Winterizing your Boat

July 2010 Christmas Rock

Ok, in the southeastern part of NC, a lot of folks think this is not necessary. Well, not necessarily so. Remember last winter? It got pretty cold, and stayed that way for several days. In fact, I chopped wood for our fireplace pretty much every day for a couple months (I do love a warm, wood fire, though).
Ok, back to boats.
Winterizing your boat.
If you don't know how to do it, don't. Take it to a marina with a QUALIFIED mechanic. There are, unfortunately, a lot of what we use to call "shade tree mechanics" advertising all over the place.
Just as unfortunately, I've seen their work. For small things, like changing spark plugs, they're not too bad. But, when it comes to serious stuff...watch out!!!!
Just as you would with a doctor, check out their credentials. Have they even been to a school sponsored by Mercury, Johnson, Yamaha...what have you? And, even if they have a 1997 certificate hanging from a greasy spot on their wall, that simply means they haven't kept up with the times.
A 1960's advertising campaign asked us to "Trust Your Car To The Man Who Wears The Star". That, of course, was the Texaco campaign. As trite as it may sound, it makes sense. Find a mechanic that has gone through regular in-service training with manufacture-sponsored schools.
Back to winterizing. Several steps need to be taken. Depending on how much, if any, you're planning to use your boat during the winter (yes, some of us take to the water all winter long), or when you plan to "abandon boating plans" until it gets a little warmer, there are different degrees of winterization you'll need to consider. Any reputable, certified mechanic can handle those chores for you.
What's it gonna cost? A whole lot less than not doing it if it's a cold winter. Water becomes ice when it gets really cold. In a confined space, inside an engine, the ice expands and the result is often a ruptered something or other. That becomes expensive.
And, even if it's a warmer than usual winter, it's best to take some precautions. Those procedures will make it less likely 1) that you will have damage during the winter, and 2) that your motor(s) will be in better condition, ready for action, when you are next spring.
Now, some stuff you can do that has nothing to do with your motor, but stuff that is often overlooked and causes some irritation when you're ready for next year's boating season.
Electronics and electrical connections.
Cleaning connectors is important. Antenna, power, transducer connectors can get a "film" of corrosion that will result in a poor or high resistance connection. For instance, if a power connector has a high resistance problem, your VHF radio might appear to be working when it's in the receive mode. But, when you transmit (key the mic), the much higher current demands could result in a voltage drop causing low or no power output.
Similar issues happen with antenna connections. The high resistance might cause you to think your radio is not performaing the way it should, in receive or transmit modes.
It's best, even when your boat is not stored for the winter, to periodically "work" the connectors. Remove them, clean the contacts, and re-connect. A little spray of CRC will help. DO NOT USE WD-40. That's a fish-oil based lubricant that keeps MECHANICAL things moving, but it's NOT an electrical cleaner.
Now, on to next spring. Hopefully, you're planning to take care of your boat (winterizing) in the off season.

This was February 2010 in Southwest Creek

Or, you can just keep using it. Yeah, I know. It gets cold on the water. But, with some cold weather clothing, you can pick some warm days and enjoy the water all year long 'round these parts.
Do not wait until next Memorial Day (that's in May), the traditional start of the summer boating season, to check out your boat. Whether you choose to winterize it, or take your chances, you should take it in for a spring checkup. Chances are, your water pump (that's just a little rubber-type impeller in the lower unit) will have dried out, and may not function. Not a good thing. Best to have your engine lubricants checked/changed, spark plugs checked/changed, and other things that trained, certified mechanics will handle for you. And, having tackled a few of these jobs myself, I found it to be a whole lot cheaper, in the end, to have it done by someone qualified.
As far as timing for this event...I'd suggest you uncover and clean your boat in February, and get it to a qualified, certified mechanic in March. If you wait until it's time to take to the water, you will find yourself at the back end of the line. And, the later in the spring you wait, the longer the line. I can tell you, for a fact, that any time after Memorial Day will result in a 3-4 WEEK wait before a good mechanic can even look at your boat. Even if you have something minor wrong, mechanics take the work in the order it is brought to them. It is not fair, I'm sure you'll agree, for a mechanic to allow you to "cut in line", even if you only need your spark plugs changed...a 20 minute job...when others are ahead of you, waiting patiently.
Decide on a mechanic in advance. Talk with them. Check their credentials. Ask other boat owners about their experiences. Of course, if those "others" waited until the week before the 4th of July to take their boats out for the first time that season, you might take that into consideration.
I have some prejudices in the mechanic arena. Having retired from my "regular" profession, I have worked, part time, at a marina with a top notch mechanic (I am in NO WAY a mechanic...I work in the store part of the marina). It allows me to be close to my boat...sighhhh. And, time to observe.
I've watched, throughout the spring, summer, and now fall, as fellow boaters brought their boats in with problems. Many of those, I'm afraid to tell you, could have been prevented with preventative maintenance. I cannot begin tell you how many folks uncovered their boats, for the first time this year, on Memorial Day weekend, added some fuel to the 6-8 month "leftover", stale gasoline in their tanks, and headed for the nearest boat ramp. "It was working just fine the last time I used it", they said. Yep, it was. A half a year ago. I can sympathize with them. I was one of "them" before. Some things we just seem to take for granted.
With a little effort before storing your boat, and some prep work in advance of next year's boating season, you'll be the one who launches and motors away, feeling pity for those tied up to the dock, with the engine covers off, trying to figure out why their ^$!*^*%*&#  boats won't start.
Need a referral to a good mechanic? E-mail me. raefordbrown@gmail.com  Tell me the make, model and age of your motor. If it's one we work on, I'll give you contact info.
Rant and rave coming up next time. Ethenol. What in the world is the EPA thinking? And, I'll have some suggestions on how to protect your boat engine from EXPENSIVE damage caused by this corn-based-fuel.

"Fish on"