit. Cooler air on the Chesapeake, chilly ride a no go.
Heck, we've gotten snow/ice storms in Pa. around Halloween.
NO thank you on snow in october
 

rolmops

Vice Admiral
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
5,433
I fish Lake Ontario.
When I still owned a rig with an outboard engine, I delayed winterizing until the beginning of December. When I changed to a 3 liter mercruiser, I usually just drained all the water out, but went on fishing and again did not winterize until the beginning of December. That is mostly because the brown trout tend to get close to shore in 30 or 40 feet of water near the creeks that they swim into for spawning and because I know the exact location of some under water springs that produce relatively warmer water than the surrounding water, fishing this period is very attractive.
Now, however, I run a 4.3 liter cobra and the far more complicated cooling system makes me nervous and I will probably will winterize within the next few weeks.
 

Grub54891

Admiral
Joined
Jun 17, 2012
Messages
6,089
All out and coverd. The runabout, I got it running by jumping the starter. Did not find the issue as we had to get things done before today as the weather is getting pretty cold and stuff. Have to winterize the cabin today….
 

RGrew176

Commander
Joined
Mar 20, 2002
Messages
2,102
This past Saturday I put some fuel stabilizer in the tank and topped off. Dropped the boat off at the dealership for the 100 hour check, winterizing and shrink wrap. Season is done.

Had a great season and looking forward to 2025.
 

DeepCMark58A

Commander
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
2,385
Well the day came Sunday cool with a stiff breeze, the day that makes you think I should have pulled the dock a week ago when it was warm. Now I am going to tip the dock guys an extra $20 to cover their hypothermia.
 

Black58

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Mar 9, 2024
Messages
39
I'm done. 30s and wind time to put it away. Canvas on winterized and behind the barn for the winter. I'll bank fish some of the rivers for salmon for a couple months.
 

airshot

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 22, 2008
Messages
5,101
This old diegard is not giving up yet ! Long range forecast still has some nice days for perch fishing and the freezer still has some room for more fillets. Having an outboard and a barn for storage makes it much easier, but when I had my I/O, I added two light bulbs into the engine doghouse, the two 75 watt bulbs kept the engine around 60-65 degrees and around 50 with only one bulb when temps dropped below freezing. Winter is way to long and boring so I stretch my fall as far as possible.....
 

JonBoat55

Seaman
Joined
Aug 26, 2019
Messages
55
All covered and done in Southern CT. Have been for weeks. Normally pull the boat out at the end of October but the marina we are at was pretty hammered by the flooding we had in mid August. All boats had to be out by the following week so docks could be repaired.
Bright side was doing all the yearly maintaince during warm weather instead of freezing my fingers.
 

DeepCMark58A

Commander
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
2,385
Going to the storage garage to get the ski boat to bring it home and winterize it, should be fun.
 

DeepCMark58A

Commander
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
2,385
I had never winterized an inboard before so I read up online, made it seem like a big deal. I know stakes are high if you don't do it right but it is pretty logical. I chose not to bring the boat up to temp and pulled the thermostat instead, by the looks of it, needed to be replaced anyhow.

I did make a mistake on the anti freeze purchase, bought the pink stuff that was cheap, got home and read the label. Had to pay small town hardware store prices for the real stuff.
 

Pmt133

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 6, 2022
Messages
582
Supposed to be 80s the next few days. I'm heading out on the water in a bit.
 

thedinz

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2014
Messages
151
I had never winterized an inboard before so I read up online, made it seem like a big deal. I know stakes are high if you don't do it right but it is pretty logical. I chose not to bring the boat up to temp and pulled the thermostat instead, by the looks of it, needed to be replaced anyhow.

I did make a mistake on the anti freeze purchase, bought the pink stuff that was cheap, got home and read the label. Had to pay small town hardware store prices for the real stuff.
Many people use that, whats wrong with it? Its anti burst, i could slush up a bit but should be fine. That being said, dont know where you live, south pole?
 

flashback

Captain
Joined
Jun 28, 2002
Messages
3,971
I'm in Tennessee and I'd love to use the Ebbtide 2660 through October and maybe into November but TVA drops Chickamauga by 6' and the drop is already under way. The problem is that with the water down it is real easy to back the trailer off the end of the ramp and my Ebbtide trailer has to be put in really deep to load and launch the boat. The "END" of the season doesn't have to just be a freeze thing. I do have a 17' Lowe tin bass boat that I fish out of and that is about to get started after the heat of summer. Everyone be safe and hopefully spring 2025 will get here quick enough.
Me too just move up river and get a few more trips.
 

DeepCMark58A

Commander
Joined
Aug 17, 2015
Messages
2,385
Many people use that, whats wrong with it? Its anti burst, i could slush up a bit but should be fine. That being said, dont know where you live, south pole?
The container said do not use in gasoline or diesel engines, if all else fails read the directions, not going to gamble.
 
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