Winterizing: Did I miss anything ?

This is the first time I have ever winterized a boat, if I have missed anything PLEASE let me know. 1988 nautique 2001. I removed two brass plugs from each side of the engine block and drained water. I removed both plugs from the manifolds and drained. I removed a drain plug from the front of the engine off a line {elbow} not sure what you call it. I removed a drain plug from the rear of the engine at the base of a metal cylinder looking thing,not sure what you call it. I drained the strainer. Put them all back and filled a 5 gal bucket with R.V. anti freeze and ran the engine till it came out the exhaust.I then restarted the engine and put marvel mystery oil down the carb till it bogged down a bit then shut down. Pulled the plug and drained all the water out of the hull that I could see. Please again if I am missing something tell me. I cant afford to mess this up. Thanks

TRBenj: Thanks to you. I followed your pictures on your winterizing thread and it made it very easy to do. I myself realy found your info very helpfull. I did start to add Sta-bil to the fuel the last few time we went out skiing and the some more on the way to take it out. Im hoping that will work. I notice a few people say they remove the "impeller" ? I would if I had any idea where it is located. What do you think and could you point me to where I can find this thing ? thanks

Found it. thanks

Do most of the techniques apply only when dealing with subzero temps? I live in CA where it never goes below 40-50deg

if not, please gimme some opinions on what i should do to my 77 SN 351W
thanks for any help in advance..

Brian,
I'm one of the people who doesn't remove the batteries to put them in a warmer spot over the winter. I've never had a problem and my boats are stored in northern Wisconsin. I make sure they are disconnected, have a good charge and they are fine come spring. I always ask people who do bring their battery in if they do it on their car/truck too! Marina's leave their customers batteries in the boat.

Sorry for this, but I need to ask a dumb question. Yes, I have read the manual and have read the winterizing comments on this site, but I still have a nagging question. RE: antifreeze-I have the Pro Boss in my '95 SN, and went to winterize on my own for the first time. Figured it would be easy as I summerize it. I was stummped however when they mentioned antifreeze. Is this just put in for winter storage in case all the water is not drained out? Also, mentioned taking the impeller out. Does everybody do that as well? My mechanics never did that. Also, I disconnected the water heater hose and the heater hoses. Is that all I need to do or do you blow them out as well? One last thing, is is ok to not change the oil until spring -I'm running out of time? Thanks in advance.

Thanks. I'll do that. Just to confirm, after you put the plugs back in and put the anti-freeze in, I'm assuming I run motor to get antifreeze through the system?

The antifreeze will make it to all the low points. Running isn't needed.[/QUOTE]



what he said

On the very bottom of your motor is the oil pan. It will have a drain plug in it. On your vintage of boat it should also have a hose connected to it so you can feed the hose out the main drain plug in your hull. Take the nut/plug in the end of the hose out after pushing the hose through the bottom of your boat and the oil will slowly drain. It will take 10-15 minutes for all the oil to drain. When your done make sure you put the plug back in and refill the motor with oil before you start it.

If you use the drain hose method, don't forget to take the boat out of the water first!!!

mtguy wrote: Thanks again. You guys are great.

Especially guys like Tim and Pete that share so much knowledge

Checked your profile mtguy...sucks to be you lately I bet! 700 down again today!

john

me too (conservative) and my guy called Sunday afternoon (!) just to make sure I was doin' ok. Said he was just checking in with all his clients.
Good luck on the sno-skiing. No need to put the boats away here.

john

Regarding the heater question, disconnect both hoses to the heater and with your lungs, blow the water out.

Cannot remember, should the speedo pickup's be cleared as well? Need to do that on my boat to protect the ECM or whatever you call the circuit board in the trunk.

Also crank the steering wheel back and forth several times periodically to keep the steering cable lubed.

Change oil/filter, trans fluid. Replace fuel filter every other season.

Pete, I do remove my battery, keep it in the house and give it a little charge every month and still only got three seasons out of the original Interstate battery?

john,
it is beautiful right now. Dry...but beautiful. The high is 66 on saturday.

dmiracle,
i had a great post with links to most of your questions, but my computer locked up when i tried to post it.

Here goes again.

oil type....confused

transmission oil

spark plugs for protec

I have always been able to gently turn my block plugs with a pair of needle nose pliars. I have a 86'