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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Two Winter Storage Questions.

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sodonnell
1st Mate

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76 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/12/2005 : 11:00:39

Hello to all,

Too bad the season is behind us in NY (for most of us at least).

Can anyone point me to a "Winterize your Outboard" for dummies link or book.

And I was curious if any of you make it standard practice to drop the mast as part of winter storage. I left it up in the past ( I don't trailer my c25) but have heard conficting opinions on whether or not it is a bad idea to leave it up during winter.

Thanks
Scott

Edited by - on

bear
Admiral

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USA
909 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2005 : 19:07:11

Scott, IMHO the worst thing you can do is not get all the gas out of the engine, run it out, drain it out. On my 8 H.P. Honda I leave the old oil in until spring and pull the starter cord through four or five times every month thru the winter. I have no thoughts on the mast situation, however I do see sailboats here in upstate N.Y. at marina's with their mast up in the winter.

Edited by - on

cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2005 : 20:24:33

Run it dry. Change the oil in the spring. Maybe change the lower oil if you haven't done it in a while. THat's all we've done for several years & our outboard runs great.

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atgep
Master Marine Consultant

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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 11/12/2005 : 22:38:03

I would recomend changing the engine oil prior to putting it up for the winter. The old oil has gas, metal, and other uglies in it. Not the best thing to leave hanging around for a few months.

The experts also recommend an oil change when taking the engine out of preservation.

Tom.

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5913 Posts

Response Posted - 11/13/2005 : 07:51:47

When you're ready to pull the boat out of the water, disconnect the fuel line from the engine while it's running. It'll continue to run for about 30 seconds, and then it'll run out of gas. Before you do that, though, put some fuel stabilizer in the fuel tank. It is believed to prevent the fuel from forming varnish, which can clog the tiny carburetor parts over the long term.

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John P
Captain

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USA
324 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 14:35:04

As an adder, make sure you check your rigging before walking away for the winter. Check the tensions of the stays, condition of the turnbuckles, make certain the keepers are installed (cotter pins, split rings, etc.). I tensioned all my rigging after haul out and then came back this past weekend to do some work and found that the two forward lowers had loosened. I had neglected to put the rings back on.

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byh2os
1st Mate

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USA
32 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 15:01:41

Steve is right. Put stabilizer in your tank run your motor long enough to get the stabilizer into the engine( about 5 min.). Then disconect and continue to run for about 30 seconds. Your engine should start on about 4th pull next spring. Alternative, attach engine to a sawhorse in your garage with lower unit in a trash can that will hold water. Start engine every 3o days. (I do this in the summer to my duck boat. Starts 4th pull every time.) Bill

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 11/14/2005 : 17:21:05

It's a good idea to fully flush any salt from your outboard by means of running it with an "earmuff" flushing device connected to a fresh water hose to prevent a hard salt/scale buildup in the cooling system over the winter.

Running the engine with stabilized fuel and then disconnecting the fuel line until the ouboards starves will also prevent carb problems in the spring. You might want to fog the engine as well.

It's also recommended to grease all fittings and change the lube in the lower unit. Hosing down the engine with fresh water doesn't hurt either and will help preserve tilt mechanism springs and such.

I hope this helps.

Edited by - oldsalt on 11/14/2005 17:22:52

osmepneo
Past Commodore

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USA
1420 Posts

Response Posted - 11/16/2005 : 16:16:23

When I kept my boat in downstate NY at the club, I stored with the mast up. Checking rigging is good idea, as has been suggested.

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DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2005 : 09:09:45

Most of the boats at RCR on the Buffalo waterfront are stored in cradles with the mast up, facing into the general direction of the fierce NW squalls. No problems that I am aware of. Avoid jackstands. I saw some photos of boats somewhere that "walked" off jackstands during winter storage and caused serious damage to themselves and neighboring boats.

In addition to the previous good comments, tie the halyards off to prevent slapping the mast. If you use tarps, use bungies instead of rope, and check them often for torn grommets. Loose stuff flapping against your or your neighbor's boat can do a lot of damage.

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DanM
Captain

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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 11/19/2005 : 09:21:22

Just another thought.....if you store on a trailer, be sure to block off the wheels and secure the tongue. Remember Frank's photos after the midwest storm that moved trailers all over the parking lot?

Edited by - DanM on 11/19/2005 09:22:55

roberoo
Navigator

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USA
182 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2005 : 07:35:26

I agree with Dan. I do one other thing I remove my running rigging and substitute with thin nylon line from home depot etc. In the spring i do a simple splice and run the lines up the mast. I bought all new running rigging last year and this will keep it in good shape and also keep my big butt off the mast: ).

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danandlu
Navigator

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USA
175 Posts

Response Posted - 11/20/2005 : 11:25:46

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by DanM
 Just another thought.....if you store on a trailer, be sure to block off the wheels and secure the tongue. Remember Frank's photos after the midwest storm that moved trailers all over the parking lot?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
After towing "Chesapeake" 950 miles to my home I faced a new dilemma; how to keep the trailer w/boat from rolling down my sloped driveway and ultimately adding a new addition to my neighbor's house.

I found this at the local RV dealer.

Edited by - on

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