Any further winterizing tips?

(chaser) · (chaser) **Join Date: Sep 2006** 09-24-2007, 6:42 AM

Hope to get a couple more weeks out of the season, but getting ready for winterizing here in WI. Did some searching and came up with these various suggestions/tips. Am I missing anything? Doing anything I don't need to or doing it wrong? First time witnerizing a boat, 2002 X-star with 310 Predator
-change engine and transmission oil and filter
-top off fuel tank and add Stabil
-run engine up to temp, then suck up rv antifreeze from 5 gal pail using a hose and some fittings I made to connect to the water pump intake until I see the anti freeze coming out the exhaust.
-drain ballast lines and remove impellers from all three pumps and store inside house. Remove center ski locker sac and store inside house.
-get all the water out of bilge and ski locker
-dry boat out really well with fans.
-disconnect and remove battery. Keep charged by periodically charging over the winter.
-will store it inside an unheated garage with the cover on.

(etakk7) · (etakk7) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 09-24-2007, 10:11 AM

-grease the rudder and two grease fittings on the steering cable. I then turn the wheel all the way to the right so the cable is folded in and exposed to grease, not the elements

-Grease the wheel bearings, hopefully will push out any water that might be in them

-use clear tape to tape up the exhaust ports so mice can't crawl in

-drain the engine block and manifolds, why take the chance?

-303 the interior, wax the exterior

-pump up the tires so they don't create flat spots

-rest the weight of the bow on something sturdy, take the pressure off of the wheel jack

-fog the engine with fogging oil before turning off for the last time

(chaser) · (chaser) **Join Date: Sep 2006** 09-24-2007, 1:37 PM

Is draining the block better then filling the block with anti-freeze?

(etakk7) · (etakk7) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 09-25-2007, 10:27 AM

depends on who you ask. If you drain, you know the fluid is out of there. If you leave in anti-freeze, you might still want to pull a plug quick to make sure the pink anti-freeze went through the block.

I'm anal, but in Northern WI, I run the boat to temp, drain the water from the block, then run the boat with anti-freeze, then drain everything completely. That way if I forgot to drain anything it is at least anti-freeze with a -50 burst proof protection.

(wakescene) · (wakescene) **Join Date: Feb 2001** 09-25-2007, 11:02 AM

http://wakeboardnj.com/winterize.htm

(bmartin) · (bmartin) **Join Date: Jan 2007** 09-25-2007, 11:34 AM

Where are the grease fittings on typical steering cables?