Winterizing my outboards

[uboatcdr]

Time to put the boat away for the winter and need to winterize my motors. 250 and 15 horse Yamaha. What is the best thing to do, I know I have to fog the motors (WD-40?) what else.

[Highmark]

Go buy the real stuff from the dealer. Much better for the motors. I run my kicker out of gas and put them both in the down position. put Sta-bil in the gas put in to both and that's about it. Drain out all thw water from the rest of the boat. IE Wash down pump system and anything else that way
keep water in it.

Herman

[Road Rage]

I like to put the stabilizer in the tank, then fill the tank, then run the motors for about 15 minutes on the hose. This gets the stabilized fuel through all the fuel lines. I do run my motors dry. Rather than fogging my motor, I remove the spark plugs and spray some fogger into each cylinder. I remove the kill-switch lanyard and crank the motor for about 5 to 10 seconds after replacing the spark plugs.

Store the boat with the motors as vertical as possible.

Do your best to get the water out of all the systems as Highmark suggests.

This is the first year I don't have to worry as much about winterizing... I now own a home with a shop that houses the boat. :meme:I'll still stabilize and drain, but I won't lay-awake at night during cold snaps wondering if I drained or not.

[fish-on-bend]

My fool proof method is to fish all year. Just make sure I lower my outboards all the way when I get home. I also inject some rv antifreeze into the pee hole of my 115 with a horse syringe. Sometimes it doesn't pee right away when its down in the 20's or teens.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_0235.JPG (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/67816/size/big/cat//ppuser/8168)

[ICHTHYDEMON]

You live in Kingston and aren't out chasing Blackmouth all Winter?

Are you nuts?:passout::D

[Starfish]

My fool proof method is to fish all year. Just make sure I lower my outboards all the way when I get home. I also inject some rv antifreeze into the pee hole of my 115 with a horse syringe. Sometimes it doesn't pee right away when its down in the 20's or teens.

:yeahthat:

I've never tried the antifreeze syringe trick but I just make sure I take the boat fishing about once a week. Every time I pull the boat out of the water I lower both engines and let them drain, then turn to my buddy with an inboard and say, "Guess what I did today... I winterized my boat!" IMHO you actually want to be sure to drain them before you get home, not after... things can freeze up pretty fast.

In all seriousness, one other thing you should consider is changing the lower unit gear oil each fall. If any water has gotten inside the gearcase you want to be sure to get it out before it freezes.

[Sea Dobie]

I do my Winterizing and additional season end maintenance at the same time:

1. Drain and change oil and oil filter.
2. Drain and change lower unit gear lube.
3. Replace water/fuel separator filter.
4. Replace fuel filters.
5. Fill fuel tanks and add Sta-Bil Marine.
6. Position Main and Kicker in vertical position.
7. Run main and kicker for 15 minutes on hose.
8. Remove spark plugs and fog cylinders.
7. Inspect bilge for any water and clean bilge pump intake screen.
8. Place battery on battery tender.
9. Cover boat.
10 In the spring I replace my spark plugs -after starting both motors.

[1pump]

Don't use WD40 for fogging. That stuff dries up and leaves a residue. Fogging oil won't dry up and easily dissipates when you fire it up again.

IMHO, I wouldn't bother with Sta Bil. Gas doesn't go bad that quickly, especially if you keep the tank full and close off the vent.
In simplified terms, I store gas for a living, and you'd be amazed at how long it's been in storage before the gas station gets it. It amazes me how many people throw away "old" gas or spend money on stabilizers for a couple months of storage. If it makes you feel better, knock yourself out. Just my :twocents:

[MattPark]

My fool proof method is to fish all year. Just make sure I lower my outboards all the way when I get home. I also inject some rv antifreeze into the pee hole of my 115 with a horse syringe. Sometimes it doesn't pee right away when its down in the 20's or teens.
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/medium/IMG_0235.JPG (http://www.ifish.net/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/67816/size/big/cat//ppuser/8168)

Can we get a "Best Of Ifish" category like craigslist has?

[ondarvr]

You didn't say if these were 2S or 4S Yamahas

Fogging a 2 Stroke through the carb gets the oil into the crank and rod bearings plus the top end, that's way this is the recommended way to do it. Squirting some in the spark plug hole may help the cylinder above the rings, but that's about it and that's only if the motor is fully horizontal and you crank it over.