Yearly maintenance / winterization

Being a new OBV (and inboard) owner I'm curious what everyone thinks is necessary end-of-the-season maintenance that is different than what the owner's manual calls for? What is needed in the first year (I should have right around 25 hrs at the end of the season) vs. every year after the first?

I have asked the same question of my dealer and so far they have been great to work with, but I would like to come into the discussion with them as intelligent as I can since I'm not much of an engine guy.

And as far as winterization goes, what is the general thought on inboards about either using antifreeze or just draining all the water from the engine? The dealer/shop I used for my old I/O swore by just draining the water and I never had an issue after 10 yrs but I'm not sure if that thought process holds true with inboards. My boat is stored in non-heated storage in IL during the winter so we can definitely get below zero temps.

Welcome any and all of your thoughts.

Now this is a painful topic to bring up in August. there is a great writeup in the how to section by Al cab.. something. sorry al, im not here enough to remember your name. but he has tons of pictures and instructions. he has an LSV, but for most of the info for your OBV, i think is probably similar.

but winterize for certain, and remember to drain the heater core too.

First year I used antifreeze. Every year thereafter I did not. If you have access to an air hose just spray out your ballast lines and all with air after you've pulled them to drain, and as mentioned before be sure to drain your block.

Ugh, this post reminds me that fall is coming and that means boating season is nearing an end in a few months.....

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Originally Posted by yearround

Now this is a painful topic to bring up in August. there is a great writeup in the how to section by Al cab.. something. sorry al, im not here enough to remember your name. but he has tons of pictures and instructions. he has an LSV, but for most of the info for your OBV, i think is probably similar.

but winterize for certain, and remember to drain the heater core too.

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Yeah, sorry about that, I guess I could have at least waited until after Labor Day... :)

I did see that post on the winterizing and will certainly be referencing that when the time comes -- I was really more interested in what everyone thinks about whether antifreeze is needed or not.

Please keep the comments coming, I'm interested to hear what everyone does for "normal" yearly maintenance as well.

Thanks.

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Don't use the evil *******nterization word around here in August!

At the end of the day yesterday on the way in I did notice the air slightly cooler than usual. Uh oh. Football is starting too. Our season goes till Halloween so I'm not too worried yet.

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Originally Posted by kaneboats

Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Don't use the evil *******nterization word around here in August!

At the end of the day yesterday on the way in I did notice the air slightly cooler than usual. Uh oh. Football is starting too. Our season goes till Halloween so I'm not too worried yet.

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Here in the midwest my boat is usually already in storage for the winter come Halloween and I'm really lucky to get any time on the water after Labor Day. With the kids back in school and my son playing football on Friday nights that really hampers the lake time. I keep telling the wife we need to move to a warmer climate!!!

the years I had the dealer winterize, they do antifreeze and I was told by both it's part of the process. I winterized the supra myself 4 of the 5 winters and didn't use it. I keep my boats in an insulated garage(no heat) so they stay around 50deg or so. no need for antifreeze but your storage needs may be different. It's really not important to get every drop of water out of the boat as all you want is enough room for expansion should the worst happen and it does get exposed to freezing weather.

this is all imo and take it fwiw. others will have differing opinions and I would say do what makes YOU comfortable.

I too store mine in an insulated garage, but have heat available if it gets too cold (usually doesn't drop below 50 in there). I never use antifreeze, I actually do nothing special for winterization except make sure I stabilize the gas.

As for changing fluids on a yearly basis, do most do that at the end of the season or the beginning of the season? I usually do at beginning, but was curious.

I drain and then do antifreeze since it's only $15 and makes me worry less. Plus the antifreeze is supposed to help with corrosion prevention. Don't think it's a big deal either way, as long as you get the water out.

Definitely change oil at the end of the season. You don't want old oil sitting all winter.

^I have heard this as well and always store with fresh oil. makes it easier on that nice spring day you impromptu pull the boat out and run it for the first time :)

I change my fluids every 50 hours now, but we mainly surf and are in brackish water a lot. I'll probably change it 3 times this year, maybe 4 if I'm lucky.

If you get 100% of the water out of your engine, you don't need antifreeze. Air don't freeze.:)

That being said, I always use antifreeze, because I am scared of that one little spot of water that didn't make it out. $15 worth of antifreeze really eases my mind through the winter.

Using antifreeze gives you peace of mind and it's cheap so why not?

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I do what I've done for the last 30 years and that is drain and blow it out. It hasn't been the last 15 years or so that RV antifreeze has been used. I would think it would take more than 3 gallons to winterize especially to cover the heater as the circulation is a lot less than through the engine. Do you drain the coolant after pumping it through? If not, what is the freeze protection after the antifreeze mixes with the water?

for those of you that use antifreeze, how do you get it in the cooling system?

My winterization procedure is as follows.

Add stabil and run engine for 15 minutes, take off spark arrestor and spray fogging oil into intake while engine runs and then shut engine off immediately, change engine oil, remove spark plugs and spray fogging oil into cylinders, turn engine over with coil disabled to prevent it from starting, reinstall plugs, drain all water from everything, clean and reinstall spark arrestor done

every other year (aprox 200 hrs) i replace the spark plugs, tranny fluid, v drive oil, and fuel filter

and none of this take place before decemeber, we don't stop riding until the weekend after thanksgiving...

stabil in gas tank last couple fill ups. normal winterization process. being in Florida does have some advantages :rolleyes:.

Yea, I change oil and park in the back of the garage for a couple of weeks then ready to go.

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Originally Posted by moombadaze

stabil in gas tank last couple fill ups. normal winterization process. being in Florida does have some advantages :rolleyes:.

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Originally Posted by kaneboats

Yea, I change oil and park in the back of the garage for a couple of weeks then ready to go.

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A longer season AND much easier winterization, FL looks better and better.... :)