What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

[Thales14]

Planning on buying our first boat.
I know boats need to be winterized (which i read as needing to be set up for storage durin the cold winter months so that damage won't occur long term).
But, what actually goes into "winterizing"?
Also, is that done on the Gulf Coast, where it's warm enough to boat about 10 months out of the year, and rarely sees really cold temperatures?
Any thoughts, information, or suggestions are much appreciated.
Thanks.

 

[emoney]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

In states that have freezes, they "winterize" because water in liquids on a boat (in the fuel, etc.) will freeze
and has the potential to damage a boat from expansion, etc. Here on the West Coast of Florida we don't
winterize, but when I lived in Kentucky we usually did.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

Southern Winterizing............ Drain water, change fluids and drink a beverage .......... then laugh at us poor Northern folks who endure sub zero weather, snow and LONG Winter seasons.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

If it's an outboard you don't do anything but store the motor down. For an inboard as I understand it you have to drain to protect from a hard freeze, ie constant temps below 30, if it sits on a trailer or lift. In cold areas you check the lower unti fluid for water that might freeze; not an issue where you are.

Keep in mind that when people talk about "winterizing" there are two seperate purposes. One is protection from cold weather, discussed above. The other is storage for the engine not running for a few months.

At least with outboards, they can sit idle for 3 months no problem and probably 6 or more. You do, however, have to treat your gas if you use E10, which you should be doing anyway.

Since you can boat year round I doubt you will need to do much. But one thing about winterizing is that it makes you attuned to annual maintenance. Like checking your lower unit fluid for water, which should be there regardless of climate.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

Southern Winterizing............ Drain water, change fluids and drink a beverage .......... then laugh at us poor Northern folks who endure sub zero weather, snow and LONG Winter seasons.

Nah...we wouldn't do that Bob...well, maybe the beverage part But I do trade my flipflops for sneakers and my t-shirt for a sweater

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

Live in northeast Florida and have had our cuddy cabin since April '09........haven't winterized. BUT, have to say that during our "so-called" winter months, I do go over to storage and start up the engine, let it run to operating temp, at least once a month. Boat is outside on a trailer. When we had a Bowrider in Colorado (south of Denver), we did winterize each year. It would be a must there!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

For me (MN)
Lower the lower unit
Disconnect the battery
Drain the water from the engine

Then in april
Change the oil and do any drive service that is on my schedule

E10 doesn't require any fuel stabilizer to sit for 6 months - put it in if it makes you feel better

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

Then in april
.... do any drive service that is on my schedule

What I've heard, and it makes sense, is to change lube in the gearcase BEFORE it gets cold so that on the off chance there's water present you catch it before it has a chance to freeze.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

... to protect from a hard freeze, ie constant temps below 30, if it sits on a trailer or lift...

Freezing can easily occur with the air temperature is as high as 36 Degrees, (Occasionally 40!) due to radiation cooling.
A boat out in the open on a trailer and exposed to a clear dark night sky will cool to temperatures BELOW the air temperature.

The maximum expansion of water into ice occurs at 31.999 degrees, that is, right at the freeze point.
Water expands 8% into ice as it freezes going from 32 to 31.999 degrees.
Ice shrinks as it gets even colder. All the damage is going to occur at 31 degrees!
It does not have to get into the lower 20s to crack a block!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

+1. I'm here in N.FL near the coast too and I've never "witnerized" anything. I've spent many an X-mas in t-shirts on/near a boat. If you lived somewhere with prolonged cold, or if you knew you weren't going to use the boat for several months at a time, it would probably be worth it to winterize, otherwise just fire the motor up once or twice a month when not in use and you should be good to go.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

My routine for winter in MN, is to change the engine oil and filter, fuel filter, and lower unit lube. Open drain plugs to get water out if the cooling system, then I flush with several gallons of RV antifreeze just to make me feel better that the water was pushed out. Top off fuel tank and add Stabil. Clean hull, pull battery for indoor floating point charger. Cover and store outside with lower unit down.
Every few years I pull the lower unit and inspect the bellows, gimble bearing, etc.... and replace the impeller. I've never replaced a "bad" impeller, they all looked fine but silly to not replace when you tear down outdrive that far.

 

[halfmoa]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

No offense to the OP, but I can't believe it's August and there's a winterizing thread up...

 

[kfa4303]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

I know. It's still well in to the 90/90s down here. 90% humidity + 90-100 degree weather......I love it

 

[oldjeep]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

I know. It's still well in to the 90/90s down here. 90% humidity + 90-100 degree weather......I love it

Its still in the 90's in MN Although a more comfortable 50% humidity

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

... to protect from a hard freeze, ie constant temps below 30, if it sits on a trailer or lift...

Freezing can occur if the air temperature is as high as 36 Degrees, (Occasionally 40!) due to radiation cooling.
A boat out in the open on a trailer and exposed to a clear dark night sky will cool to temperatures BELOW the air temperature.

The maximum expansion of water into ice occurs at 31.999 degrees, that is, right at the freeze point.
Water expands 8% into ice as it freezes going from 32 to 31.999 degrees.
Ice shrinks as it get even colder. all the damage is going to occur at 31 degrees!
It does NOT have to get into the lower 20s to crack a block!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

winter of 08/09 had 20 days of 20 degree mornings at the house in Bradenton Florida (just east of 75). Bird bath was frozen, lizzards falling out of trees, and yes, since I am a cheesehead, the block was drained and flushed with propylene glycol. winter of 09/10 was similar.

UncleWillie has the temperature and expansion correct. that 8% volumetric expansion can be a biotch

 

[partskenn]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

What I've heard, and it makes sense, is to change lube in the gearcase BEFORE it gets cold so that on the off chance there's water present you catch it before it has a chance to freeze.

I've seen that happen on a friends drive (northern Michigan winter). I always drain and fill mine in the fall, just in case a seal let a little water in.

 

[MCNPathfinder]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

No offense to the OP, but I can't believe it's August and there's a winterizing thread up...

This is depressing. It feels like I JUST got my boat out of storage. Not much time left in my boating season. About 3 weekends left before it starts snowing here in MN. LOL!

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

the 4 seasons of Minnesota: Nearly Winter, Winter, Still Winter, and bad sledding

 

[Tagerman]

Re: What is winterizing and is it done on the Gulf Coast?

My personal method of Tennessee winterizing: Check the weather--oh tomorrow is one of the 6 days this winter where the temp is going to drop below 32 and we are going to get a debilitating blizzard (3 inches of snow)? Honey remind me to throw the shop light in the bilge before I go to work in the morning! I know this isn't recommended but it's not odd for me to decide to throw her on the lake on a sunny January day to take advantage of the smooth as glass water I'm not wasting all the time winterizing it and I'm a loooooong way from the gulf coast.