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Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 10:00 am
by swmpbgy1
Good afternoon all...….

I have a 2017 Lowe SS210 with a Merc CT 90......When I put the boat away last winter, I had the 20 hour service completed with oil change and gear box oil change. Fast forward to today.....I have moved from West Virginia back to Virginia and have only maybe put an hour on the boat this season. I have a covered slip on Smith Mountain Lake and intend to use the boat well into November.....maybe another 5 hours of use at most. The slip has a lift and I will winter the boat there....My dilemma is....do I really need to change the gear box oil before winter hits????

Thanks...……
Swmpbgy1

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 11:01 am
by steve1313
No way! You'll be fine. And you'll probably find plenty of days into December and maybe early into the new year to get out on the lake! I love a nice winter day to get out on the lake. It's almost empty and it feels like I'm stealing a day!

Enjoy

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 11:19 am
by Marc K
steve1313 wrote:
Mon Sep 24, 2018 11:01 am
No way! You'll be fine. And you'll probably find plenty of days into December and maybe early into the new year to get out on the lake! I love a nice winter day to get out on the lake. It's almost empty and it feels like I'm stealing a day!

Enjoy
Agree! And I like the way that you put that......

Marc

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 11:37 am
by Bamaman
+2--not needed.

Glad you're really taking care of your boat--keeping it out of the water.

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Mon Sep 24, 2018 3:10 pm
by Coldbrew
Just a little something from those of us in the colder climates: :fyou

:lol:

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 6:01 am
by Marc K
:biggrin2 :lol3

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:02 pm
by smltooner
Welcome to the club, swmpbgy1, from another SML 'tooner.

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:55 am
by swmpbgy1
smltooner wrote:
Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:02 pm
Welcome to the club, swmpbgy1, from another SML 'tooner.
SML Tooner…...Thank you!! I've been away from SML for 20 years.....my wife and I are happy to be back.

Thank you all for the replies....I figured I would be good for this winter season, but wanted to hear from tooners more learned than I.....We will be on the water as conditions allow!! I love the marina we are in....Large slips and lifts.

Thanks again!!!!
Swmpbgy1

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2018 2:39 pm
by smltooner
swmpbgy1 wrote:
Wed Sep 26, 2018 9:55 am
smltooner wrote:
Tue Sep 25, 2018 3:02 pm
Welcome to the club, swmpbgy1, from another SML 'tooner.
SML Tooner…...Thank you!! I've been away from SML for 20 years.....my wife and I are happy to be back.

Thank you all for the replies....I figured I would be good for this winter season, but wanted to hear from tooners more learned than I.....We will be on the water as conditions allow!! I love the marina we are in....Large slips and lifts.

Thanks again!!!!
Swmpbgy1
SML has changed a lot in the last 20 yrs.
Which marina are you using?

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2018 12:18 am
by ROLAND
swmpbgy1 wrote:
Mon Sep 24, 2018 10:00 am
.do I really need to change the gear box oil before winter hits????

Thanks...……
Swmpbgy1
Absolutely not.... you'll be fine...

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2018 7:29 am
by swmpbgy1
[[/quote]
SML has changed a lot in the last 20 yrs.
Which marina are you using?
[/quote]

SMLT...…..

We are at WaterWheel……...you?

Swmpbgy1

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Sat Sep 29, 2018 8:40 pm
by smltooner
swmpbgy1 wrote:
Thu Sep 27, 2018 7:29 am
[
SML has changed a lot in the last 20 yrs.
Which marina are you using?
[/quote]

SMLT...…..

We are at WaterWheel……...you?

Swmpbgy1
[/quote]

We live on the lake full time.
We are on the Blackwater side, below Gills Creek.

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2018 7:58 am
by Strake
Welcome back to SML !!!

I'd still use your boat through out the winter on nice days...... we have. I wouldn't change the lower unit oil until next fall with only 1 hour's use this year.

Enjoy it !

Richard

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 9:26 am
by swmpbgy1
Let me ask another question while I'm thinking of it.....I have a Cabela's Pro Series Dual Bank Onboard Marine Battery Charger, that I keep plugged in while docked, will my batteries be ok throughout the winter?

Swmpbgy1

Re: Winterize Dilemma

Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2018 11:55 am
by steve1313
You'll be fine with that charging setup. In fact, you'd be fine without any sort of charger during the winter. My boat is on Lake Anna and in the past three years, I've never had the batteries near a charger and they are fine. The only winter "prep" I do for the batteries is to make sure the master battery switch is off, so there isn't anything that could be draining the batteries. I think the longest I've gone during the winter without running my boat was 4 months. I uncovered it, turned the key and it fired in a second or two. With a new motor and new batteries you could expect the same.

I personally think that boat owners worry WAY too much about their batteries losing charge. Today's batteries (especially AGM's) hold a charge a long time if they don't have any drain on them. Trolling motor batteries are obviously the exception and need charging. Starting and accessory batteries will be fine.