You can winterize your boat yourself or pay a professional. The most important takeaway is to ensure there is no water or moisture in your boat throughout the winter months. Not properly winterizing and storing your boat can lead to costly repairs.
Is winterizing a boat necessary?
If You Don’t Winterize Your Boat, Here’s What Happens: Water freezes and expands and can damage anything it’s trapped inside. Water may seep into unprotected spaces to do this. Acidic and corrosive wastes, salt and corrosion buildup can damage delicate parts in engines.
When you winterize a boat do you drain the oil?
The engine’s lubricants (engine oil for four-stroke outboards, and lower unit gear lube for all outboards) should be drained and refilled, and the fuel filters changed. Water or other contaminants must be flushed out and replaced with fresh fluids before winter.
How much does winterizing a boat cost?
If you winterize your boat yourself, it will cost you about $250. This price includes the cost of winterizing the engine, the other systems of your boat, and cleaning it, stem to stern, inside and out. However, if you have the work done at a boatyard, expect to spend $500 up.
Can you winterize a boat yourself? – Related Questions
At what temperature do you need to winterize a boat?
As a general rule, you should look to winterize your boat before the temperatures drop below 25 degrees Fahrenheit, approximately -3 degrees Celsius.
What is included in winterizing a boat?
Winterization is simply the process of making sure that any part of your boat that could contain raw water is drained and replaced with antifreeze. This is essential if you own an inboard boat and live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing for any amount of time.
Do I need to winterize my boat in Georgia?
Georgia weather is notoriously unpredictable and a boat not winterized when freezing weather sweeps through can be extremely costly. To winterize is to prepare the boat not only from freeze damage but successful off-season storage for a seamless start in the spring.
How long does winterizing a boat last?
How long does boat winterization last? Ideally, one year. But many a boater have pushed it to two years or more. Keep in mind when winterizing your boat for more than a year, you will need to take special care to check rubber parts and components for dry rot like hoses, impellers, engine primer bulbs and belts.
How much does it cost to winterize and shrink wrap a boat?
You can expect to spend $300-$500 each winter to have your boat shrink wrapped by a professional. If you are inclined you can learn how to shrink wrap your own boat. How much it costs to winterize will be greatly reduced over time with an upfront investment in equipment and an ongoing investment of your time.
How long does it take to winterize a boat?
First things first, how long does it take to winterize a boat? Well, depending on your experience, it should take you about 4 hours to complete the task.
Can you leave gas in a boat over the winter?
Marine engine manufacturers and technicians advise storing any boat with the fuel tank almost full, leaving just a little capacity to accommodate expansion of the fuel if the temperature warms.
How cold does it have to be to freeze a boat engine block?
At what temperature will a boat engine freeze? Unwinterized boat engines can freeze any time the air temperature is below 28°F (-2°C) – for an extended period. Freshwater cooled engines without proper coolant can freeze below 32°F (0°C). The good news is you can prevent freeze damage fairly easily.
Is fogging a boat motor necessary?
Fogging a boat engine is not completely necessary but is highly recommended. Putting a stabilizer in your gasoline can help reduce the long-term storage issues but is not a guarantee. Essentially, fogging oil is an inexpensive way to better protect your boat engine while it’s left idle.
Do you need to run antifreeze through outboard motor?
You do not need to run antifreeze through an outboard, period. They’re designed to drain completely in the tilted-down position, and do not need an ounce of antifreeze.
How do you prepare an outboard for winter?
How to Prep Your Outboard Motor for Winter Storage
- Change oil & filter.
- Fog the engine.
- Grease fittings.
- Change fuel filter.
- Add fuel stabilizer.
- Wash & dry.
Should I cover my outboard motor for winter?
Cover the motor: Be sure to purchase an outboard motor cover if your boat will be out in the elements this winter. These covers cost as little as $50, but we recommend buying a heated cover to keep your motor nice and warm all season long.
Do I need to winterize my boat if I keep it in the garage?
Many people wonder whether you still need to winterize a boat even if it’s stored in a garage. The answer is yes, you should still winterize your boat, even if it’s stored in a garage for the winter. While winterizing your boat with a mechanic will cost you a little bit of money, it’s money well spent.
Should I leave my boat motor up or down?
Should I leave my engine up or down? Simply put, if you are leaving the boat in the water, leave it in the up position to avoid growth. If you are leaving it out of the water, trim it down to drain the water and protect the Power Tilt and Trim seals from the sun.
Is it better to leave outboard up or down?
The best way is to either leave the motor on the boat or on an engine stand in an upright position, not tilted. If neither of these are an option, try to make sure that the engine is in an upright, self-draining position. If you can’t do this, be sure that the cooling system is drained completely.
How long can a boat sit without running?
One of the most commonly-asked questions we get is, “Is it okay if my boat isn’t running for a while in Fort Lauderdale, FL?” The answer is yes—but you have to do some maintenance beforehand. As long as it’s well maintained before going into storage, a boat can sit for a few months, a few years or even a few decades.