Winterization Process in Water

[pescador]

This will be the first time I’ve kept my boat in the water all winter at the marina. I’ve done quite a bit of research so far and the winterization process does look a bit daunting. Fresh water systems, raw water system, live bait well, drains, sump pumps, hot water tank, bilge, strainers etc. It’s a lot to manage. Maybe once I’ve done it it’ll seem simple. And of course there’s the 100 engine service on top of this (which I plan to do).
Anyway, I’m looking for ideas on how people who leave in water, manage the process. Things specifically like; do you leave on a heater? Any concerns about fire? What about outboards, how do you get antifreeze into tell/tale impeller etc? What about a cover, do you run lines under the boat to secure it? Do you always fog your cylinders? If so how?

 

[tubber]

Mostly unrelated, but we had a binder with a long list of steps to winterize the family cabin. It made the process easier and faster each year. Guess who lived closest to the cabin?

 

[pescador]

Mostly unrelated, but we had a binder with a long list of steps to winterize the family cabin. It made the process easier and faster each year. Guess who lived closest to the cabin?

Ya, I’ve started one. It’s long and detailed and I haven’t even started Winterizing yet.

 

[Rain City]

This will be the first time I’ve kept my boat in the water all winter at the marina. I’ve done quite a bit of research so far and the winterization process does look a bit daunting. Fresh water systems, raw water system, live bait well, drains, sump pumps, hot water tank, bilge, strainers etc. It’s a lot to manage. Maybe once I’ve done it it’ll seem simple. And of course there’s the 100 engine service on top of this (which I plan to do).
Anyway, I’m looking for ideas on how people who leave in water, manage the process. Things specifically like; do you leave on a heater? Any concerns about fire? What about outboards, how do you get antifreeze into tell/tale impeller etc? What about a cover, do you run lines under the boat to secure it? Do you always fog your cylinders? If so how?

I drain the fresh water lines and leave the taps open at the stern shower and sink. When it gets really cold I leave the engines in the water. Other than that, just run the boat often. I do run a small heater on low in the boat, just don't run long crappy extension cords to it and don't turn it to anything higher than the lowest setting. Get a quality one that's made for this purpose.

 

[Bill 310]

We have a far less deluxe boat than many so we don't have as much to do.

I think of what we do is more changing to cold weather operations

I drain the porta potty and put that eco friendly not really antifreeze pink stuff in it.

Plug in the electric heater set it to medium heat and the fan to medium, and make sure the moters are tipped all the way up. I also tie the stern steering wheel so that the motors are locked straight ahead (that way they are are all the way out of the water.

Having the heater on in an all aluminum boat makes it a lot more pleasant when you first board and then we turn off the electric heater and turn on the diesel furnace.

I will pour a bottle of SeaFoam into the gas tank when I fill next it week. When we go out on the water in the winter I always fill up the tank when I get back to minimize condensation in the tank.

Batteries - the type that are in our flashlights , clocks etc. I put fresh ones in everywhere and do that again in the spring,

Oh, one more thing. we bring down our heavier floater coasts and pants , and some extra warm clothing/wool blankets in a waterproof Northface bag, in case we have to fish someone out or one of us gets wet.

We always take a big Yeti jug full of hot soup, and two thermos one of hot teaor consumme and the other of hot water for Starbucks Via Coffee/or tea with us and have cold weather survival gear on the boat . I buy some energy/protein bars at Costco

One more thing I clean all the windows really well before the cold hits.
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[pescador]

We have a far less deluxe boat than many so we don't have as much to do.

I think of what we do is more changing to cold weather operations

I drain the porta potty put and that eco friendly not really antifreeze pink stuff in it.

Plug in the electric heater set it to medium heat and the fan to medium, and make sure the moters are tipped all the way up. I also tie the stern steering wheel so that the motors are loocked straight ahead (that way they are are all the way out of the water.

Having the heater on in an aluminum boat makes it a lot more pleasant when you first board and then we turn on the diesel furnace.

I will pour a bottle of SeaFoam into the gas tank when I fill next it week. When we go out on the water in the winter I always fill up the tank when I get back to minimize the risk of condensation.

Batteries - the type that are in our flashlights , clocks etc. I put fresh ones in everywhere and do that again in the spring,

Oh, one more thing. we bring down our heavier floater coasts and pants , and some extra warm clothing/wool blankets in a waterproof Northface bag, in case we have to fish someone out or one of us gets wet.

We always take a big Yeti jug full of hot soup, and two thermos one of hot sweet tea and the other of hot water for Starbucks Via Coffee with us and have cold weather survival gear on the boat .

One more thing I clean all the windows really well before the cold hits.
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View attachment 121907



Oh one more thing we bring down our heavier floater coats and pants , and some extra warm clothing/wool blankets in a waterproof northface bag, in case we have to fish someone out or one of us gets wet.

I’ve got a Caframo as well. Do you let it run continuously thru the winter in the cabin?

 

[Rain City]

I’ve got a Caframo as well. Do you let it run continuously thru the winter in the cabin?

I do. As well as a small fan. Especially after fishing days.

 

[Bill 310]

I’ve got a Caframo as well. Do you let it run continuously thru the winter in the cabin?

Yes I do, but please understand the heater is sitting on an aluminum floor surrounded by aluminum seat bases. If I had a boat with more flamables in the interior , or was near things that might fall on the heater ie. charts and manuals I would have likely put some form of a fire guard around it,

 

[pescador]

Yes I do, but please understand the heater is sitting on an aluminum floor surrounded by aluminum seat bases. If I had a boat with more flamables in the interior , or was near things that might fall on the heater ie. charts and manuals I would have likely put some form of a fire guard around it,

Yes, I concur on minimizing fire risk. I’ve been looking at making something out of tile to set the heater on in the middle of the floor. What about your outboard? Do you flush antifreeze thru it? I always flush mine post usage with fresh water. I’m concerned in a cold snap that it could freeze up. I see hundreds of outboards at docks all winter. What do people do? And do you leave your motor in the salt water or tilted up?

 

[Pineapple Express]

Yes, I concur on minimizing fire risk. I’ve been looking at making something out of tile to set the heater on in the middle of the floor. What about your outboard? Do you flush antifreeze thru it? I always flush mine post usage with fresh water. I’m concerned in a cold snap that it could freeze up. I see hundreds of outboards at docks all winter. What do people do? And do you leave your motor in the salt water or tilted up?

If you're close to your boat I'd keep doing the fresh water flush and tilt up on the motors. When a cold snap is forecast just tilt the motors down to ensure they fully drain (unless you've got the Yamaha F350 5.3L V8 that DOESN'T DRAIN...then you'll have to use antifreeze).

Having the motors in the water for a week in the winter isn't going to have any appreciable marine growth (compared to summer conditions).

 

[Aquaholic]

Having the motors in the water for a week in the winter isn't going to have any appreciable marine growth (compared to summer conditions).

You could notice some anode degradation though.