Winterizing!

[TomB985]

Hey everyone,

I'm a new boat owner, just bought my first boat in July. It's a new 2011 Larson LX850 with a 4.3L TKS Merc with Alpha-1 outdrive. I've read the owner's guide pretty thoroughly and am constantly online learning about it! It's near the end of our boating season and I need to figure plans for winterization. I have a few questions...

First of all, the factory service manuals are going to run me nearly $240 for all three. How useful are these? It's a brand-new engine and am hoping that not much goes wrong for at least a couple years, are these necessary to winterize the engine?

Secondly, using the owner's manual I've found 5 drain plugs. 2 for the exhaust manifolds, two block drains on either side of the engine, and one near the water pump and fuel filter assembly. Are there more that I need to worry about? I'm obviously terrified of cracking the block by forgetting a drain plug, and am probably going to purchase freeze insurance just in case.

Also, when is a good time to winterize? It's starting to get a bit cold out, and it's going to start freezing at night from here on out. Upon seeing this forecast I'm going to run out and pull my plugs once I'm done with this post, but at what point does this need to be done to avoid the risk of freeze damage? I'm in NW Wisconsin, but we should be seeing some more 70?+ weather in the weeks to come and I want to spend as much time as possible on the lake! Should I just drain the block every time the boat goes out until I put it up for the season?

Any great tips for winterizing? Planning on replacing the drive lube, stabilizing the fuel, draining the block, fogging the cylinders, removing the battery to warmer storage, and keeping the boat in the pole shed for the winter. What am I missing?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

 

[mpdive]

Re: Winterizing!

First, Yes the factory manuals are worth every dime. I purchased a Seloc and have already found major discrepancies. Be sure to check EBAY for manuals because they don't need to be perfect and pretty.
Second, I am not familiar with the drain procedures on the engine, but the owners manuals are very thorough about the winterization process. Make sure all the water is out of your outdrive and is stored in the down position. You can drain and refill with antifreeze with corrosion inhibitors through the T stat housing as an extra precaution if you want. I always do. As far as when to do it? Hard to say. I lived in Cleveland and the weather would turn on a dime. If there calling for below freezing then prepare for it.
Make sure you dont forget to change your oil before storing it. Used oil has contaminants in it. Don't want to store an engine like that.
I usually fog and when it shuts down I pull the plugs and give a short blast in the cylinders and reinstall the plugs. Yes, after startup in the spring I pull the plugs and reinstall new ones. I get new plugs every year. Many others on the board can add to this and are very experienced at the winterizing procedures.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Winterizing!

Did you get a maintenance manual with your boat? I have one for my boat, it's a Mercury factory manual, supplied I presume to the original owner at time of purchase. It has all of the necessary procedures for routine maintenance, as well as a maintenance schedule. This would be all you'd need for routine winterization. When the service manuals come in handy is when you'd want to go a bit deeper, say pulling your outdrive to replace the impeller, and inspect and or replace bellows, cables, etc.....
That said, the service manuals will also have the same information. Maybe if you asked nice, you'd be able to find them for free.
As part of my normal winterization service, I change engine oil and filter, change fuel filter, and lower unit lubricant. Also drain the water from the engine/drive, fill gas tank and stabilize the gas. Give her a good cleaning out and in, ready to store.
I live in MN, and usually do this around Mid October. That's when my slip is removed from the lake, and it's still warm enough to find a nice day to do the work. It's messy cleaning the boat and I don't want to do it when it's much under 50 degrees outside.

 

[geneseo1911]

Re: Winterizing!

I'm in NW Wisconsin, but we should be seeing some more 70?+ weather in the weeks to come and I want to spend as much time as possible on the lake! Should I just drain the block every time the boat goes out until I put it up for the season?

I would

I'm in a similar situation, just a bit further south. We should still have a few weeks until the first freeze. I had a 2-stroke outboard before that I didn't have to worry too much about. This year we bought our first I/O, so I have been doing my share of worrying as well. I have done as much research as I could online, as well as reading the owners/service manuals, and I came up with a checklist that I will complete when the time comes. FYI, there is a pretty good winterization sticky, as well as links to Mercruiser service manuals, at the top of this very forum section.

We boat on a cooling lake for a nuclear power station, so the area near the cooling canal stays quite warm. This part of the lake closes Oct. 10 and re-opens Mar. 31 as it is left as a wildlife refuge in the winter. Geese & ducks are THICK then due to the warm open water. Anyway, those are my layup/recommissioning dates, but still with a close eye on the weather forecasts. It shouldn't freeze before Oct 10, but a late spring freeze is fairly common.

Just remember that the longer you wait to do the oil change etc., the more miserable it will be unless you have a heated shop to work in.

Here's a copy & paste of my checklist:
perhaps someone will see something I've missed, too!

? Blow out speedo tube
? Store PFD?s, GPS in house
? Treat vinyl, open all hatches
? Clean hull
? Check timing
? Inspect belts/hoses
? Check PS fluid
? Check trim pump fluid
? Lube cables
? Grease steering & outdrive
? Pull prop, grease shaft
? Torque gimbal ring clamping bolts (55)
? Drain Outdrive water passages(one on front of bullet, two on upper)
? Pull Outdrive, inspect bellows, grease U-joints & splines, check alignment
? Replace Bellows if 5 seasons old or worn
? Check Impeller. If bad or two seasons old, replace in spring
? Store outdrive in house
? Change fuel filter/ water separator
? Change Oil & Filter & run in
? Fog engine @ fast idle w/8oz light EO; pour last 2 oz quickly to stall engine
? Remove Spark plugs, squirt teaspoon oil in each cylinder, crank 15s, gap & clean plugs & reinstall
? Drain Engine cooling system (2 petcocks on block, 1 plug each manifold and elbow, power steering cooler, water pump) engine must be level; blow out with air, fill with -50 RV antifreeze
? Clean flame arrestor; seal carb inlet
? Tape gas vent, exh., bellows, etc. shut
? Store bellhousing in down position
? Remove, inspect & charge battery; store in house
? Block up trailer
? Remove tiedowns
? Spray WD-40 to prevent corrosion (include light, engine, & GPS plugs, batt. Terms., engine + drive)
? Cover & say goodnight

Some of this may not apply to you, especially with such a new boat. Mine is 30 years old, so I have to be a bit more thorough, and have "weird" stuff like carburetors and points.

 

[WILSONS88]

Re: Winterizing!

That is an excellent list to go off of. I would add fuel stabilizer to the tank and top it off. I let it run on muffs for 30 mins before draining the block and the oil. That lets the stabil get into the fuel system. You can use either regular stabil or the marine stabil. I can't tell the difference between the two.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing!

Have a look at the winterizing threads (#6 & 7) in the stickies at the top of this forum. O just click on the link below.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288430

 

[jmarty10]

Re: Winterizing!

I have the same boat and engine. Yes, you have five blue drain plugs/wing nuts. When you open them water should gush out for a while. My owners manual says to open these up to prevent freeze damage for the brief cold snaps. For full winterization they recommend anitfreeze. Antifreeze is debatable on this forum. The winterization stickes are great here. I also like the Long Island Boaters video on you tube. They show you how to winterize the correct way.

 

[paultjohnson]

Re: Winterizing!

One thing I would add is to add a vermin deterrent. Some use moth balls. I use bounce dryer sheets, and a new tip from my insurance agent is use peppermint oil. Get a bottle at a health food store. Sprinkle it on little pieces of rags and distribute them thru-out the boat. Smells good too. You DONT want mice wintering in your boat. Damn Varmits!

 

[geneseo1911]

Re: Winterizing!

Good tip Paul...I will be adding that to my list. I wonder if that will keep the coons and possums out too...

 

[Fireman431]

Re: Winterizing!

Winterizing?!?!

It's only September and it's still 91?!

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Winterizing!

Some of us living north of the mason dixon line are experiencing evening frost warnings already!

 

[TomB985]

Re: Winterizing!

I appreciate all the helpful input, guys!

Looks like I'll be winterizing this one myself, there appears no reason why I shouldn't be able to do it. I'll be adding freeze insurance to my policy just in case there's a 6th drain plug somewhere that I can't find...

And when I stop feeling cheap and lazy I'll spend the cash on the service manuals.

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing!

I'll be adding freeze insurance to my policy just in case there's a 6th drain plug somewhere that I can't find...

Keep one thing in mind, if something is full of water, antifreeze is not going to displace that water, the antifreeze will get to the water and stop, you can't add anything to a full cup.

 

[TomB985]

Re: Winterizing!

Good to know, Don. I'm seriously considering not using any kind of antifreeze this winter. Not sure of the benefit...

Sure it will prevent corrosion, but what the heck am I gonna do with it in the spring time? Used oil is a piece of cake, used antifreeze is a PITA at best to properly dispose of. What do you guys do?

 

[svxtech]

Re: Winterizing!

non-tox. it looses it's anti-freezing ability when mixed w/ water thats why you have to drain the engine first. in spring launch it and go.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: Winterizing!

You can use RV antifreeze- many brands have anti corrosion additives. It's the pink kool-aid looking stuff. It's non toxic and okay to discharge into the water table. On the other hand, air doesn't freeze- so drain water completely nothing to worry about.
The RV stuff actually does freeze- it gets slushy when it gets cold enough. But it doesn't expand when it freezes like water does.
Intestingly enough the substance is also used as a food additive- propelene glycol, I think to keep certan foods from drying out.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Winterizing!

I'm seriously considering not using any kind of antifreeze this winter. Not sure of the benefit...

Sure it will prevent corrosion, but what the heck am I gonna do with it in the spring time? Used oil is a piece of cake, used antifreeze is a PITA at best to properly dispose of. What do you guys do?

last year i finally gave up on the anti freeze thing. bondo's words finally got through to me. air don't freeze. the corrosion protection is great to have, but have ya ever heard of a block broke because it rusted through from the inside out? specially if yer a sweet water boater.
so last year it was air for me. less cost, less mess, less to do. drain it and be done with it. just be sure it's fully drained of all water.
fwiw. when i drain by manifold, i always get rust scale out of the drain. this seems to occur weather or not i use anti freeze or not. why i don't know, but the scale still happens. one more reason to not bother with it imho..

 

[TomB985]

Re: Winterizing!

Very interesting thoughts on the antifreeze thing. So it appears that with the proper antifreeze I can simply put the boat in the water, crank it up, and thus dumping this non-toxic stuff right into the lake with no ill effects?

Now that I'm confident that I've found all 5 drain plugs, it takes me less than two minutes to drain the entire engine. Seems just too easy to dump some antifreeze down the thermostat housing to add that extra layer of protection. Any negatives to doing it this way?

Thanks everyone!

 

[Don S]

Re: Winterizing!

So it appears that with the proper antifreeze I can simply put the boat in the water, crank it up, and thus dumping this non-toxic stuff right into the lake with no ill effects?

That is just a plain dumb thing to do. First, even if it is non toxic, why dump it in your local lake. Geeeee.

Next, and the big thing. Taking your boat to the water without testing things and getting it ready for the water is what clogs up the ramps with dummies and their non running boats every every spring.
Start it up at home, make sure it will actually start and run, make sure it shifts without shutting down when you go into gear, see if the steering wheel actually turns the drive, run the engine on muffs and make sure it doesn't overheat, or fill up the block with water.

Only amateurs head to the water without test running the boats systems.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Winterizing!

Very interesting thoughts on the antifreeze thing. So it appears that with the proper antifreeze I can simply put the boat in the water, crank it up, and thus dumping this non-toxic stuff right into the lake with no ill effects?

Now that I'm confident that I've found all 5 drain plugs, it takes me less than two minutes to drain the entire engine. Seems just too easy to dump some antifreeze down the thermostat housing to add that extra layer of protection. Any negatives to doing it this way?

Thanks everyone!

Ayuh,...When ya pull the T-stat housing, ya need new gaskets, 'n ya gotta scrape, 'n sand the old gaskets off....

If ya Drain it, ya don't need No parts...

Btw,... Ya also should pull the end of the Big hose off the circulating waterpump,...
It'll hide a Qt. or 2...