When do you pull your freshwater boat?

[thedinz]

(Quote from posted link) For many years, likely exceeding 37, I have always drained our boats fuel tank each winter and re-filled it in the spring with fresh fuel. I would simply burn the old fuel, or what was left, in our homes oil-fired boiler.

Apparently the fuel in his tank was diesel not gasoline. Would it make a difference with ethanol?
Every year, I fill my tank and treat it prior to our last outing. When that trip is done, I just fog the motor and winterize. Whatever is in the tank, stays for the winter (Rhode Island). I have never had an issue

So you fill it and treat it for your last outing, so presumably your left with say 3/4 or 1/2 when the boat is pulled?

 

[JASinIL2006]

Personally, I'd be more worried about winterizing the engine correctly than whether the gas tank is full, empty or somewhere in between.

I bet if you polled a large number of boaters, you'd find people are all of the map on this issue and despite their varied winter gas routines, the vast majority have never had a problem. If you're really worried about it, put marine Stabil in the tank before your last outing; although it won't hurt, it's even debatable whether Stabil is necessary for over-winter storage.

I choose to focus on the stuff that probably does make a difference: good winterizing procedures, getting a fresh change of oil in the engine before it sits, and making sure I service my outdrive for the coming season. Gas is the last thing I'd be worried about.

 

[Dubed]

Personally, I'd be more worried about winterizing the engine correctly than whether the gas tank is full, empty or somewhere in between.

I bet if you polled a large number of boaters, you'd find people are all of the map on this issue and despite their varied winter gas routines, the vast majority have never had a problem. If you're really worried about it, put marine Stabil in the tank before your last outing; although it won't hurt, it's even debatable whether Stabil is necessary for over-winter storage.

I choose to focus on the stuff that probably does make a difference: good winterizing procedures, getting a fresh change of oil in the engine before it sits, and making sure I service my outdrive for the coming season. Gas is the last thing I'd be worried about.

Agreed. I make sure the gas is treated throughout the system and carb. Other than that, its not a concern. The only reason I treat the fuel is because I've been winterizing this boat since 08 and haven't had an issue yet... so why change

 

[Dubed]

So you fill it and treat it for your last outing, so presumably your left with say 3/4 or 1/2 when the boat is pulled?

Yes. Tank is 65 gallons, so whatever is left

 

[thedinz]

Personally, I'd be more worried about winterizing the engine correctly than whether the gas tank is full, empty or somewhere in between.

I bet if you polled a large number of boaters, you'd find people are all of the map on this issue and despite their varied winter gas routines, the vast majority have never had a problem. If you're really worried about it, put marine Stabil in the tank before your last outing; although it won't hurt, it's even debatable whether Stabil is necessary for over-winter storage.

I choose to focus on the stuff that probably does make a difference: good winterizing procedures, getting a fresh change of oil in the engine before it sits, and making sure I service my outdrive for the coming season. Gas is the last thing I'd be worried about.

Im not worried this was more of a red herring, it got brought up in the thread and i have had some quetions regarding it but was not the point of this post.

 

[cyclops222]

I never changed or drained gas tanks in all my years. N J is a very humid state. So is Clayton N Y. Grass is coated wet every morning.
Leaking gas caps, rags as gas caps Buying gas from gas stations with rusted out in ground tanks, Surface water getting into the tanks.
Lots of ways to get wet gasoline into boat, car, or airplane engine.
Not knowing is a fatal problem. Now you know what to do & check for.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

I do not worry about fuel level, I use startron to treat fuel and add a little extra to the tank before I drive the boats over to the landing when I pull the boats for the season.

 

[bruceb58]

@cyclops222 The link below is one 'test' of the empty tank theory, showing no water condensation. I wonder if you have links to other tests?

https://marinehowto.com/does-an-empty-marine-fuel-tank-condensate/

Yep!!! People that think there is all this condensation happening don't understand.

There is also this article that explains in terms of how much water air holds

The Myth of Condensation in Fuel Tanks: Need a Full Fuel Tanks to Store or Lay-up Your Boat? - Boat Maintenance - by David Pascoe

Frequently we hear it said that the cause of water in fuel tanks is due to condensation. I have long doubted this assertion but the issue has come up so frequently that I was finally motivated to try prove to the point.

www.yachtsurvey.com

 

[JimS123]

Looks like we may have deviated from the OP's question. To answer it concisely:
In days past when I had an I/O I winterized early October. Waited for a sunny day so I could do the fogging in the driveway. Then get her back in the garage for the other items.

Today, with a 4-stroke outboard I run her (weather permitting) until the snow flies. I can winterize in the comfy garage any time.

As far as gas tank, my tanks are ALWAYS full. I fillerup on the way home, so when I want to go out again I have to make no stops. Stabil added to every tank starting mid September.

I used to pull the battery and store in the basement. No, they are so close to the corner of the transom that I can easily do Winter charging without all the hassle.

By Thanksgiving, the boat is covered, winterized and waxed. Come Spring I merely need to check tire pressure and tighten the tie down straps. I'm back in the water 15 minutes later.