Hi- I have had many boats and have two others now a larger Carver Aft Cabin that has a system that heats so I don't have to winterize it at all here and my ski boat an older (1st year actually) Tige with an indmar 351 carbureted so it's simple on the ski boat fog, pull hoses and pet cock plugs on exhaust manifolds, drain, change oil, pull batt, but I think the Formula with 6.2's and the other systems (AC/Generator)is going to be a bit more involved and any help or a simple outline procedure would be great, I have seen a few but very complicated. I am on lake Texoma and it rarely gets to the point here where damage can be done but it does, I have drained the block (removed the two blue plastic plugs on each motor) opened the strainers and added antifreeze and ran the AC and Gen for 20 secs, added a gallon of antifreeze to the fresh water tank and run it through, pumped out the holding tank and poured a couple of gallons of anti freeze in the vacu flush head and sink, what else? I drained the hot water heater nothing came out? is one of the strainers for the AC and one for the gen? Sorry new boat for me bought from a lady who didn't know much/ no help boat has 106 hours and is on a lift. I will have the outdrives pulled in spring before I use it to have them serviced, she tells me they have never done anything to the outdrives to service them or for winterization- wow almost 10 years only 106 hours looks new runs out very well but I want to do it right but not over kill... thanks in advance for any help!
Winterizing my 2004 330ss w/6.2's 1st time Texas
- Thread starter mckane1
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Need to pull hoses on engine also and drain water out of them, some folks even pour the pink stuff in there as well. Need to have all your bilge pumps pick up and pump out some pink stuff too. Assuming your boat is stored on the hard, leave the sea cocks open. My a comply takes a gal on the pink stuff! but my gen set takes 3. You got to get the ink stuff in the water lift muffler good. Also it takes me 5 gal on the pink stuff in my water tank to get it out all the wYer outlets good and pink. Aldo run some thru your shower sump.
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Not that it helps with your answer but I did not realize it got cold enough anywhere in Texas to have a need to winterize. Where in Texas are you?
I had the same question as John. Usually takes a hard freeze over a couple days to cause damage.
If you're safe from freeze, the only thing you need to do is fog the engine and that's only if it's going to lay unused for a year. I haven't even fogged for over 15 years and only running motors occasionally during 'winter'. I live near San Francisco.
If you're safe from freeze, the only thing you need to do is fog the engine and that's only if it's going to lay unused for a year. I haven't even fogged for over 15 years and only running motors occasionally during 'winter'. I live near San Francisco.
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We are also on Texoma
Way overkill for this area.
Antifreeze in fresh water tank?
If the boat is in the water bilge heater is enough.
In a storage shed, pull the hoses and thermostat and fill everything with pink antifreeze.
Boats in the water are used all year round here.
I just cover the engine room intake and exhaust with custom made canvas covers.
Takes 5 minutes to get ready to cruise.
Way overkill for this area.
Antifreeze in fresh water tank?
If the boat is in the water bilge heater is enough.
In a storage shed, pull the hoses and thermostat and fill everything with pink antifreeze.
Boats in the water are used all year round here.
I just cover the engine room intake and exhaust with custom made canvas covers.
Takes 5 minutes to get ready to cruise.
Thanks jpowell I will print and follow that, OI forgot the shower sump and bilges, and jmeirhofer I am on Lake Texoma right on the Texas Oklahoma border (Red River)jtybt I hear you amd I don't think it stays cold enough long enough here to do it BUT I have seen damage from freeze conditions randomly in the Dallas area and that is 100 miles south of Texoma? About Time I am with you on the over kill and my boat has a bilge heater but it's on a lift in a covered slip. I worry about those outdrives but she says they have never had any problems with them they just had the marina winterize the motors and water system? we have freezing rain coming this weekend and one thing that always concerns me is if the ice takes out the power then I would have to go up and start the generator(s) on both the bigger boats even to keep the bilge heaters with electricity, I don't want to do over kill but want to make sure I have done what I can to help in the slight chance that it does get that cold for that long, how cold and how long is it anyone know a basic rule of thumb? I don't think it stay 32 or below 24 hours here?
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2007
- RO Number
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Rule of thumb
Boats in storage or on a lift drain and add antifreeze.
Boats in the water, open sink valves and turn off water pumps.
I cover my blower intake/exhaust just to keep the cold air out.
The water in Texoma very seldom goes below 40 degrees.
I cann't say it never freezes on the west end or in the very shallow areas.
We are near the dam at EYC.
A hard freeze is 29 or lower for 24 hours.
Happens but not often.
Forget the generator idea.
If it's black ice and the roads are frozen you are not going anyplace.
Lots of us on Texoma use these or similar procedures with no problems
We also go cruising in January and February if it's a sunny day.
Good Luck with whatever you do
Boats in storage or on a lift drain and add antifreeze.
Boats in the water, open sink valves and turn off water pumps.
I cover my blower intake/exhaust just to keep the cold air out.
The water in Texoma very seldom goes below 40 degrees.
I cann't say it never freezes on the west end or in the very shallow areas.
We are near the dam at EYC.
A hard freeze is 29 or lower for 24 hours.
Happens but not often.
Forget the generator idea.
If it's black ice and the roads are frozen you are not going anyplace.
Lots of us on Texoma use these or similar procedures with no problems
We also go cruising in January and February if it's a sunny day.
Good Luck with whatever you do