Boat winterizing?

[chrisvmo]

What are the proper steps to winterizing a boat...I'm sure it is alot cheaper to do it myself any tips or advice?

[Skulley]

I do my own winterizing.  First thing I do is run some Stabile through the motor on my final trips out.  On the day I winterize the first thing I do is fog the motor.  I use Johnson/Evinrude (OMC) engine fogger.  Next I change the lower unit gearcase oil.  I again use the Johnson/Evinrude (OMC) Gear Case Lubricant.  Next I put dryer sheets in all the dry storage to keep the vermin out.  I also duct tape all the orifaces in the engine to keep the vermin from making a home inside my motor.  Then I put it in the garage and kiss it goodnight.

I just did my winterizing Thursday.      I sure am going to miss fishing until ice out.  I usually get my boat back out right after ice out.  Looking forward to the Novi Ultimate Fishing Show in January.

BD             

[Cy]

Yeah...what he said!  You can do the entire thing yourself for about $30, less if you already have a gear lube pump, and it takes about an hour of your time.

Cy

[motocross269]

I posted a pretty good article on winterizing down in the Boats forum....

[Skulley]

I already had the pump which I bought long ago.  The gear lube is about 30 bucks a gallon or so.  Stabile is about 10 bucks.  After that it is nothing but time.  So actually you can do it for about 30 to 40 bucks and it is not that difficult.  The article that moto posted in the boats section was pretty good and more detailed. 

BD         

[motocross269]

I basically do what you do in a nutshell UAWbig dog....The only thing extra I do is pull the batteries out because I store my boat up north in a Pole barn and can't monitor them...I also make sure to pull my electronics..The guy in the article says to pull the TM but I think that is a little too much..
Has anyone found a good quality lube pump??  I have to buy a new one every year because the Merc one falls apart..I bought a lubriquip this year and it did the same thing...

[Skulley]

My gear lube pump is a OMC that fits the threads for the drain plug.  It cost me 16.95 about 5 or 6 years ago.  I don't know if the threads are the same as the Merc.  Got Fish?? has a Mariner motor and that's a Merc and his pump fell apart too.  I did pull all the electronics and I store them in my desk in my home office.  I have a three bank pro charger and my batteries stay on charge all through the winter.  That was the recommendation from Complete Battery Source where I bought my batteries.

BD           

[yukonjack2]

don't forget - good idea to unplug the speedo and water pressure lines at the back of the gauge, as well as run RV antifreeze through the livewell and bilge pumps - takes ab out two gallons, so add another $5-6.