"The Boater`s Guide To Winterizing"
Contents
1. 2 STORING YOUR BOAT The options and tradeoffs Fi Wee a A p pre Si N Ree ae eee aa y ie adaa 8 WINTERIZING CHECKLIST 10 ENIGINES AND DRIVES The dos and don ts 13 PLUMBING Getting the water out ee ee a a se a Eii Ta be 19 i ir BoatUS Pas MARINE INSURANCE PROGRAM NTER NG Boats properly stored ashore and winterized are most likely to hit the water without damage and be ready for on the water fun come spring T S THAT TIME of year again The leaves have started to change color and the nights are getting longer and cooler Before the mercury dips below freezing you need to prepare your boat for the coming winter At its most ba sic winterizing means draining any water aboard or replacing it with enough of the right kind of antifreeze to protect against the lowest temperatures your boat might experience Fresh water expands in volume by about nine percent when it freezes and can push outwards with a force of tens of thousands of pounds per square inch That expansion can crack an engine block damage fiberglass split hoses or destroy a refrigeration sys tem overnight An analysis of ten years of freeze claims from the BoatU S Marine Insurance claim files found that more than three quarters involved cracks in the engine block or the exhaust manifolds that oc curred because water remained in the engine or cooling system during a hard freeze Those claims come from a2. If you live will drain efficiently and inspect your exposed to the air so make sure to in an area with strong winter storms lift wires chains and fittings care winterize well before the freezing or if your lift is exposed to fetch from fully before tucking your boat in for temperatures arrive On small boats that aren t left in the water you may want to take your batteries home and put them ona trickle charger If you chose to keep them aboard here are some tips Top up wet cell batteries with electrolyte Make sure battery cable connections are tight and free of corrosion clean them if necessary with a pot scrubber or emery board Coat the connections with a corrosion inhibitor like Boeshield T 9 Leave the batteries hooked up to a marine charger that has a float setting or leave them unplugged but charge them up completely at least once a month Batteries left on an automotive trickle charger for long periods of time run the risk of boiling off the electrolyte and at the extreme exploding Today s batteries do best when charged using a marine smart charger that var ies the charge based on differences in battery chemistry and matches charging voltage to what the battery can accept at different stages of the charging cycle When buying a marine battery charger look for the following features e A three stage charger with bulk absorption and float Stages or a four stage charger with an additional pre flo
3. for winterizing engines and freshwater systems is not the Same as the coolant you put in your engine s heat exchanger the boat equivalent of a radiator Ethylene glycol the chemical used in coolant is highly toxic and winterizing antifreeze must be nontoxic because it goes in drinking water systems and may eventually go overboard The antifreeze you use in your engine and plumbing systems aboard must also have the proper freeze protection to keep your systems safe at the lowest possible temperatures your boat may face Choose antifreeze that contains propylene glycol which is safe and tasteless and one that has rust inhibitors for engine protection Most importantly check the freeze rating but be aware that the numbers used don t correspond to what you may think A typical antifreeze labeled for minus 50 degrees Fahrenheit will only protect PVC water pipes from bursting down to about minus 10 degrees and will actually begin freezing at about 15 degrees above At 50 below it s a solid chunk of ice capable of cracking an engine block Play it safe and use an antifreeze that is rated well below any temperature you re likely to experience Most winterizing antifreeze must be used full strength don t dilute When pumping antifreeze into your engine or freshwater systems don t shut down as soon as you see the antifreeze come out of the faucet or engine exhaust The antifreeze first mixes with the water already in the system and has to displac
4. guards should always be used on lines when the boat is left unattended for long periods of time Ready made polyester chafe protectors are available from marine chandleries or you can make your own out of heavy duty polyester and Velcro A dockline is usually the culprit when a boat sinks after being caught under a dock This occurs more frequently in the winter probably because of the stronger winds and higher tides Centering the boat in the slip and using long docklines and springlines led at shallow angles will help to keep the boat well away from the dock If your boat is tied to pilings consider using TideMinders or other systems designed to allow the line to slide easily up and down the piling without getting caught www BoatUS com insurance 5 To Cover Or Not To Cover USTOM MADE WINTER COVERS typically canvas or synthetic are a terrific ben efit to your boat s gelcoat and general well being Some skippers mistakenly believe that biminis which shield the crew from glaring sun will also pro tect the boat from freezing rain and snow Quite the contrary expensive biminis tend to get ripped apart or age prematurely while doing nothing to protect the boat Biminis should be stowed below or better yet taken home and cleaned over the winter More frugal skippers seem to think that a few tarps stitched together with a spiderweb of lines qualify for winter duty In the first serious storm these end up shred
5. it for a month or more you need to winterize it Then when the meteorologist tells you to break out the long underwear you can rest easy instead of making a mad dash for the boatyard 2 The Boater s Guide to Winterizing www BoatUS com insurance O SAY THAT a boat is better off stored on land is to assume it will be resting on something that provides adequate support In most cases damage ashore occurs slowly as hulls get distorted due to a lack of support creating problems ranging from poor engine alignment to broken stringers and bulkheads To prevent that damage pay careful atten tion to exactly how your boat is laid up CUSTOM MADE CRADLES Custom made cradles are designed specifically to support critical areas of a boat its engines bulkheads and keel Custom made cradles provide better support than any of the alter natives but don t store your boat on a cradle that was built for a different model boat Steel cradles are best but wooden cradles will also do the job if they have been inspected for deterio rated wood and corroded fastenings Shipping cradles are probably OK but most will require some modification to improve lateral support before they can be used for winter storage JACKS STANDS Storing cradles in the off season is problematic at crowded boatyards which instead rely on a combination of screw type jack stands blocks and timbers to support hulls Your boat s manufacturer may
6. needed To circulate antifreeze through the engine e If the boat is in the water close the intake seacock e Fill a five gallon bucket with undilut ed non toxic antifreeze Have addi tional antifreeze handy if you know your boat takes more than that or if you ve never winterized before You can use any leftovers in the boat s plumbing systems Remove the raw water intake hose from the seacock this is sometimes difficult as hose clamps and hoses may be mechanically frozen in place and insert the end into the antifreeze in the bucket Start the engine and run at idle until antifreeze discharges from the exhaust outlet for 30 seconds or more For gasoline engines fog the cylin ders see below which should stop the engine GREEN WINTERIZING TIPS e Secure the intake hose back on the seacock On some boats it can be very dif ficult to reach the intake hose for the engine or to get it off the seacock A variety of products have been designed to make getting antifreeze into the engine possible without removing that hose such as three way valves that at tach to the seacock or the sea strainer funnels that fit inside the sea strainer and reservoirs with hoses that can be run to the raw water intake Google boat winterizing products and you ll find a selection If you choose to use one of these just be certain that the antifreeze reaches everything down stream of where you are adding it not just up
7. s Guide to Winterizing www BoatUS com insurance have a garden hose fitting that allows for a quick flush without starting the engine Check your manual for specifics e 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 Any water present in the gear case for example will sit on steel shafts and bearings over the winter coating them with rust e Run the engine use a small portable tank that has stabilizer mixed in it if you ve drained the main tank as well as ear muffs for cooling water to get the oil and lower unit lubricant warm before draining This will make it flow easier and also get any contaminants in suspension so they drain instead of sitting inside Change the oil filter when you change the oil e After treating the fuel and running the HILE MOST OF the BoatU S Marine Insur ance freeze claims involve the engine or exhaust manifolds that s not the only place where freezing wa ter can cause serious damage Plastic plumbing fittings pumps and marine heads can all be cracked by ice Pipes valves and pumps in potable water systems can freeze and split open As with engines winterizing the plumb ing systems aboard consists of replac ing the water with antifreeze FRESHWATER SYSTEM Si
8. spells and gets you out on the water earlier next spring keeping boats out of the water reduces the chance of damage from a number of different causes including e Sinking If owners don t regularly visit boats kept in the water they become vulnerable to the slow failure of a small underwater fitting that might have been noticed and fixed otherwise Storm damage Boats stored in the water are much more vulnerable to damage due to the rise and fall in water level high winds and torrential rains that accompany strong winter storms Blisters Storage ashore may also be less expensive over the life of a boat because a hull that gets the chance to dry out for several months each winter is less likely to develop blisters than a hull that remains in the water e Theft Boats stored in gated or patrolled facilities are much less likely to be stolen Take home electronics In general our claim files suggest that a boat is less likely to sustain dam age in the short and the long run if left for long periods on land rather than in the water On the other hand since water retains heat longer than air boats surrounded by air are more vulnerable to a sudden freeze than boats surround ed by water Boats kept ashore must be winterized and it must be done earlier than if they were in the water because dropping temperatures will affect them sooner Wherever you end up keeping your boat if you do not plan to use
9. t vulnerable Ordinary plastic thru hulls crack and deteriorate in sunlight but that won t sink the boat until the weight of ice and snow in the cockpit forces the thru hull below the water Plastic thru hulls near the waterline are especially vulnerable and should be replaced with bronze or Marelon Removable knotmeter impellers and depthsounder transducers if any should be removed and replaced with Storage In The Water HENEVER THE BOAT is stored in the water it s in a pitched W e to keep out all the water surrounding it and that battle gets considerably more difficult when ice might damage a thru hull or bilge pump when the electricity might go out causing batteries to go flat and when snow buildup in the cockpit might submerge above waterline fittings If you are going to leave it in the water make sure you pay careful at tention to the following areas as well as to your battery see sidebar page 4 locking dummy plugs And if your stuffing box where the propeller shaft exits the hull is dripping ad just the nut until the dripping stops Check for leaking in the rudder stuffing box es if your boat has one EXHAUST PORTS It is advisable to plug exhaust ports when a boat is stored in the water because if snow piles up on the stern exhaust ports get pushed below the surface Plugging exhaust ports will also prevent unwanted guests from finding their way aboard There have been several claims involving muskra
10. the fuel filter should be checked for leaks while the engine is still running If your boat runs on gasoline and your gasoline has ethanol in it E10 the ethanol will absorb moisture over the winter If it absorbs enough water the ethanol can separate from the gasoline creating a caustic mixture at the bottom of your tank that can damage the engine This process called phase separation can only be completely prevented by emptying the tank If that isn t practical add stabilizer to keep the gas from oxidizing over the winter then fill the tank to 95 percent full to allow for expansion A tank that s almost full has less lung capacity to breathe in moist air so the ethanol is less likely to be able to absorb enough moisture to separate e Drain the water from the engine or use antifreeze This is the part that seems most often to confuse owners Mistakes in this step lead to the vast 10 The Boater s Guide to Winterizing majority of the freeze claims in the BoatU S Marine Insurance files Exactly how this is done varies from one type of engine to another as described below INBOARDS Most boat engines use water drawn from outside the boat to cool the engine In raw water cooled engines seawater is pumped directly through the engine block casting head assembly and exhaust manifold and then returned overboard with the unwanted heat In freshwater cooled engines there are actually two systems a raw water
11. to keep your boat power to the heater long enough to freeze the water in safe this winter it may not and it might even destroy the blocks The next spring when the owner fired up the your pride and joy Heaters can actually increase mold engines instead of heading out for the first cruise of the and mildew because the heated air causes condensation season he limped back to the dock with the manifolds on cold surfaces like metal portlights and hatches Win from both engines cracked and spewing water Because terize your boat even if you live in an area that seems the marina was busy with launching and recommission safe from hard freezes It only takes a couple of hours to ing boats for the season the repairs couldn t be com prepare a boat properly or to destroy an engine in a pleted for weeks cold snap if the power goes out No one wants to end up like the poor guy in the photo So don t plan on staying away too long Visit your boat every few weeks to make sure lines are secure drains haven t become clogged bilges are dry etc Checking the boat is especially important after heavy storms or extended cold spells If you have friends at the marina arrange to check each other s boats whenever possible amp This would be a good time to see if ice and freeze coverage is included in your boat insurance policy Even the most competent do it yourselfer can make a mistake and in many policies ice and freezing damage is exclu
12. at stage and battery type selection Output of 25 40 percent of the battery bank capacity in amp hours e Temperature sensing at the batteries for automatic adjustment of charger output e Equalization phase for use with flooded cell batteries e Ignition protection if installed in a gasoline engine room space 4 The Boater s Guide to Winterizing www BoatUS com insurance THRU HULLS AND OTHER BELOW WATERLINE OPENINGS If the boat must be left in the water all thru hulls except those for cockpit drains have to be protected by closing all seacocks and gate valves If your boat has thru hulls below the water line that can t be closed it should be stored ashore for the winter Raising and refurbishing a boat that sinks is a daunting job that can keep the boat in the repair yard for many weeks over the spring and summer And all thru hulls especially the ones for the cock pit drains must be double clamped with stainless steel hose clamps at each end When water freezes it expands and will lift a poorly secured hose off a fitting After the seacock or gate valve has been closed remove the hose so that it drains and then use an absorbent cloth or turkey baster to remove any residual water which can freeze and crack the body Reinstall the hose immediately and secure the two hose clamps Thru hulls above the waterline are not required to have seacocks and most don t That doesn t mean that these thru hulls aren
13. ater system 1 The dockside freshwater hookup if you have one should be shut off on shore and the hose drained and stowed Changing the lower unit oil will help protect your boat from worn out lube over the winter ferent types consult your owner s man ual for instructions specific to your boat As with other engines change the oil oil filter and fuel filter and stabilize the gasoline In most cases removing water from the engines and drives of PWCs simply involves starting them out of the water and moving the steering lock to lock a few times for about 30 seconds any longer can overheat the engine Run the engine like this two or three times If you fill up your gas tank and add stabi lizer first the treated gas will circulate in the engine while youre getting the water out Larger jet drives may need to be winterized by a qualified shop 2 Go below and open all water outlet Spigots to drain the onboard freshwa ter tank s When water sputters from the outlets close them and pour two or three gallons of nontoxic propylene glycol antifreeze more if you have a hot water heater into the tank Note If you drain the water heater and rig a bypass from the inlet to the outlet you ll save a lot of antifreeze 3 Open the outlets farthest from the tank and run until the antifreeze flows out Close and work back ward toward the tank repeating the procedure at each outlet you may need more antifreeze tha
14. be able to supply you with a blocking plan indicating where blocks and jack stands should be placed to provide the best support for your boat Or you can work with the yard manager to devise one yourself using a diagram of your boat Save the plan and give a copy to anyone who hauls the boat in the future Jack stands should be placed as far out from the boat as practical to support the boat in high winds with at least three per side for boats over Storage Ashore 26 feet and additional supports at overhangs The weight of the boat can easily force a jack stand base deep into mud sand or asphalt Even clay that seems brick hard can become a quagmire in heavy spring rains allow ing stands to loosen shift and spill the boat Placing a sheet of plywood under each base and using safety chains to connect the stands will help to stabi aay hae IN A AMES es Ne Si AN Ey FIFI k A fi the jack stands aren t depressing the hull You should also check in about two weeks after it has settled The boat must also be level or water could pool and cause stains mildew and or gelcoat problems DRY STORAGE RACKS An increasing number of boats are be ing stored ashore on dry storage racks ae 4 4 V4 i t Ki it Es Ley X 7 Ge Ni Ta ers q i SA AER N E ENA TA AN i p E E gt OST te 4 ae A i k i INS i a tir aru A boat stored ashore needs to be properl
15. be thor ough as small pockets of water can crack expensive parts To drain check the engine manual for the location of all petcocks and open them If water fails to drain freely from a petcock it could be clogged with rust or debris Remove the petcock and free the opening with a tool or coat hanger Don t forget also to drain the sea ae aad a Meas Water expands when it freezes and not properly winterizing your engine can lead to a cracked block necessitating engine replacement www BoatUS com insurance Even a short freeze can cause expanding ice to crack a manifold strainer seacock body and water lift muffler if installed Note that in raw water cooled en gines a thermostat blocks water flow in some cooling passages until the engine heats up To be thoroughly protected raw water cooled engines must reach operating temperature and the ther mostat must be open before adding the antifreeze In cold weather it could be difficult to keep the thermostat open One method is to remove the thermo stat a simple job on most engines It can be left out for the winter but don t forget to reinstall it in the spring along with a new gasket To winterize the engine with anti freeze youll need a five gallon bucket and enough antifreeze for your engine and related plumbing at least two gal lons If your engine takes a lot of anti freeze you might also need a helper to add antifreeze to the bucket as
16. ded and in their death throes they often deposit large amounts of snow and ice into the boat they are supposed to be protecting A good well supported cover offers many benefits It keeps leaves and de bris from clogging scuppers and caus Frozen meltwater can damage thru hull fittings ing the boat to flood when a downpour comes or the snow melts It keeps snow from accumulating in the cockpit and forcing the boat underwater in its slip or damaging thru hull fittings on boats 6 The Boater s Guide to Winterizing This fire started when an owner unfamiliar with the process tried to shrinkwrap his boat Shrinkwrapping is a job best left to professionals on the hard when meltwater freezes It protects the deck from pooling water that can lead to delamination and freeze damage And it protects gelcoat on the deck and coach roof from the elements extending its life The best covers are custom made from canvas With any custom cover a frame either wood or aluminum should be used to circulate air and pre vent pooling on the cover Vents should also be built into the cover to encourage ventilation and reduce mildew Never secure the boat s winter cover to the jack stands or support blocks because the stands can be yanked out during a strong blow Though shrinkwrapping is very ef fective at keeping rain and snow out it will also trap moisture inside and create horrendous mildew problems if vents aren t used along
17. ded unless you purchase special coverage for a modest cost www BoatUS com insurance The Boater s Guide to Winterizing 15 S xg j j J 7 Pil H I 4 a Lh ied ual P di I J MOS a AA AAD MAD DA I Is Your Oat Insuranc fies tacked o lo B If you re caught without enough coverage in the months your boat isn t in the water you could be facing a huge out of pocket expense Significant snow and ice can cause even the sturdiest storage facility to come down like a Let the experts house of cards It s an Act of God and without insurance you at BoatU S look into an could be stuck paying for the salvage of your boat and the total cost to repair or replace it That s why BoatU S only offers policies with year round coverage on the water the trailer and in storage insurance policy that won t leave you out in the cold Call for a free quote today 800 283 2883 Or visit us online at BoatUS com insurance A BoatU sS SII MARINE INSURANCE PROGRAM Coverage for your Boat Engine and Boating Equipment Full Salvage and Wreck Removal a E m Consequential Damage Coverage Choice of Medical and Liability Limits Diminishing Deductibles Flexible Payment Plans All policies subject to limits and exclusions In the state of California the BoatU S Marine Insurance Program is provided through Boat Owners Association Insurance S
18. e all of it before the antifreeze can protect fully It s better to invest in a couple of extra gallons than end up with a cracked block at the beginning of next season Marine sanitation systems Consult owner s manual AIR CONDITIONERS There are two ways to winterize an air conditioner You can drain the system including the raw water pump and strainer if that s possible But as with If a strainer is not drained or filled with anti freeze it can crack and possibly sink your boat freshwater systems enough water often remains in low points of the system to cause damage The better alternative is to remove the raw water intake and place the hose in a bucket of propylene glycol antifreeze and run the pump until youre certain antifreeze comes out of the discharge line No need to run the air conditioning but clean out the air fil ter and raw water filters first so that the whole system is ready to go come spring BILGE AND OTHER PUMPS If your boat is in the water you don t need to or want to winterize your bilge pump s but they need to be checked so you know they re working If your boat is being stored ashore run antifreeze through them or blow out the discharge lines if you can Most cen trifugal bilge pumps are self draining and don t need any special care Make sure that anchor washdown pumps live well pumps and any other raw water pumps don t have water left in them Dont forget to sponge out liv
19. e wells fish boxes lockers and other places where water might have accumulated 14 www BoatUS com insurance A heater is no substitute for properly winterizing a boat Numerous freeze claims over the years have proven that point again and again If you re tempted to leave your boat with a heater running this winter rather than winterizing consider these examples lt 4 1 The owner of a 24 foot Bay liner in Portland Oregon never got around to ee winterizing his 2 This 27 foot Rinker was winterized by placing a f twin gas engines space heater in the engine room The boat which was and instead put afloat in her slip in Alabama caught fire when the ex a heater in the tension cord used to power the heater shorted where it m engine compart had old damage The boat was destroyed and damaged ment Like a lot another boat as well as the dock of other people the owner prob Other boats have been lost when the heater itself ably didn t think has caught fire when the heater has ignited something about the fact that power outages most often occur combustible inside the boat or when the heater has right when you need electricity most when the worst been tipped over by a large wake that rocked the boat winter weather hits An ice storm came through just Even lightbulbs in the engine room have caused fires before Christmas downing power lines and cutting off Don t rely on an electric heater
20. ed Even if we have the best of intentions in September when we put together our fall work list for the boat life tends to get in the way and all too often we find ourselves rush ing to the boat the weekend before a hard freeze is forecast At that point all we have time for are the essentials that will protect our boat from damage In this brochure you ll find the list of items that would have prevented more than 95 percent of the freeze claims handled by the BoatU S Marine Insurance Program in the past decade Of course every boat is different and youll want to add other items from the owner s manuals for your boat and the additional equipment it carries The pullout checklist in the center of this brochure on pages 8 and 9 can serve as the starting point for creating your own winterizing list that will maximize your boat s chances of coming through the winter without damage You can also find the checklist on our website at BoatUS com Seaworthy checklist winter 4 STORING YOUR BOAT F YOU REALLY want to make your boat happy store it indoors ina climate controlled facility with a backup generator in case the electricity goes out in a storm For most of us in door storage is not even an option it s either not available or not affordable Our choices come down to hauling the boat out and storing it on the hard or leaving it in its slip in the water While storage in the water lets you use your boat during warm
21. ervices CA License 0H87086
22. ides LI Take home portable electronics L Close propane valves and take home portable canisters LI Verify bilge pump and switch operate properly L Clean and dry bilges LI Secure all ports and hatches LI Turn off all circuit breakers INTHE WATER COS L Close all seacocks except for cockpit drains L Plug exhaust ports L Check docklines and chafe guards center boat in slip L Add or adjust fenders for proper placement BEFOREYOUGO yolemele LI Tie off tiller steering wheel L Cover shrinkwrap boat L Lock cabin and leave spare key with marina manager www BoatUS com insurance The Boater s Guide to Winterizing 9 ENGINES AND DRIVES O MATTER what kind of en gine you have there are three essential winterizing steps Change the oil and oil filter Residual acids and moisture left in the crankcase over the winter can pit bearings and other vital engine parts so it is important to change the oil just before laying up the boat For best results run the engine for a few minutes to lower the oil s viscosity and allow it to pick up impurities Shut off the engine change the oil and replace the filter Restart the engine and run for about a minute to circulate the fresh oil to internal parts While it s running check to make sure the oil filter isn t leaking e Change the fuel filter and stabilize the fuel Replace the fuel filter and or change the fuel filter canisters Like the oil filter
23. ll over the country not just from the states that get snow every year Boaters in the fro zen North know they need to winterize so their freeze claims almost always involve a problem with how the boat was winterized In the temperate South the claim files include many more claims where the boat wasn t winterized at all or where the boater was depend ing upon a heater to keep the engine from freezing and the electricity went out Most of those who don t winterize or don t winterize properly only find out some thing is wrong in the spring when brown froth starts spew ing through a crack in the side of the engine block or what looks like chocolate milk appears Continued on page 2 on the dipstick Repairing freeze dam age takes time and all too often in volves a complete engine replacement By the time the boat is in working order a good part of the boating season will have been lost Winterizing most boats takes from an hour to a day Unless you are located in Hawaii or the Florida Keys we recommend winterizing your engine if you will be laying up the boat for even a few weeks to minimize the chances that a sudden freeze will put it out of commission next season While winter layup lists can run to several pages and take a month of Sundays to complete many of those lists include maintenance and cosmetic items that while nice don t make it any more likely your boat will get through the winter unscath
24. mobile Ideally you ll take your trailerable boat to a gated secure storage facility for the winter If that s not an option store it somewhere that avoids overhanging www BoatUS com insurance The Boater s Guide to Winterizing 3 tree branches which can break off in winter storms Don t park too close to buildings with sloped roofs or an avalanche of ice and snow may cause considerable damage to your boat If storing a deep draft sailboat on a trailer you will need to provide addi tional lateral support using extra jack stands along each side To reduce windage unstep the mast of any trail erable sailboat LIFTS Storage on lifts can be the best of both worlds with most of the ad vantages of hardstand storage while still allowing you to use your boat when the weather is balmy But the BoatU S Marine Insurance claim files show that lifts do not fare well in hur oe f IF p as Rain or snow can make a boat too heavy for its lift ricanes and strong nor easters Wind the direction of the prevailing storm the winter A cover is even more im waves and surge can shift the boat winds it s better to store your boat portant for a boat stored on a lift see and torrential rains or heavy snow on its trailer Otherwise make sure page 6 for more on covers As with can increase the boat weight to the the hull is properly supported and boats stored on the hard the hull is point of breaking the lift
25. models may require the use of muffs to first flush and then run antifreeze through the drive For those drives warm up the engine with the muffs then use a five gallon bucket of antifreeze plumbed to the muffs and run the engine until it s all been run through Afterward all outdrives should be stored in the down position to prevent water from entering the exhaust hub of the propeller In cold weather any accumulated water in the outdrive can freeze and ice may ex pand and crack the housing While not technically necessary for winterizing it makes sense to drain and fill the outdrive oil now It s not very difficult and will protect your outdrive from the effects of worn out oil over the winter while letting you hit the water faster in the spring Lower the outdrive as far as possible and drain the oil by removing the lube drain fill screw at the bottom and the vent plug screw at the top Keep in mind that refilling your outdrive oil is coun terintuitive new oil must be pumped UP into the outdrive never refill from the top port or vent hole Pump fresh oil into the drive from the drain hole at the bottom until fluid appears out the vent hole at the top Install the vent screw which slows the lube from com ing back out the drain and then replace the drain fill screw quickly It s a good idea to put new gaskets on the plugs If your boat has a reservoir in the engine compartment fill it also Outdrives are expen
26. mply draining the freshwater system isn t enough as water will engine for a few minutes the engine should be fogged with a storage lubricant This protects the internals bearings seals and rotating surfaces with a thin film of lubricant which helps keep rust and corrosion away With the engine running inject fog ging oil through the carburetors or electronic fuel injection EFI system air intakes in such a way as to flood the engine with oil until it begins to smoke then continue fogging it until it stalls Fogging can also be done with the engine shut down in this case the spark plugs are removed and the oil is sprayed into the cylinders rotating the flywheel to distribute the oil Store the engine in the running tilted down position otherwise water that gets in through the hub can freeze and crack the lower unit housing If possible take smaller outboards home for safe keeping JET DRIVES Personal watercraft PWC and other boats with jet drives need to be winter ized too Because there are so many dif PLUMBING almost certainly have pooled some where and will freeze over winter Running antifreeze through the sys tem will ensure that there is no wa ter in the system to freeze Keep in mind that engine coolant ethylene glycol should NEVER be used in a freshwater system as it is very toxic and cannot be reliably purged from the system in the spring Here s how to winterize a freshw
27. n you www BoatUS com insurance The Boater s Guide to Winterizing 13 Photo by John Tiger think Do this with both the hot and cold outlets If the boat is in the water pour anti freeze into the sink drains and close the seacocks If the boat is on the hard open all seacocks to make sure they ve drained completely then close all but the cockpit seacock If there is water in the shower sump drain it too MARINE HEADS Heads without holding tanks Pour disinfectant into the bowl and pump throughout the system Close the intake seacock disconnect the hose and put it in a bucket of non toxic antifreeze Pump the antifreeze through the head reconnect the hose and close the remaining seacock Note Manufacturers of some heads such as the Raritan PH II advise against using nontoxic antifreeze because it may soften the gaskets If you use toxic antifreeze do not pump it overboard Detach the outlet hose for the head and pump it into a bucket then recycle it at your marina Heads with holding tanks Empty the holding tank and pump dis infectant and then antifreeze through the bowl and into the tank and through the Y valve if you have one Close all seacocks Antifreeze is antifreeze right Wrong Not only are there different kinds the temperature at which they freeze is different too And that s important because if they do freeze your boat is likely to be damaged Antifreeze
28. r definition of winterizing and theirs may be completely different Telling someone to winterize the engines and freshwater system doesn t mean they ll also close the seacocks and winterize the head Insist on a written contract that clearly lists every job necessary to protect your boat and has a firm time frame beginning well before the first typical hard freeze Include language that specifies not to de winterize until you authorize it in case something comes up and you won t be using the boat through the next winter Pay with a credit card if possible If the boat didn t get winterized properly per the contract and you have dam age you can dispute the charges with your credit card company which gives you more leverage Also don t assume that the marina will routinely inspect your dock lines and bilge unless you specifi cally pay for the service If your marina won t be checking on your boat over the winter you ll need to do it yourself or make arrange ments with your dockmates On all too many of our freeze claims the owner says But thought the yard was going to take care of that Whatever you expect to be done spell it out in writing ing water from a thru hull in the engine compartment and some take it in through the outdrive With I Os that use a thru hull the outdrive will be protected once the engine has had an tifreeze run through it because the an tifreeze also runs through the outdrive Other
29. side that cools the coolant water mixture freshwater in a closed loop system which in turn cools the engine Winterizing the freshwater side simply involves making sure its year round permanent coolant is an adequate mixture to meet the manu facturer s recommendations for your locality typically a 50 50 mix with water The coolant you use in the freshwater system is not the same as what you will use on the raw water side of the engine see sidebar on page 14 ethylene glycol is effective but highly toxic With the engine at room temperature slowly remove the cap on k the expansion tank and check the mix ture with an antifreeze hydrometer If the coolant is rusty or dirty it needs to be drained and replaced with a fresh mixture Resist the temptation to use more than 50 percent coolant An overly rich mixture will congeal with 100 percent coolant turning to a solid gel at 8 degrees F There are two methods of winter izing a raw water cooled engine or the raw water side of a freshwater cooled engine draining the system and leav ing it dry or filling it with winterizing antifreeze propylene glycol The preferred technique for in board engines circulating antifreeze throughout the cooling system is bet ter for an engine It is also far less likely to result in freeze damage as long as the engine is run long enough to circu late the antifreeze to every part of the cooling system Draining an engine must
30. sive and have become a frequent target for thieves Even if the boat is kept in your driveway consider taking the outdrive off and storing it in your garage or basement for the winter OUTBOARDS Consult your engine s owner s manual or service manual before you begin To day s engines especially four stroke and direct injected two stroke outboards may have special winterizing flushing and maintenance instructions so follow them closely For example Evinrude s E Tec outboards feature a self winterizing mode in the engine s electronic pro gramming Its simple to do by follow Store outdrives and outboards in the down position so water can drain otherwise ice can crack the housing ing the instructions in the winterizing section of the owner s manual yet if you don t know about it you might be tempted to try it the traditional way If your engine is still under warranty and you don t winterize it according to the manufacturer s instructions you could easily void the warranty coverage While winterizing procedures vary somewhat for older engines versus newer ones and for two stroke versus four stroke outboards the basics are the same e The engine s gas tank must be filled and treated with stabilizers or drained completely e The engine should be flushed accord ing to the manufacturer s instructions Sometimes this doesn t involve run ning the engine at all newer engines 12 The Boater
31. stream In addition to the bucket and the antifreeze for gasoline engines you ll also need a can of engine fogging fluid or light motor oil and some plastic sheeting and duct tape If a fuel valve is installed turn it off once antifreeze is coming out of the exhaust and run the carburetor dry For the last 10 seconds or so of engine operation spray the fogging fluid into the flame arrester on the carburetor Light oil can be trickled down the carburetor if fogging fluid is not avail able This may stall the engine which is OK Finally wrap duct tape around the flame arrester and cover the top of the engine with plastic after it has cooled This helps prevent corrosion from forming on internal engine parts Attach a tag somewhere as a reminder about the duct tape which will prevent the engine from starting next spring STERNDRIVES Because there are different types of sterndrives check your manual for winterizing specifics Some inboard outboard I O engines take in cool www BoatUS com insurance The Boater s Guide to Winterizing 11 BoatU S Consumer Protection receives complaints every year from boat owners who thought the marina would winterize their boat but the marina didn t do it or didn t know they were supposed to Disputes arise when the marina and the boat owner don t have a well defined contract that spells out exactly what s to be done The term winterizing doesn t have a universal meaning and you
32. tU S 600 boats in 300 ports per year Towing App gt Low cost boat and PWC insurance gt Discounts at 1 000 boating amp fishing businesses nationwide gt Government Affairs representing the interests of boaters gt Earn 10 reward certificates for every 250 spent at West Marine 800 395 2628 www BoatUS com ABoatuSs Boat OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES THE BOATU S DAMAGE AVOIDANCE PROGRAM IS DEDICATED TO HELPING YOU ENJOY ACCIDENT FREE BOATING Seaworthy looks at real claims and how they might have been avoided For permission to reprint articles email Seaworthy BoatUS com Letters to the editor can be emailed to Seaworthy BoatUS com or sent to Seaworthy 880 South Pickett St Alexandria VA 22304 4695 We reserve the right to edit for clarity and brevity 2014 Boat Owners Association of The United States 880 So Pickett Street Alexandria VA 22304 www BoatUS com insurance The Boater s Guide to Winterizing 7 ABoatUS WINTERIZING CHECKLIST Boat s Name Length Model Name Address City State Zip Phone Email ENGINE S L Fill fuel tanks and add stabilizer to gasoline L Change oil and filter C Change fuel filters separators in engine s L Check coolant level in freshwater cooling system and add coolant if necessary LI Run antifreeze through raw water cooling system L Make sure water strainers are filled with antifreeze L Fog cylinders in gasoline engines L Top up bat
33. tery electrolyte level and put batteries on marine charger INSTALLED GENERATOR L Change oil and filter L Change fuel filters separators L Check coolant level in freshwater cooling system and add coolant if necessary L Run antifreeze through raw water cooling system L Make sure water strainers are filled with antifreeze OTHER SYSTEMS LI Flush and fill air conditioning system with antifreeze LI Run antifreeze through watermaker and pickle as per owner s manual QUTBOARDS LI Fill installed fuel tanks and add stabilizer L Turn off fuel supply and fog while running L Drain gear case and add fresh lubricant C Flush engine with muffs and fresh water L Store unit in lowest position LI Inspect replace anodes L Empty fuel from portable tanks into car tank and take them home for storage 8 The Boater s Guide to Winterizing www BoatUS com insurance ABoatUS WINTERIZING CHECKLIST _OUTDRIVES L If water intake is in lower unit flush and run antifreeze through using muffs L Drain gear oil and add fresh lubricant LI Inspect replace anodes BELOWDECKS Pump out holding tank and add antifreeze to head Drain water heater and bypass it Drain freshwater system and run antifreeze through it Run antifreeze through refrigeration deck washdown pump etc per owner s manual Drain shower sump and other places where water pools Remove food OOOUOUUUO Open lockers to air L Take home cushions or store on their s
34. the entire length of the cover Another problem Cabins and decks painted with two part poly urethane paints may peel or bubble where the shrinkwrap touches it Insert ing a series of foam pads between the ae 7 Lil ran z Plastic tarps typically will begin to shred after the first blow leaving your boat unprotected hull and cover allows condensation to escape Finally don t shrinkwrap the boat yourself All it takes is a moment of inattention to ignite the shrinkwrap and if the fire occurs inside the cover it might not even be visible right away This is one job best left to the pros amp www BoatUS com insurance Although our Captains don t aw uA E A wy really dress like super heroes B Bie eC t 0 if your day on the water goes ee south they can help you turn it around Our captains are ave four ay confident qualified licensed and ready to assist at a moment s notice Before you start your engine make sure you ve got Unlimited Towing and the aid of over 600 towboats at the ready Call or go online now to join Take Us With You On the Water 1 800 888 4869 BoatUS com towing A Boatus FFF TOWING SERVICES Unlimited Towing details and exclusions can be found online at BoatUS com towing or by calling on the water J Join v wi th paio ted Tow ing fol y PF Download the FREE gt Largest towboat fleet nationwide with over gt Subscription to BoatU S Magazine 6 issues Boa
35. ts chewing their way through parts of the exhaust system sinking the boat Don t forget to remove plugs in the spring BILGE PUMPS If the bilge pump runs it means your boat is taking on water or to put it another way your boat is sinking albeit slowly There s no acceptable amount of leaking Make sure the bilge is free of any debris or oil that might clog the pump or interfere with the switch and that the bilge pump is wired directly to the batteries with a fuse so that it will operate when all of the switches are turned off at the main panel Also check the operation of bilge pumps After you ve cleaned the bilge add enough nontoxic anti freeze to trigger the float switch Bail or sponge the remainder out DRAIN PLUGS Drain plugs must be out for the winter to prevent freeze damage and if you SS 7 ae Se 7 Our S Ca 7 T a Protect your boat from damage with proper dockline arrangements and fenders don t have to worry about hurricanes that s all that needs to be said But if youre in a hurricane prone area and you shrinkwrap the boat before hur ricane season is over purchase a one way drain plug That way water would only get into the boat if the cover were ripped off and then the drain plug would allow water out but not in DOCKS AND DOCKLINES Nylon lines stretch and absorb shock which is good but this stretching chafes the lines against chocks and other contact points Chafe
36. y supported to make it through winter unscathed lize the support upon which your boat rests Jack stands stabilize the boat but most of the boat s weight usually rests on its keel Some boats have specific requirements to support the keel and at least one manufacturer warns against putting weight on the keel If the marina manager isn t familiar with your boat check your manual or con tact the manufacturer Keels must be supported by wide timbers or blocks the wider the bet ter to distribute the load On power boats additional support is usually recommended under inboard engines fuel tanks and heavy machinery With outboard and sterndrive boats weight should be taken off the transom by lowering the drive units onto a block After the boat is blocked sight along the hull and keel to make sure These racks are designed for typical boat hulls but can t always be adjusted to support unusual or atypical designs If you have doubts about the support provided by a rack consult a marine surveyor or consider an alternative winter location such as a trailer which has adjustable rollers or pads that can be adapted to different boats If stor ing your boat in a dry storage rack whether in a climate controlled facility a shed or outside check with the boat yard about specific requirements for fuel tanks to prevent fires TRAILERS In addition to being adjustable trailers have the advantage of being
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