Winterizing, General Notes:
Boats are expensive, our Michigan season is short, you want it to work. At Pine Lake Boat & Motor, we have 57 years of combined experience in "winterizing" and storing boats. The person writing this has two. I am the novice of the group, but I am going to tell you what it is about! I see the key words that people used to look at our site. Its that time of the season so people are searching the internet to find out, how to winterize my boat? The problem most are going to have is that different steps are required for different boats. Steps that may be included in any boat are noted below. Maybe you will find something that helps you with your boat.
First, we fill the tank with 92 octane fuel and stabalize the tank on the boat or jet ski. We run the motor long enough to fill the fuel line with the stabalized fuel. Then we switch to the "winterization tank."
The winterization tank: This is a fuel tank that is mixed with a combination of 92 octane fuel, Fogging Oil, and 2+4 stabilizer and cleaner. We use this blend on most motors, run it into the motor until the motor exhaust smokes to show the fogging oil is in the cylinders.
If the motor is a Fuel Injected motor, we shut it off full of this fuel mixture from the Winterization tank. If it has carbs, we shut off the fuel and wait for the motor to run out of fuel. Once it stalls out, we start it a few more times and consume as much fuel in the system as possible, then we pull it out of the lake.
Once we pull the boat out, its time for the oil change on the Inboards, Inboard/Outboard and 4 stroke Jet Ski's and Outboards. We do this now because the oil is warm. It drains well from the motor. We drain all the oil and remove the filter.
Remember the environment when doing this. It is difficult on many of these motors to capture all of the waste oils. We pump it out whenever possible. This moves it straight into a bucket and then into the recycle container. Wipe up any oil that is left on the outside of the motor and dispose of the rags properly.
Like with any motor, when you are re-installing the filter, wipe the seal with a layer of clean oil and hand tighten it to the motor. Fill the motor with the proper oil type for your motor and put in the proper amount specified by your motor. Remember in the spring to warm your motor up and check your fluid levels.
Now its time to drain the lower unit or jet unit. On boats with an outdrive or lower unit you typically have two screws, one on the bottom and one half way up the lower unit. Place a bucket or pan under the lower unit, remove the bottom screw. A small amount of oil will come out. Then remove the top screw. The oil should flow out steadily for 5-10 minutes. The bottom screw often has a magnet, check it for metal shavings. Also check the color of the oil, is it clean and blue, black and smells burnt or milky with water. If it is not clean and blue, you have a lower unit issue.
Once the oil is drained, check the housing and both your screws. You should have a washer on each screw, or it may be stuck to the housing. This washer is made of multiple materials and to fit your motor. It is the seal that keeps the oil in and the water out. If it is damaged or missing, it needs to be replaced with the factory part number specified for your motor.
Next you pump new High Viscosity lower unit oil back into the gearcase. You want to pump it in from the bottom until it comes out the top. Then install the top screw and tighten it. Then remove your pump and install the bottom screw. Again, wipe down any oil that has spilled out onto the motor and dispose of the old oil and rags properly. If you are doing this at home and local, we send our old oil to a recycler and you can bring it to us.
On Jet units, you typically have a fill and drain screw. Remove the screw, pump out the oil and refill with the oil specified for your motor. This is kind of tough for the typical boat owner, you have to have a pump and small tube to get the oil out.
Next you drain the carbs. Most motors are setup for a way to drain the gas our of the Carb. On some motors you can loosen a screw and the excess fuel will drain out tubes. Again, capture the gas as it runs out and dispose of it properly. How this is done varies so widely by motor type that I cannot give you a good overview of how it is done.
Its time to fog....but I am worn out. More to come.
2009 Winterization and Storage
Winterization services are dependent on motor type. We recommend that all factory specified service points are covered at the time of storage for the winter as well as placement back into service for the summer season. Customers can pick from the services below to estimate service and storage costs. We will be happy to give you a firm quotation to suit your specific needs. Call, stop in or email for your personal and firm quotation. The form below shows every option for storage. If you pick your services you would like, you can come up with your own estimate. Circle what you want done for the boat that matches yours in the list below, then add up the total.