First Winter with the Boat

[tms0425]

Love the charcoal idea!!

I am in northern Chicagoland area. So we will get snow, rain, sun, and wind all in one day.
I don't have a playpen cover, is it ok of they just shrink wrap or should I go find some cheap covers and cover the furniture?

We always took the mooring cover off and stored it, then shrink wrap the boat as is. Use lots of moth balls and dryer sheets inside. Leave all the seats up and make sure everything is nice and dry to start with.

[evinrude2stroke]

Love the charcoal idea!!

I am in northern Chicagoland area. So we will get snow, rain, sun, and wind all in one day.
I don't have a playpen cover, is it ok of they just shrink wrap or should I go find some cheap covers and cover the furniture?

That's fine. Shrink wrap it without the cover.

[katieclooney]

This is the way I used to do my older boat which had a 2stroke merc on it. I did it for many years and it worked well for me.

-Add Stabil to your fuel and run your engine long enough so the Stabil runs through.
-Remove the spark plugs and spray engine fogger (or add 1 ounce of 2 cycle oil into each cylinder) into the cylinders replace the spark plugs but leave off the wires. crank the engine a few times (this coats the inside of the cylinders)..put the wires back on the plugs.
-spray the outside of the engine & wires with WD-40. prevents and rust/moisture from developing & keeps the wires from drying out.
-change the lower unit oil.(you can opt to do this in the spring, up to you).
-put your engine in the down position to allow all water to drain out.
-grease any fittings
-remove the battery. This way you can charge it up a few days before get it ready in the spring.
-take off all the gear & clean her up.
-shrink wrap or tarp.

This is what a friend told me for winterizing engine....
Run the engine, remove fuel fitting and let engine starve. that way carbs are clean.
Spray fog oil down each spark plug hole.
if lower unit has water in it (milky looking water) then replace seals.
Change lower unit oil in spring.

He says its easy, I however have 0 engine knowledge. Is this easy?

[evinrude2stroke]

This is the way I used to do my older boat which had a 2stroke merc on it. I did it for many years and it worked well for me.

-Add Stabil to your fuel and run your engine long enough so the Stabil runs through.
-Remove the spark plugs and spray engine fogger (or add 1 ounce of 2 cycle oil into each cylinder) into the cylinders replace the spark plugs but leave off the wires. crank the engine a few times (this coats the inside of the cylinders)..put the wires back on the plugs.
-spray the outside of the engine & wires with WD-40. prevents and rust/moisture from developing & keeps the wires from drying out.
-change the lower unit oil.(you can opt to do this in the spring, up to you).
-put your engine in the down position to allow all water to drain out.
-grease any fittings
-remove the battery. This way you can charge it up a few days before get it ready in the spring.
-take off all the gear & clean her up.
-shrink wrap or tarp.

This is what a friend told me for winterizing engine....
Run the engine, remove fuel fitting and let engine starve. that way carbs are clean.
Spray fog oil down each spark plug hole.
if lower unit has water in it (milky looking water) then replace seals.
Change lower unit oil in spring.

He says its easy, I however have 0 engine knowledge. Is this easy?

Yep, very easy. That sounds about right. I like to crank the engine over a couple times (not start it) so the spray fogger coats the inside of the cylinder.
Also if your going to keep the gas that's still in your tank you should add Stabil to it.
It sounds like a lot but really it's not shouldn't take more that 30-45 minutes. Wear rubber gloves...it gets a little messy.

[katieclooney]

Aye aye, Captain!

Im not keeping my gas. Im going to use it up on one last trip if at all possible.
I have the removable tanks so I wouldn't be too heartbroken if I waste a gallon.

Question though....can you crank it on land without submerging the lower unit in water? Obviously it wouldn't turn over because of lack of gas, but does it harm it to just crank?

[ROLAND]

Aye aye, Captain!

Im not keeping my gas. Im going to use it up on one last trip if at all possible.
I have the removable tanks so I wouldn't be too heartbroken if I waste a gallon.

Question though....can you crank it on land without submerging the lower unit in water? Obviously it wouldn't turn over because of lack of gas, but does it harm it to just crank?

I wouldn't think it would be a good idea to turn the motor over without having the lower unit in water... You can however put some muffs on the water intakes on the lower unit and run the motor as long as you have water running thru the muffs into the lower unit.... also, I know on motors like my yamaha, you can hook a garden hose up to a connection on the upper unit... but that's basically for flushing the motor out...If I recall, you are not supposed to run the motor when using the garden hose connection.....

[evinrude2stroke]

Aye aye, Captain!

Im not keeping my gas. Im going to use it up on one last trip if at all possible.
I have the removable tanks so I wouldn't be too heartbroken if I waste a gallon.

Question though....can you crank it on land without submerging the lower unit in water? Obviously it wouldn't turn over because of lack of gas, but does it harm it to just crank?

You can crank it just don't start it. Make sure the plugs are back in but don't attach the spark plug wires. Let it crank like 2 or 3 times that's all. If you were going to run the motor you would need to hook up water muffs or submerge it in water.

[tuned]

Don't forget to get some 'dry boatin' in.
Those of us that are out of the water for six months or better thrive on it

[katieclooney]

I hate my life.....well, I hate my boating life....

Took her out today to burn off some gas before winter. It was windy and very choppy. I decided to be brave and go at it.
Start her up....shes peeing.
Get to the end of the channel, shes not peeing.
Decide to say it and forge ahead.
Im getting tossed around on the lakes. Fellow passenger and I are soaked.
I noticed that the engine would rev up occasionally. Propeller never came out of the water, but we were getting tossed so I am sure she got soaked as well.
Checked again, pee hole is trickling.
Decide to forfeit and head home. In the slip, she stopped peeing again.

Question is, do I just quit and pull/winterize her and get her a new impeller come spring OR can I still go out without the pee hole peeing?

Someone had mentioned that the pee hole is just a visual indicator that water is flowing through. I had NO alarms going off.
I had a new impeller come the beginning of the season, but got stuck in lake muck midway through. Since then she would pee, but not as hard, she went from having the pee force of a squirt gun to that of a garden hose.

I am so disgusted. Crossed my mind to just sell the damn boat and become a biker.

[tuned]

Don't become a biker, dear Katie. They can't swim very well with all those chains.

I wouldn't worry about leaving fuel in your tank. As long as you have put stabilizer in it, you will be fine. With stabilizer, many people don't even bother to run their carbs dry and just shut down for the season. Draining carbs is starting to be a thing of the past, but is a matter of opinion.

You do want to at least run some of the stabilized gas into your engine, although without pee indicator I wouldn't leave shore for long (if at all). Then pull your boat and you have all winter to sort out your problems (and get some dry boatin in).
Look on the bright side. You could be having MAJOR problems like some of the poor guys around here. Although I know that you have been very frustrated so far, chin up. Your cooling system is not overly complex or expensive to work on. A new impeller and thorough unplugging of your pee hose will have you up and running fine in the spring.

I have blown up very expensive motors (once with a full boat of hot chicks). I have taken off lower units and props. I have had rotten hulls almost sink me as I slept. These things all suck big time no doubt. In my humble opine, still very much worth every tear. One good run in the sunshine, and all your problems will seem very distant.

[katieclooney]

But id get to wear leather if I was a biker!

Can you unclog on land or do I need it in the water to fix?

[evinrude2stroke]

But id get to wear leather if I was a biker!

Can you unclog on land or do I need it in the water to fix?

You should be able to unclog it on land. Make sure you have the water muffs on if your going to run it. You can winterize it and wait until Spring to figure it out but Me personally, I would try to figure out whats wrong before storing it for the winter. It's not a big deal.
....Bikes & leather can be a pain in the ass sometimes too!

[katieclooney]

But id get to wear leather if I was a biker!

Can you unclog on land or do I need it in the water to fix?

You should be able to unclog it on land. Make sure you have the water muffs on if your going to run it. You can winterize it and wait until Spring to figure it out but Me personally, I would try to figure out whats wrong before storing it for the winter. It's not a big deal.
....Bikes & leather can be a pain in the ass sometimes too!

I am not going to run it on land, I will crank it a bit to get the engine fog spray through the carbs.
Since its not a big $$ item, when I change the lower unit oil in the spring I think Ill replace the impeller as well.
And if I hit the lotto during the winter ill have a damn power tilt/trim installed as well.

yea but bikes are at least on land and easier to inspect

[katieclooney]

And the plot thickens......

My marina posted their winterization prices.
$135 on an outboard will get you dry carbs, antifreeze in the top unit, and then engine fogged.

Now I thought outboards don't need antifreeze if the engine is dried out?

[evinrude2stroke]

And the plot thickens......

My marina posted their winterization prices.
$135 on an outboard will get you dry carbs, antifreeze in the top unit, and then engine fogged.

Now I thought outboards don't need antifreeze if the engine is dried out?

Maybe for as a precaution. . When I had my Jetski I would run antifreeze thru it in case there where some water pockets inside the engine. Those engines can't drain out.
I was always told that for an outboard just put the engine down and allow it to drain out. That's the way I always did it with no problems.
It definitely can't hurt. I'm not sure if the $135 is a fair price or not, but if you don't want to get your hands dirty I would jump on it. If your getting it shrink wrapped also see if they can give you a deal on both.