Winterizing Boats

[Bud Kennedy]

For you folks that live up north.  When do you typically put your boat away for the season and what do you do for winterization.

[Oldfart9999]

As early as the end of October and as late as the middle of December, depends on weather. I fill the tank and oil reservoir, Stabil goes into the gas tank, fog the engine, drain the lower unit and cover it with a tarp til spring.
Rodney

[Bud Kennedy]

Rodney, what about live well and pumps

[Mike Cork]

This is always a great topic each year. I wish it had "winterizing" in the title

Here in the south we only have a couple freezes a year, but when they happen I make sure to tilt my the bow of my boat as high as I can and then open all valves to make sure the bilge and livewell tubing is as empty as possible. The livewell pumps survive a nightly freeze like this.

If I lived somewhere that it froze for months I might think about running the pump for a few seconds just to make sure they were dry.

I wonder about tires? It seems like it would be wise to either move the boat occasionally or put it on blocks and take the tires into the garage?

[Bud Kennedy]

Good Idea Title Changed

[Smallie_Stalker]

This is always a great topic each year. I wish it had "winterizing" in the title

Here in the south we only have a couple freezes a year, but when they happen I make sure to tilt my the bow of my boat as high as I can and then open all valves to make sure the bilge and livewell tubing is as empty as possible. The livewell pumps survive a nightly freeze like this.

If I lived somewhere that it froze for months I might think about running the pump for a few seconds just to make sure they were dry.

I wonder about tires? It seems like it would be wise to either move the boat occasionally or put it on blocks and take the tires into the garage?

Mike, a lot of northerners do put the boat up on blocks in winter for that very reason.

Boat tires may be smaller in size than those on a car or truck but the quality ones still cost a good amount of $$$.


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[Oldfart9999]

Rodney, what about live well and pumps

The only time I use it is about 4 times a year, I drain it and run the pump for a few minutes, it drains completely when I raise the bow. Once or twice I'll rinse it out at home.
I should have mentioned stripping all the gear and baits from the boat, I'm thinking about raising the trailer and putting it on blocks, maybe.
Rodney 

[coldfront]

it gives me GREAT pleasure to ask:  what's winter?

[Lee Smith]

it gives me GREAT pleasure to ask:  what's winter?

   

Yea, what is that thing they call winter??

[Lipripper]

it gives me GREAT pleasure to ask:  what's winter?

It gives me no pleasure but here ya go 






There is a good side to it though

[Lee Smith]

Wut is with all that white dust on everything in those pics? Yall have a dust storm?

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but it's hard for us Southern folks to get a grasp! 

[coldfront]

   

Yea, what is that thing they call winter??

perhaps it's that thing I long for after 6 months of more of 95°F daytime highs and 75% relative humidity or more?

[Lipripper]

Wut is with all that white dust on everything in those pics? Yall have a dust storm?

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but it's hard for us Southern folks to get a grasp! 

Mother Nature has a bad case of Dandruff. 

[Princeton_Man]

Rodney, what about live well and pumps

Once the freezing weather reaches this part of the country I run my Etec's Winterize function anytime I come off the water. I keep a case of RV Antifreeze on hand (it's cheap) and pour some into my livewell drains and bilge pump ports.  I also pour little in the prop hub. It's cheap insurance.

[gatorglenn]

Heated garage, but I do take the radial tires off. And set her on blocks. I do this only after all the ice fishing gear is down from the attic.


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[Oldfart9999]

Wut is with all that white dust on everything in those pics? Yall have a dust storm?

Sorry for hijacking the thread, but it's hard for us Southern folks to get a grasp! 

It's because you live so far back in the swamp you old curmudgeonly swamp rat!
Rodney

[Lee Smith]

It's because you live so far back in the swamp you old curmudgeonly swamp rat!
Rodney

Country boy can survive!  MY theme song 

[Oldfart9999]

Country boy can survive!  MY theme song 

Good song to know!!!
Rodney