Winterized!

R

Rick D

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Oct 15, 2010
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32381
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Finally finished winterizing the engines, genny, water and waste system. I will sleep better at night now especially as we are getting colder at night.

A bunch of winter projects to do... but one which will definitely get done is to attach remote oil filters to both engines... starboard is easy... but the port is borderline impossible to change. On that note, I want to apologize to anyone within earshot of my boat today for the colorful language they may have heard during my contortion attempt at replacing the port oil filter before I finally gave up and removed the elbows and risers.... won't happen again.

--Rick
 
Feel ya! Did my marine yoga last weekend. Good thing too as it dipped below freezing last night. Still sore from the contortions. Also thinking about remotes for engine oil filters. Remember thinking about it last year at this time too. Procrastination's a bitch. At least I didn't have to remove anything to get to my oil filters! Not so for the secondary fuel filters: heat exchangers have to come off to get to those. The things we do for our gals...
 
I was doing mine today, almost finished, and am I ever sore!
 
I have significant space between my engines. One of the best things I did was order the remote filter for the starboard engine so they are both in the center walkway.
 
So Rick, now that you've put her to bed for the winter, what do you think of boat ownership? I know you've run into more then your fair share of challenges on top of just learning about boat ownership in general. At one point I worried that you were so disgusted, you were going to give it all up. I'm so glad you have hung in there! And just look at all the knowledge you have gained! Learning new things was always one of the draws to owning a boat for me. I was still learning after 25 yrs.....

Congrats on hanging in there: when the going gets tough, the tough get going!

Thumbsup.jpg
 
I just finished winterizing yesterday, I am pretty sore from watching the marina power wash and pump the pink stuff through. All kidding aside I do 90% of everything myself I would just rather my marina pumps the pink stuff through the engines and generator. I sleep better at night, the water system is the easiest thing in the world.

Heres to a long winter!
 
A short and pleasant winter to every one of you! I know some had short seasons due to mechanical issues and my wish for you is for a long, happy, trouble free, great weather 2012 season.
 
going to do mine tomorrow, I was also looking at remote oil filter kits, but the good ones (Merc OEM) are pricey there are still a lot of points that can leak...I was lucky I finally found a cap wrench that fits the GM V-6 oil filters to make changing the oil filter easier..on my boat that's the only tight spot but when I remove the port side rear seat, push back the port side battery, I can get back there without too much trouble....
 
I am hoping to get at least 4 more weekends (extended) before we officially winterize and pull the boat. Once the water temp hits about 40 degrees the heat pumps on the reverse AC units have trouble keeping the boat warm. If I had it my way there wouldn't be any winterization just moving the boat south.
Bill
 
I winterized my engines this week. Never a happy time here in southern New England but it was done and they hauled my boat today.

I installed remote oil filters several weeks ago. I have old Chrysler engines that have a filter mount on the block at an angle that absolutely guarantees lots of oil in the bilge every time you change it. I found adapters that fit both Ford and Chrysler of that vintage (1980s) and one mounted easily on the starboard block that I could see and the other, on the port block, that required hanging over the engine with a flashlight in my teeth.

I bolted the remote filters to the stringers and now can drop the old filters into an aluminum pan and be done it without dumping any oil into the bilge.

I had hoses made up at a local shop that makes industrial hoses. They fit perfectly: 40 inch long hoses for the starboard side and 56 inch hoses for the port side.

Bill
 
quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

So Rick, now that you've put her to bed for the winter, what do you think of boat ownership? I know you've run into more then your fair share of challenges on top of just learning about boat ownership in general. At one point I worried that you were so disgusted, you were going to give it all up. I'm so glad you have hung in there! And just look at all the knowledge you have gained! Learning new things was always one of the draws to owning a boat for me. I was still learning after 25 yrs.....

Congrats on hanging in there: when the going gets tough, the tough get going!

Click to expand...


Thanks Flutters.
What do I think of boat ownership.... well, it's a mixed bag. There have been times that, exasperated by monetary issues, I was down right despondent with the boat. But I know what I have know as I've tinkered with just about every aspect of the boat. Giving it all up was never really an option because financially, I would walk away in the red.... and quite frankly, owning a boat, at least for me, is proving to be borderline obsessive... I think about it during the day, at night, when I see another one being towed on the highway, whenever. When can I go on it next, where is the next port going to be, what new thingy can I add to it. It's become somewhat of a therapy... even winterizing (aside from the oil filter issue) was the highlight of my day because I could play on it.

Oh well, really looking forward to next year. Maybe an early start to winter means and early start to spring? :)

--Rick
 
I guess I should count my blessings. Both of my oil filters are upright & easily accessible. They are on '93 Crusader 454 XLs in my Silverton 37C. Been down the route where some dip desighner thought oil filters s/b upside down or horizontal. Go figure !
 
I used to rue the end of Summer routine. Now I wish I was still in a place where I had to go through it. It would mean a good boat again, the pleasure of using that boat....You guys relish the days now cause your gonna miss em' later on.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Rick D

quote:
Originally posted by Flutterby

So Rick, now that you've put her to bed for the winter, what do you think of boat ownership? I know you've run into more then your fair share of challenges on top of just learning about boat ownership in general. At one point I worried that you were so disgusted, you were going to give it all up. I'm so glad you have hung in there! And just look at all the knowledge you have gained! Learning new things was always one of the draws to owning a boat for me. I was still learning after 25 yrs.....

Congrats on hanging in there: when the going gets tough, the tough get going!

Click to expand...


Thanks Flutters.
What do I think of boat ownership.... well, it's a mixed bag. There have been times that, exasperated by monetary issues, I was down right despondent with the boat. But I know what I have know as I've tinkered with just about every aspect of the boat. Giving it all up was never really an option because financially, I would walk away in the red.... and quite frankly, owning a boat, at least for me, is proving to be borderline obsessive... I think about it during the day, at night, when I see another one being towed on the highway, whenever. When can I go on it next, where is the next port going to be, what new thingy can I add to it. It's become somewhat of a therapy... even winterizing (aside from the oil filter issue) was the highlight of my day because I could play on it.

Oh well, really looking forward to next year. Maybe an early start to winter means and early start to spring? :)

--Rick

Click to expand...


By the sound of it it's official. Your hooked!
 
Finished the diesel engines today, and did the Scout's outboard, washdown & livewell. All winterizing is FINI!

Now I have to make my Kover Klamp frame and put a tarp over the boat.
 
I like the nickname "Scout" for the RIB explorer. Apprapoe!
 
Mine is all winterized. It just needs a good cleaning and it's ready to cover. I might change a couple of gauges before the wrap goes on though.
 
quote:
Originally posted by Rick D

What do I think of boat ownership.... well, it's a mixed bag. There have been times that, exasperated by monetary issues, I was down right despondent with the boat. But I know what I have know as I've tinkered with just about every aspect of the boat. Giving it all up was never really an option because financially, I would walk away in the red.... and quite frankly, owning a boat, at least for me, is proving to be borderline obsessive... I think about it during the day, at night, when I see another one being towed on the highway, whenever. When can I go on it next, where is the next port going to be, what new thingy can I add to it. It's become somewhat of a therapy... even winterizing (aside from the oil filter issue) was the highlight of my day because I could play on it.

Oh well, really looking forward to next year. Maybe an early start to winter means and early start to spring? :)

--Rick
Click to expand...


Yup, you've got the bug! I was exactly the same way for 25 yrs! Hope next year is wonderful for you and all the kinks have been worked out now.

Like Thuddie, I miss boating very much, but I just have to accept what is my new reality.
 
Mine's done today too. Now to get it wrapped and mop up the remaining h2o from the bilge.
 
I did mine today, got my 16 year old son involved, he did the draining of the engine oil with the vac pump, (Dad got to lay down next to the engine to change the filter!) fill the engine with oil and fogged the engine. I did the rest, drain and refill outdrive with gear oil, changed the fuel filter, drained the engine of water, filled the engine with -100 AF and removed the outdrive. Next weekend, the inside gets cleaned out and the winter cover goes on.
 
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