TranSlate
05.05.2021 21:09:34
Pressure-water plumbing is just one system that must have potable antifreeze run through it, to prevent freeze damage.
See full version: How To Winterize a Boat
Pressure-water plumbing is just one system that must have potable antifreeze run through it, to prevent freeze damage.
Whether you store your boat in or out of the water this winter is entirely up to you, but boats stored in the water over the winter require special care.
Probably the worst thing you can do to your batteries is leave them unattended and ignored in your boat all winter long. They should be on a trickle charge during this down-time, and if you don't have a solar charger or a plug at the boatyard and your boat isn't stored in the water the best place for your batteries is at home—either in the garage or basement—hooked up to a trickle charger. And don’t worry; Dr. Diehard says it’s perfectly fine to store today’s batteries on concrete.
As I mentioned before, there are some circumstances when you do not want to disconnect the boat, and that’s when you are storing your boat in the water. The reason for this is because you are going to want to make sure that the bilge pumps have power in case the water level rises inside the bilge. So because of that reason, you do not want to disconnect the battery. Instead, you could look at using a charger that will help keep the battery fully charged. more
Be aware; if you choose to store your boat outdoors at a marina, some marinas might not allow you to connect your battery to a trickle charge. In fact, in some incidences, this might even void your boat insurance.
If fully charged, these two types of batteries can sit for several months in a basement without losing too much of their charge. Although they shouldn’t require a trickle charger, periodically throughout the winter, you should check on them and make sure they still have a charge above 80%. Don’t let them drop below that. here
Before we conclude our boat maintenance guide, here are a few frequently asked questions to help you jumpstart your boating adventures. [links]
Experts recommend changing the oil for a gas boat engine once a year or every 100 hours. Changing your oil extends the life of your engine, so you may want to change it more often than what the manufacturer recommends.
After 20 hours of use, complete the following maintenance tasks: [links]
Lastly, a clean boat simply performs better. A dirty hull can increase fuel costs by as much as 30%.
Generally speaking, boat maintenance involves keeping your boat clean and lubricated. Just as you wouldn’t drive your car without engine oil, you wouldn’t want to take your boat out for a ride without proper fluid levels. Likewise, you probably know weather and debris can damage your car’s exterior over time. The same principle applies to boats. For example, a fiberglass boat with a dirty exterior will turn chalky if you don’t wash and wax it regularly.
To help you keep your boat sparkling and in great shape, we’ll show you how to clean a boat in the next section. We’ll also cover proper storage options and boat motor maintenance.
Pull the cleanout plugs and service them. You may want to clean and lubricate them and re-install them, or simply leave them out. here
If you�re not familiar with using the flush hose, make sure that you DO NOT RUN WATER INTO THE ENGINE UNLESS THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. That means: turn on the water hose and let the hose fill up with water BEFORE attaching it to the boat; turn the water OFF; attach the hose adaptor to the engine cooling system; start the engine; turn on the water. Let the engine run for a few minutes at low power. Make sure you start the engine that you have the water hose hooked up to! When you are finished flushing, turn the water off FIRST, then turn off the engine. Rev the engine a couple of times to blow the excess water out. If you were to leave the water hose turned on while the engine was shut off, you risk the possibility of getting water into the cylinders through the exhaust system.
You�ll need a can of Fogging Oil to get your engines ready for storage. Your dealer should be able to supply this. Fogging oil is a spray oil that protects the internal parts of your engines from corrosion. If you run in salt water, you�ll want to flush the cooling systems as you normally would. You may also want a gallon or two of RV / Marine Antrifreeze. This is less toxic to animals than ethylene glycol that is used in automobiles. You�ll be losing most of your antifreeze on the ground.
If you�re a fanatic, you can install desiccant plugs in the spark plug holes. These are made of plastic, so make sure you let the engine cool completely before doing this so the plugs don�t melt. You might also want to plug the exhaust with a desiccant plug to keep moisture from entering the engine. Re-install the flame arrestors and their covers. more
During the winter, lift the cover every couple of weeks and rotate the steering wheel and move the shifter.