Winterizing while in the water

[Rick D]

Just called my marina to say I'm ready to come out of the water... they said about 2 weeks. That sort of puts me off schedule a bit as I had wanted to be covered and fully winterized by 12/1.

So, I have already winterized the water system, the head and the AC unit.

However, for the engines, I like usually run on muffs out of the water to flush the engines of salt water, then change the oil, then back fill the engines with antifreeze.

So, do I wait until I'm out of the water, or just change the oil now and drain the water from the engines and backfill with antifreeze while still in? Not ideal, but we have already had two nights in a row in the 20's.

Thanks,
--Rick

 

[David M]

Change the oil now.

Two "nights" in the 20's is not going to hurt anything as long as the days get into the 30's to 40's. It takes several days of constant below freezing weather in a row to destroy a block.

Unless "about 2 weeks" is really sometime in February, I would stick to what makes you comfortable. An ER heater would also help.

 

[spj]

Another thought, even if you do winterize now, the marina is going to run the boat from the slip to where they pull it.

Also with the boat in the water, it would really have to get to where the water is freezing before you would start to worry.

 

[Rick D]

quote:

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Originally posted by spj

Another thought, even if you do winterize now, the marina is going to run the boat from the slip to where they pull it.

Also with the boat in the water, it would really have to get to where the water is freezing before you would start to worry.

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Actually, my marina does not run the engines... on any customer boats. They ferry it over using one of their skiffs.

--Rick

 

[mx8]

I`ve done mine in the water a few times when it was close to the lift and the marina wasn`t going to start it. After its hauled I like to open the seacocks for a few seconds to dump any water in the valve then close `em back up