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Questions and answers about sports

Can you start a boat that has been winterized?

7 min read

Asked by: Sarah Perkins

Re: Starting a Winterized Boat Probably smart to start it up beforehand and blow out the smoke from the fogging oil for a few minutes. Then change the plugs for a quick start.

How do you start a boat motor after winterizing?

It will run at idle. And then we are going to shift it into forward make sure the prop moves will shift it back in a neutral verify the prop stops. And then we'll shift it to reverse.

How do you Dewinterize an inboard?

How to De-winterize Your Boat

  1. Take the Tarp Off. Before you do anything, you need to get the tarp or covering off your boat. …
  2. Check the Engine. …
  3. Refill the Cooling System. …
  4. Check Water Pumps and Thermostats. …
  5. Check Cables and Hoses. …
  6. Check Your Battery. …
  7. Clean the Distributor. …
  8. Check the Fuel System.

How do you flush antifreeze out of a boat?

Steps to drain the coolant:

  1. Place a pan under the plug opening. …
  2. Slowly open the drain plug or petcock. …
  3. Drain the engine.
  4. If the drain pan gets full, close the plug, empty the pan into the waste storage jugs, then replace it under the drain and continue.

How do I start a cold boat?

You can check that by looking at the trim gauge and verifying that it is within trim range then make sure that the boat is in neutral position and you're ready to start it up just like a car.

Do outboards self drain?

All outboards have a self-draining cooling system. There is no reason to start the motor with the notion that you are going to purge the last drops from the water pump housing.

Is fogging a boat motor necessary?

Fogging a boat engine is not completely necessary but is highly recommended. Putting a stabilizer in your gasoline can help reduce the long-term storage issues but is not a guarantee. Essentially, fogging oil is an inexpensive way to better protect your boat engine while it’s left idle.

How do you Summerize a boat?

How To Summerize A Boat!

  1. Check the Lower Unit oil for water. …
  2. Flush & Fog the Engine.
  3. Drain the Engine’s VST or Carburetors.
  4. Turn off Battery Switches, or disconnect the ground lead from the battery but leave the bilge pump float switch hooked up.
  5. Remove or cover all of the boats cushions.

When can you Dewinterize a boat?

While you may not want to drain the systems and crank up the engine until you are sure a late freeze is out of the question, the warm/cool days of early spring are the perfect time to get a jump on the rest of the spring commissioning processes.

How do I get my boat ready for spring?

Dewinterizing Your Boat: 12 Steps for Your Spring Boat Inspection

  1. Remove the Boat Cover and Inspect for Critter Hibernation. …
  2. Clean All Canvas, Vinyl and Carpeting. …
  3. Check the Engine & Propeller. …
  4. Check Cooling System & Replace Antifreeze. …
  5. Replace Battery. …
  6. Check for Damage. …
  7. Polish and Wax. …
  8. Attach Electronics.

How do you start a boat motor that has been sitting?

So we can run good clean fuel through the engines fuel system. Then if you are working on a fuel-injected engine you want to drain all of the old gunk out of the VST.

How do you start a flooded boat engine?

To start the flooded boat engine, wide open the throttle (with no choke) and wait for a couple of seconds to send air inside the cylinder to compensate for the excessive gasoline present inside the flooded combustion cylinder and then try to start the boat engine.

How do you start a boat motor out of water?

To run your boat motor out of water, start by attaching a hose to your motor’s water intake so you can flush in water, which will avoid damaging the engine. Once the hose is attached, turn on the water faucet. Then, pull the gear shift to neutral and start the engine.

Is it OK to start an inboard motor out of water?

It is not recommended to start a boat without water. In most outboard and inboard engines, impellers (rubber pumps) are used to circulate water to the cooling system of the boat. If the impeller does not have water to cool off and lubricate, it will heat up very quickly and possibly damage itself.

Is it OK to start an outboard motor out of water?

Starting a boat without water is not recommended. Most outboard and inboard engines use impellers (rubber pumps) to run water to the boat’s cooling system. Without water to cool off and lubricate, the impeller will heat up super fast and possibly damage.

What happens if you start a boat out of water?

If you run the engine without a water source for a long period of time, it will damage it, so you will need to attach a hose to the motor’s water intakes to prevent this. A set of motor flusher muffs is necessary if your motor does not flush.

How long can a motor run without water?

If there is liquid in the cooling system, 5 minutes is usually safe, but it may take a bit longer. If you let them cool naturally, you can run them until the heads are too hot to touch.

Can you run a 4 stroke boat motor out of water?

An outboard motor should never be operated without a source of water entering the inlet screens to supply the water pump. Without a source of water for lubrication, the water pump will be the first to be damaged, followed shortly thereafter by the engine from a lack of cooling.

How do you winterize a boat?

How To Winterize Your Boat

  1. Step 1: Replace engine oil. …
  2. Step 2: Flush and drain cooling water. …
  3. Step 3: Stabilize fuel. …
  4. Step 4: Protect internal engine components. …
  5. Step 5: Replace gear oil. …
  6. Step 6: Grease and lubricate. …
  7. Step 7: Remove valuables. …
  8. Step 8: Clean and wax.

What happens if I dont winterize my boat?

If You Don’t Winterize Your Boat, Here’s What Happens: Water freezes and expands and can damage anything it’s trapped inside. Water may seep into unprotected spaces to do this. Acidic and corrosive wastes, salt and corrosion buildup can damage delicate parts in engines. Fuels break down or grow dirty.

What is the cost to winterize a boat?

If you winterize your boat yourself, it will cost you about $250. This price includes the cost of winterizing the engine, the other systems of your boat, and cleaning it, stem to stern, inside and out. However, if you have the work done at a boatyard, expect to spend $500 up.

Can you use regular antifreeze to winterize a boat?

Engine coolant is toxic and should never, ever be used for any aspect of boat winterization. Your boat’s engine should have a proper coolant balance, true, but that’s independent of the winterizing process.

Can you put a winterized boat in the water?

A boat can be left in the water during the winter or year-round if you take necessary precautions to tackle the challenges of a boat being in the waters for long periods. However, you need to keep in mind that there is always a risk correlated with storing the boat in the water than dry storing.

Do you need to run antifreeze through an outboard motor to winterize it?

You do not need to run antifreeze through an outboard, period. They’re designed to drain completely in the tilted-down position, and do not need an ounce of antifreeze.

Is winterizing a boat necessary?

Winterizing a boat is an essential process unless you plan to make necessary repairs to your boat come springtime. If you do not winterize your boat, any water droplets left could freeze, expand, and crack the components they were in. This could cause anything from blowing off a hose to completely ruining your engine.

How long can a boat sit without being winterized?

The rule of thumb we use is 2-3 days of consectutive freezing temperatures, day and night, and you are in trouble unless you winterized. For example, the past 2 nights here have hit freezing though the daytime temp is 50+ degrees so no worries. Yes, the boat being in the water does help, a lot.

Do you have to winterize a 4 stroke outboard motor?

Despite climate change, winter can still bring freezing temperatures to much of the nation. Like inboards and sterndrives, outboard engines are also subject to potential damage from freezing and from being laid up in disuse for months at a time. So outboards demand winterizing too.