Winterizing

Donald Tyson

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This will be my first time to winterize the Thistle. It will then be covered for the winter and left in the driveway. There is not much to do really:
-The Watertank will be drained. I'm sure there will be a small residue of water left in the tank when dome draining. Do I add any Sierra Camper Anti Freeze?
-The oil and filter has less than 20 hrs on it and I was going to Leave it for now.
-Stores that might attract vermin have been removed.
-The tanks will have Marine Staybil added and they will be filled.
-Is there anything to do to the motors other than putting them down
-gear oil in lower unit has been replaced over the summer. How often does it get changed?
What else?
 
I change gear oil every time I change the engine oil. I put Stainless steel scrub pads in the holes under the gunnels where wires go into the cabin in aft bulkhead. This should keep mice out. I would put mouse bait in also. What about your water pump? Water lines--they need to be blown out and free of water.
 
It is recommended to change your engine oil at least once a year, regardless of hour.
Make sure to blow the hose and pump dry like Bob said or run antifreeze in those. Also make sure your bilge pump are dry or have antifreeze.
I like to take my batteries inside my storage and can charge them once or twice per winter.
Depending on how you store your boat, you might want to check for moisture frequently and address any issues as soon as possible if notice.
 
I will add that removal of any nesting material is also prudent. Mice seem to seek out paper towel/TP in my experience.

I use Kirkland vodka as my water system treatment.
 
I change gear oil every time I change the engine oil. I put Stainless steel scrub pads in the holes under the gunnels where wires go into the cabin in aft bulkhead. This should keep mice out. I would put mouse bait in also. What about your water pump? Water lines--they need to be blown out and free of water.
Great idea for the steel scrub pads...I'd used aluminum foil, but they seem to chew through it anyway.
 
Great idea for the steel scrub pads...I'd used aluminum foil, but they seem to chew through it anyway.
Another proven method is to put a sheet of bounce fabric softener on any possible entry hole. I've been using this method for years in the 5th wheel trailer. For some reason mice do not like the smell of bounce and will not go near it. Haven't had a mouse in the trailer for many years since I started using it and we're in it at least 4 months a year.
 
Bronze wool is better than steel wool. It won't rust.
I use Bounce fabric softener sheets and Fresh Cab inside the cabin. I put vented bags with moth balls around the outside under the cover.
I remove all the cushions that come out and cover the helm seat with plastic.
The one year I had a mouse spend the winter it would come and go via the hawser hole.
If you have a cover, make sure that no straps/ropes hang down close to the ground.

Cheap vodka works as antifreeze in the water system after it is drained of water as much as possible. Run the system until vodka comes out the faucet.

Make sure that the front of the trailer is raised so that any water that accumulates ends up draining out the plug or at least sits in the sump.

I disconnect all loads from the battery.
 
Bronze wool is better than steel wool. It won't rust.
Pleasse note, I suggested Stanless Steel in my original post. I found that some critters are more likely to chew thru bronze "wool". Also I have come upon "bronze wool" which was nothing but steel, with a copper coating. So be sure that the material (bronze or Stainless) is really what is in the product.

The bounce didn't always work in the RV--so I ended up with poison, which I prefer not to use.
 
FWIW, I tend to do all my annual maintenance at the end of the season, and consider it part of winterizing the boat. The plugs, fuel filters, oil and oil filters are all changed out. Motors are lubed, including pulling the props and relubing the shafts and checking to make sure no fishing line is wrapped around the shaft behind the prop. The water system is drained, and I do pump RV antifreeze through it. Don't forget to drain your hot water heater if you have one. The 2.5 g bosch units some of us have gone with do not have a drain. Inside the tank, the cold water dip tube goes to almost the bottom of the tank, while the hot water dip tube only goes into the top of the tank. I blow the water out with a flushing valve on the hot water side. I open the cold spigot and blow air into the flushing valve on the hot side. Then once no more water is coming out, I pull the heating element and anode out, as they are usually full of corrosion. Soak them in vinegar and change the anode. (Rather than running more rv antifreeze into the water heater, I have it set up with some valves to shut the tank off from the rest of the water system, and with a valve that connects the cold and hot water lines.) While flushing the rv antifreeze thru the system, I also flush it into the shower drain to insure that the shower drain lines and pump are also winterized. I leave the engines trimmed down so that all water drains out of them. Also if storing the boat outside, I bag the props just to keep any critters from crawling in. Also keeps the snow out. I put bounce fabric sheets all through out the cabin, and the cockpit. (I have a full cover on the boat, even though this year I finally have a large storage unit I'm keeping it in.) Make sure you get the ones with the regular aroma and not the non-smelly ones. They work. I used them in a prior RV as well. This year in the storage unit, I do not have access to AC power, but in past years with the boat stored in my back yard, I kept it plugged in and had a small dehumidifying fan I ran. I still use the damprid stuff. I put rubber corks in all the thru holes, except for the bilge drain (so any water can still drain out) and the anchor locker drain (to small for a cork) I put scotch bright pads. I make sure everything is dry under the cushions, and just leave them in the boat. Also leave the batteries in, and just top them off with a charge when necessary. (This year in the storage unit, I'll either run the generator for the day, or bring the boat home and plug it in. Just easlier than pulling the batteries in and out.) I completely drain my fuel tank. (With the 25, it's a 100 g tank and I'd rather not leave that much fuel in it over winter. I have a small electric pump I can hook up at the main fuel filter to pull fuel out of the tank.) However, I will run stabilizer through the fuel with the last fill up to make sure any fuel in the lines and outboards is treated. I also run non-ethanol fuel thru the lines and motor before storage, as during the season, I burn the 10% regular.) I do use fogging oil in the outboards, but not sure it's really necessary since it's only stored about 4 months.
Don't forget to maintain your trailer as well. Check all fastener and hardware. I have oil bath hubs, and usually at least change the hub oil and check the wheel bearing free play. If you have the grease hubs, good time to change the grease. Check the brakes and all lighting.
 
A friend of mine purchased a C-Dory that had several partially full boxes of moth balls in the cabinets. Unfortunately he did not notice how strong the smell was when looking at the boat. He tried many many things to get rid of the odor to no avail. It was tolerable to slightly unnoticeable with the widows open while underway.
 
A friend of mine purchased a C-Dory that had several partially full boxes of moth balls in the cabinets. Unfortunately he did not notice how strong the smell was when looking at the boat. He tried many many things to get rid of the odor to no avail. It was tolerable to slightly unnoticeable with the widows open while underway.
Yeah, that's why I only use moth balls on the outside of the boat.
 
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