When do you have your boat winterized?

[1st time boater]

This is our first year with our new boat. When do you typically bring it in for it to be winterized?

I want to try to get as much use out of it if I can.

[FOOT]

Due to hunting season I usually winterize my boat in Mid-October. However I do the winterizing my self.

Here's what I do:

1) Start engine, spray in fogging oil until motor spews out a thick cloud of oil.

2) Shut off motor and remove each spark plug - give each cylinder one more quick shot of fogging oil - replace plugs

3) Drain and re-fill lower unit grease

4) Make sure boat drain plug is in - pour gallon of antifreeze and 2/3 gallon of water in back of boat by bilge pump - Run bilge pump until water/antifreeze starts to pump out (you want as much left in the bottom of the boat as possible)

5) re-pack wheel bearings

6) clean/vacumn inside of boat

7) place 3 containers of moth balls inside of boat in aluminum pans (don't use paper or plastic) the moth balls will eat through them

8) Give the hull of the boat a good cleaning and a light wax

You're ready to put your boat away for the cold months.

[river rat316]

Never theres always open water somewhere

[mtreno]

i do mine right before i bring out the icehouse

[Animal]

I do mine when the ice covers the lakes. If you are not using the boat then now would be the time but, there are plenty of fish to be had during fall right up to freeze up. You can't hurt the engine by using it in cold weather. About the only thing that can happen in cold weather is that the live well pumps and hoses may freeze, but I've had both frozen solid and suffered no ill effects. I wouldn't endorse letting that happen. In late October I start adding seafoam or stabil to the fuel because I never know when the last fishing day may be. When the seasons over I remove all electronic equipment, dump rv antifreeze in the livewells and hoses, dump enough antifreeze to cover bilge and auto bilge pumps and run, remove all batteries and store inside house with 2 amp battery maintainers attached, remove plugs and oil pistons, drain fuel bowls to injectors, change lower unit oil, pull prop and check for fishing line and grease shaft. I put my boat away trashed and clean it up in the spring. I let someone else grease the bearings. Then I put the cover on and shove it to the corner of the garage.

[Hoffer]

Why do you guys put the anitfreeze in the back of the boat?

[Animal]

It allows for the bilge and the auto-bilge to draw antifreeze in to the pump. I use my boat right up to freeze up and I dump some RV antifreeze in after each use to prevent the possiblity rivot damage due to freezing. This was a dealer recommendation.

[upnorth]

When it is just too dang cold to fish out a of a boat any longer I usually do mine around the 2nd week in November.

[pig_farmer]

The day after Clearwater ice's over

[1st time boater]

We are going to bring it in to have it winterized. I just don't know enough yet to chance it.

So we need to remove the batteries? We have three of them. Will they take them out before they shrink wrap them or do we?

I plan to fish as much as I can up until the ice comes in. I pay enough for the boat, I want to use it as much as I can.

[Bobby Bass]

I suggest you just follow some of the posts here in regards to putting the boat to bed, it really is not that big of a deal and what you save you will get a few more fishing trips in. Batteries, bring them in the house clean them off and check them from time to time during the winter. The #1 thing to do if you do anything is change that lower unit oil. Cost ya 3.00 and 10 minutes of your time. Remember you are going to have this boat for a long time. Might as well learn now how to take care of it instead of paying some one. Lots of good tips here, you should be able to handle it. Some pros and cons about wrapping it for the winter also. This boat going to be stored outside-garage-rental- I usually put mine away at the first Vikings loss...... this year it will be later. Mine is kept outside under a roof. I jack the trailer up to take the weight off the tires and double tarp it. Throw some plywood to cover the tires from the sun and she has 17 winters under her now...I do make sure the trailer harness is tucked into the metal frame, rabbits do enjoy chewing the wiring.

[Pat K]

If the batteries are fully charged and in good condition you don't need to take them out of the boat. They are good to minus 60 to 65 degrees when charged. Take the ground wires off all 3 batteries to make sure there is no drain on the batteries. 2 months ago I saw a battery explode while being charged. It was in a '70 Javelin the owner was getting ready to drive in a parade. After seeing that, there is no way I would charge a battery inside my house. Battery mfgers store them in refrigerated warehouses.

Pat K

[Bobby Bass]

6 months is a long time to leave an unattended battery sitting in a boat. If it discharges it will freeze and at upwards of 60.00 a pop that adds up.

[upnorth]

I always pull my batteries after having to replace a couple in the spring. Not that hard and don't take up too much room on the shelf.

[Dave B]

I run mine year round.

[Pat K]

I'm 50, grew up on a farm with alot of batteries that were only used seasonaly. I've never pulled a battery out of anything for the winter, and never had one freeze. Any disconected battery that cannot hold 85% or more of its capacity over winter is going to have to be replaced in the spring anyway. Check the water, charge'em and load test them in the fall, if they're weak put'em in the basement and buy new ones in spring. If they are still strong charge'em up disconect the ground and forget about them till the water softens.

Pat K

[Gadgetman]

I've been leaving mine in the boat as I dont really want to take out 4 batteries and try and find room for them. I charge them good about Thanksgiving and again when we get any warm weather during the winter. Seems like we always get a day or two of 40 degree weather in Jan or Feb. Havent had any problems with mine.

[Bobby Bass]

Is that 40 above???? just dreaming here in Duluth for a 40+ day in Jan.....or Dec or Feb sometimes even March..

[upnorth]

Even if you get 40+ it will take a while to make a big enough hole in the ice to launch a boat, much less doing some trolling