Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > Boating > Boat Repairs & Maintenance
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 09-07-2017, 11:59 AM   #1
Cat Staff
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default Boat Winterization

New to boating, I'm looking for the best place to have my 18' Sea Ray Bowrider winterized. The closer to Meredith the better but if I have to go a distance, I'm willing to do that for good service.
Cat Staff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 12:20 PM   #2
Doobs41378
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 510
Thanks: 234
Thanked 88 Times in 73 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat Staff View Post
New to boating, I'm looking for the best place to have my 18' Sea Ray Bowrider winterized. The closer to Meredith the better but if I have to go a distance, I'm willing to do that for good service.
I bring mine to Getty Shine in Gilford for detailing, shrink wrap and winterization.

https://www.facebook.com/GettyShineMobileDetailingLlc/
Doobs41378 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 12:53 PM   #3
Poor Richard
Senior Member
 
Poor Richard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: The humbling river
Posts: 301
Thanks: 42
Thanked 78 Times in 55 Posts
Default

If you're reasonably mechanical, the job is very easy to perform.

When I was learning about boat winterization, everything I read made it sound like voodoo magic. Turns out it isn't.

Fog engine, drain water and pour in propylene glycol. Add a gallon on Sea Foam to the fuel tank (or drain the tank). Grease out drive and power steering fittings.
Poor Richard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 01:51 PM   #4
VitaBene
Senior Member
 
VitaBene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 3,527
Thanks: 1,561
Thanked 1,599 Times in 820 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Poor Richard View Post
If you're reasonably mechanical, the job is very easy to perform.

When I was learning about boat winterization, everything I read made it sound like voodoo magic. Turns out it isn't.

Fog engine, drain water and pour in propylene glycol. Add a gallon on Sea Foam to the fuel tank (or drain the tank). Grease out drive and power steering fittings.
Mechanical... and a contortionist! Most 18 foot boats don't give you much room to work with!

I use Independent Marine in Moultonborough.
VitaBene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 02:00 PM   #5
8gv
Senior Member
 
8gv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,002
Thanks: 61
Thanked 700 Times in 455 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Poor Richard View Post
If you're reasonably mechanical, the job is very easy to perform.

When I was learning about boat winterization, everything I read made it sound like voodoo magic. Turns out it isn't.

Fog engine, drain water and pour in propylene glycol. Add a gallon on Sea Foam to the fuel tank (or drain the tank). Grease out drive and power steering fittings.
Self winterizing is not for everyone but here's how I used to do it on my V-6 equipped Sea Ray 182:

Put fuel stabiler in last tank of gas for the season.
Run the boat around on the water to thoroughly heat up oil and get stabilizer into carburetor.
Pull boat home on trailer.
Put water ear muffs on out drive and start the motor to get hot oil moving around a bit.
Turn off boat.
Change oil and filter.
Use a pump that screws onto the oil dipstick tube for this.
The pump with a small diameter tube that is pushed down the dipstick tube was a failure from me.
Restart boat (with water flowing) and run it for about ten minutes to circulate new oil.
Turn off boat.
Set up anti freeze bucket with hose from bucket to ear muffs.
Fill bucket with three to five gallons of pink -50° antifreeze.
Remove spark arrester from engine.
Start antifreeze flow through ear muffs.
Start engine.
Observe coolant as it leaves engine.
Once it is fully pink, start sprayong fogging oil into carburetor intake.
DON'T LET THE ENGINE RUN OUT OF ANTIFREEZE AND RUN DRY.
If you are fast you will only need three gallons.
Fog until the engine quits.
Remove blue cooling system plugs. Look carefully all around the engine so you
don't miss any.
Replace spark arrester.

Replace spin-on fuel filter/water separater if equipped.

Using Vise-Grip needle nose pliers pinch closed the tube feeding oil to the outdrive from the oil reservoir.
Drain outdrive oil.
Observe quantity and color as it drains. Tan and milky means you have a bad seal allowing water into the gear case. So does any visible water coming out. No oil coming out is bad too!
Refill gear case using correct oil and the manufacturer's instructions.
Remove pinch pliers.

Pull boat drain plug.
Pull prop.
Grease prop shaft
Replace prop and cover it to prevent mice from nesting in it.
Lowes and HD sell a rubber plumbing cap with clamp that fits the prop perfectly.

Put boat in its storage location.
Trim drive down to almost touch the floor or ground.
Pull battery.
Put battery on battery maintainer for the winter.

All of the required items can be bought at WalMart, Parafunalia or any marine store.

I'll bet there are some additional or differing opinions on this that will be posted soon.

It is an advantage to have your boat on a trailer so you can do this yourself. My current boat is too big for that and as a result, I can only change the oil.
8gv is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 09-07-2017, 05:11 PM   #6
Poor Richard
Senior Member
 
Poor Richard's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: The humbling river
Posts: 301
Thanks: 42
Thanked 78 Times in 55 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by VitaBene View Post
Mechanical... and a contortionist! Most 18 foot boats don't give you much room to work with!.
True.

OP - It's time for a bigger boat so you can save some money winterizing yourself.


Poor Richard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 05:33 PM   #7
Seaplane Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,176
Thanks: 659
Thanked 943 Times in 368 Posts
Default My procedure

1) Bring boat to marina
2) Leave marina and go to favorite pub for a beer
3) Relax and let marina deal with the winterizing
Seaplane Pilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 05:40 PM   #8
joey2665
Senior Member
 
joey2665's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Meredith Bay & LI, NY
Posts: 3,220
Thanks: 1,204
Thanked 1,007 Times in 648 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Seaplane Pilot View Post
1) Bring boat to marina
2) Leave marina and go to favorite pub for a beer
3) Relax and let marina deal with the winterizing
That's is an awesome plan.
joey2665 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 05:59 PM   #9
ishoot308
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Gilford, NH / Welch Island
Posts: 5,907
Thanks: 2,279
Thanked 4,924 Times in 1,906 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Seaplane Pilot View Post
1) Bring boat to marina
2) Leave marina and go to favorite pub for a beer
3) Relax and let marina deal with the winterizing
Now that's what I'm talking about!!

Dan
__________________
It's Always Sunny On Welch Island!!
ishoot308 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 06:08 PM   #10
kawishiwi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 519
Thanks: 227
Thanked 167 Times in 108 Posts
Default Hows this...

Quote:
Originally Posted by joey2665 View Post
That's is an awesome plan.
Step 1. Once I am done for the year I call the marina and tell them the slip number I am in.
Step 2. May 1 I call and tell them what slip # I want to be in.
Done & done.
I have become quite lazy in my old age.
kawishiwi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 06:51 PM   #11
VitaBene
Senior Member
 
VitaBene's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 3,527
Thanks: 1,561
Thanked 1,599 Times in 820 Posts
Default

Time vs money! Right now I have less time! $100 bucks and the peace of mind knowing that the shop carries insurance in the event of a bad winterization.

Luckily, my winterizing screwup 15 years ago was on a 350 chevy (mercruiser) that was tired anyway- at least that is what I keep telling myself. 1500 long block and a weekend to swap it out. If it happens to my 6.2 MPI, it would be very costly!
VitaBene is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 07:05 PM   #12
8gv
Senior Member
 
8gv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,002
Thanks: 61
Thanked 700 Times in 455 Posts
Default

Although I realized that some folks could easily do the work but prefer not to...

Sometimes I think being handy can be a curse!

Consider this equation:



Mechanical ability to do the task.

PLUS

A frugal, somewhat cheap, nature.

EQUALS

I do my own work even when I have better things to do.

8gv is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 07:14 PM   #13
tummyman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 774
Thanks: 231
Thanked 628 Times in 226 Posts
Default Batteries

For those on the frugal side, who leaves their batteries in the boat for the winter with the cables detached? Seems the Marina's must do this, as it seems like a logistical nightmare to remove all those batteries and store them inside. I rationalize that car batteries are outside in all kinds of cold weather, so why not leave the boat battery outside? I may have to put the charger on them n spring, but I would like your thoughts and comments....
Thanks
tummyman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 07:34 PM   #14
Doobs41378
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 510
Thanks: 234
Thanked 88 Times in 73 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by tummyman View Post
For those on the frugal side, who leaves their batteries in the boat for the winter with the cables detached? Seems the Marina's must do this, as it seems like a logistical nightmare to remove all those batteries and store them inside. I rationalize that car batteries are outside in all kinds of cold weather, so why not leave the boat battery outside? I may have to put the charger on them n spring, but I would like your thoughts and comments....

Thanks


My battery stays in the boat all winter.


Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app
Doobs41378 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2017, 10:14 PM   #15
HellRaZoR004
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Litchfield/Gilford
Posts: 828
Thanks: 233
Thanked 224 Times in 131 Posts
Default

Mine stay in the boat also.
HellRaZoR004 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2017, 10:25 AM   #16
Cat Staff
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Seaplane Pilot View Post
1) Bring boat to marina
2) Leave marina and go to favorite pub for a beer
3) Relax and let marina deal with the winterizing
My questions was (and is) WHICH marina?
Cat Staff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2017, 10:27 AM   #17
Cat Staff
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 6
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by kawishiwi View Post
Step 1. Once I am done for the year I call the marina and tell them the slip number I am in.
Step 2. May 1 I call and tell them what slip # I want to be in.
Done & done.
I have become quite lazy in my old age.
WHICH Marina?
Cat Staff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2017, 11:06 AM   #18
joey2665
Senior Member
 
joey2665's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Meredith Bay & LI, NY
Posts: 3,220
Thanks: 1,204
Thanked 1,007 Times in 648 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat Staff View Post
WHICH Marina?
I do the exact same thing. I use Irwin and I am not charged for the pick up and drop off, its included in winterization costs.
joey2665 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2017, 12:07 PM   #19
Garcia
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 573
Thanks: 128
Thanked 258 Times in 161 Posts
Default

I go to Shep Brown's - and have for decades. I really like their service department. I don't know how their prices compare to others because I have never felt the need to shop around. Everyone is professional, attentive, nice, and I have never had an issue with any of the work they have done.
Garcia is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2017, 01:09 PM   #20
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

We use Melvin Village Marina--it's where we bought our new boat, and they've done everything right to keep our business.

Sent from my XT1528 using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2017, 01:26 PM   #21
kawishiwi
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 519
Thanks: 227
Thanked 167 Times in 108 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat Staff View Post
WHICH Marina?
Trexlers, right next door.
kawishiwi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2017, 01:41 PM   #22
Seaplane Pilot
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,176
Thanks: 659
Thanked 943 Times in 368 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cat Staff View Post
My questions was (and is) WHICH marina?
Lakeport Landing
Seaplane Pilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-08-2017, 03:11 PM   #23
LIforrelaxin
Senior Member
 
LIforrelaxin's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Long Island, not that one, the one on Winnipesaukee
Posts: 2,813
Thanks: 1,011
Thanked 878 Times in 513 Posts
Default

So here my take and 2 cents....

A Marina has insurance and if they screw up the winterization it is on them...I allow them to take on that responsibility.... They come to my house pick the trailer and boat up, and in the spring, after I put the dock in, I tell them when I want to see the boat back... I arrive Friday night, its there at the dock and I am ready to have fun.... I never worry about where to store the boat, how much snow is on it, etc. etc. etc.....

What does this equate too... me being able to spend my spring and fall doing maintence to the property that I want to do in the summer... and not loosing a day twice a year to prep the boat, and put it to bed.
__________________
Life is about how much time you can spend relaxing... I do it on an island that isn't really an island.....
LIforrelaxin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2017, 07:28 AM   #24
TiltonBB
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Gilford, NH and Florida
Posts: 2,881
Thanks: 637
Thanked 2,147 Times in 894 Posts
Default

It sounds like the OP trailers his boat and I would assume that he has a place to store the boat for the winter. Winterizing and shrink wrapping seem to be the only thing he needs. If that is the case, everyone seems to have a relationship with a marina on the lake that they have used for years.

Miles Marine in Gilford will do it and they do good work at a fair price. I have used them for many things over the last 20 years and I have always been more than satisfied with the quality of the work and the price.
TiltonBB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-09-2017, 07:39 AM   #25
joey2665
Senior Member
 
joey2665's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Meredith Bay & LI, NY
Posts: 3,220
Thanks: 1,204
Thanked 1,007 Times in 648 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin View Post
So here my take and 2 cents....

A Marina has insurance and if they screw up the winterization it is on them...I allow them to take on that responsibility.... They come to my house pick the trailer and boat up, and in the spring, after I put the dock in, I tell them when I want to see the boat back... I arrive Friday night, its there at the dock and I am ready to have fun.... I never worry about where to store the boat, how much snow is on it, etc. etc. etc.....

What does this equate too... me being able to spend my spring and fall doing maintence to the property that I want to do in the summer... and not loosing a day twice a year to prep the boat, and put it to bed.
Awesome point on liability. Never thought of that but just another reason to sleep easy when the marina handles winterization.
joey2665 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:52 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.84056 seconds