Winter Boating question

[Downrod]

I am planning on using my boat all winter this year and I am wondering what you guys do to stay safe from any freezing. The boat is stored in my non heated but attached garage. Is there anything that I should be doing after every use?



thanks
Frank

[Gone Fishing]

Hi Frank, I'm pretty certain you have an outboard so you're in pretty good shape. The only problem I ever had was as I pulled the boat up the ramp I hit a deep hole and it kicked my motor to the up position which trapped water in the lower housing. It froze and ruined the rear bearing housing. If the motor is in the down position, it self drains. The only other thing that comes to mind is to check your gearcase lube a few times during the winter after use. If a seal goes bad and water gets in, it can freeze and crack your lower unit gearcase housing. Good luck and go wack some Steelhead! If I'm missing something, hopefully others will comment.

[Downrod]

Thanks John
Yes it is an outboard. (silly me)
My dad has always had a small boat with an outboard that he kept in his garage and I don't remember him ever winterizing it.
But he didn't use it during the winter. Thanks for the tip on keeping the motor in the down position. I wouldn't have thought about that and I usually trailer it in the up position.

Just want to make sure that I'm not missing anything

[Getaway]

Gone fishing covered all the points Frank. If you have a bilge pump, you may want to keep your plug out so the water in bilge won't freeze and crack your pump. Other than that keep the motor upright and you are good to go.

As a precaution, maybe add a little "Stabil" to your gas if it is gonna set more than a month or two. I do not think this is necessary though. I fill the gas tank in my boat to the top (60 gals) and let it set from November till March/April without any addatives and I've never had a problem with "stale" gas.

[Jason Adam]

Remember that launch ramps and trailer bunks get real "slippery when wet" in the winter. I've seen whole rigs(truck, boat, trailer) take the slow slide of death down the launch ramp after it slicked up. Also, dont "unhook" your winch or saftey chain until your at the water, so your boat doesnt slide off iced bunks when you back onto the incline.

[Downrod]

Great advice guys. Thanks

[goosewa]

Downrod,

If you plan being out (on the water) in temps below freezing make sure you drop some Non-Toxic RV Antifreeze in the bilge and leave it in there. (The -100 below stuff can mix with water for a while before it freezes.)

It will keep your boat light because there will be no ice build up below decks (or the floor if you have an open aluminum boat) and it make sure your bilge pump works and will not freeze should you need it if your out.

I do this trick when I leave my duck boat in water all the way though duck season (January). I would rather have a good amount of non-tox Anti-Freeze sitting in the bilge than water. Beats chipping ice or damaging Stringers and bulkheads from ice expansion.

Make sure you get the Non-Tox RV type it is enviromentally friendly when you pump it out. Unlike the Automotive Ethy-Glycol stuff.

-Goosewa

[1fife]

also have some salt with you

sometimes the ramp freezes up and you can get the traction to get you boat out. And will slide in when putting boat in.

[WALLDADY]

When you pull out of the water at the end of a trip , leave your motor down and start it in the parking lot . This will run all the water out of your water pump houseing , and wont hurt your motor . Just run it till it quits spittin water .
When puttin your rig in in the morn. , DONT get anxious to go . The water pump impellors are made of plastic or rubber and will easily be destroyed if they are iced up . Let your motor into the water , then go park your trk. . In that amount of time , the river water frushing thru your houseing will be enough to thaw any ice that may be in there .
Carry an extra impellor and a couple tools . If your not spittin water , poke the spit hole with a wire . If still no spittin you could seriously damage your motor . An impellor replacement will take about a 1/2 hr. , but its better than callin it quits when you just got there .
Stabil in the gas is a great idea , and NO water in the lower unit gearcase is CRITICAL .
I use my boat all winter on The Joe and store it outside . These couple of things have worked well for me .

Good Luck and Safe Trips ...... Walldady