Winterizing Your Boat 

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It's time to winterize your boat and here is what needs to be done to protect your boat when it is laid up for the winter.

Winterizing Checklist

Sterndrives/Inboards

1. Install gas stabilizer
2. Change engine oil and filter
3. Change fuel filter
4. Drain block, manifolds, circulating pump and coolers.
5. Fill block, manifolds and circulating pump with anti-freeze.
6. Check all belts and hoses.
7. Check shift/throttle cables and settings.
8. Change gear lube.
9. Check gimbal bearing
10. Grease u-joints and gimbal bearing
11. Lube engine coupler splines
12. Check and replace anodes as needed
13. Run, decarbon and fog engine
14. Spray electrical connections with corrosion guard
15. Check steering and power trim

Outboards

1. Change gear lube
2. Grease tilt tube and swivel pin
3. Check steering
4. Check shift/throttle cables
5. Check and replace anodes as needed
6. Install gas stabilizer
7. Run, decarbon and fog engine
8. Check fuel line and bulb
9. Spray electrical connections with corrosion guard
10. Top of power trim fluid

We recommend you use genuine Mercury, Yamaha and Volvo-Penta parts and accessories when you winterize your boat.

Remember to change your engine oil and filter in the fall when you winterize your boat. Do not put your boat in storage with dirty oil. After just a few hours of use your engines oil is dirty and contaminated, with water, acids, unburned gas and dirt. Dirty oil can damage your engine if left in over the winter months. If you do not change the oil it will start to corrode the metal surfaces of the engine and damage bearings, pistons and cylinder walls. It is especially important in diesel engines because excess sulfur in the fuel when combined with water from condensation will become sulfuric acid , and can cause major damage to your engine.

Make sure you use a good brand of marine engine oil, such as Mercury Precision oil, which contain the proper detergents and rust inhibitors. Some automotive oils do not meet these standards and you should always refer to your owners manual for the proper weight and type of oil to use.

You should also pull your outdrive and check the gimbal bearing, it should be lubed and replaced if needed. Drain the oil and refill with new gear oil. Make sure there is no water intrusion in your outdrive and if there is, it may need to be resealed. Make sure you keep your outdrive down when in storage.

Next stabilize your gas and then spray fogging oil through the carburetor until the engine stalls.(We recommend Mercury Storage Seal) If you have an EFI or MPI engine you will have to pull the spark plugs and spray the fogging oil through the plug holes. Be sure that you turn the engine over to make sure the fogging oil coats everything.

Drain the water from your engine and manifolds and refill with a non-toxic anti-freeze do not use automotive engine coolant for this purpose.

Finally spray your electrical connections with Mercury corrosion guard which will protect them. Check your belts, hoses and anodes. Replace them if needed. Check your  throttle and steering cables, make sure you spray them with a weather resistant lubricant such as CRC or WD40. Pull you propeller and lube with anti-seize weatherproof grease. Disconnect or remove your batteries and you are ready to put your boat in storage.

Remember Boats Unlimited stocks everything you need to protect your boat in winter storage.

Purchase Winterizing Products in our Online Store