www.iFourWinns.com

I am in a cold climate and this is my first year with my 358. Was planning on storing indoor/heated and wasn't expecting to need to fully winterize the gas engines, generator, etc.

Just do a complete clean-out of the waste and water tanks, take care of the batteries, etc. One of the storage places said, I should still winterize the engines.

Wondered what your thoughts and tips were for winterizing.

Thanks

They would love for you to spend the money on winterizing the engines. If they are insured for any heat failure, you are insured for storage coverage, you should be okay. We stored inside/heated for 7 years. Never did anything but add Sta-Bil to the fuel tank(s), get waste tank pumped out, flushed and add deodorizer, flush water system and drain completly, change engine oil, change drive oil , dissconnect the batteries and put her away. Our boats always started right up in the spring. We will do the exact same thing this year with our new boat, minus the water and waste tank maintenance.

Likely you will get other opinions as to the benefits of "just in case" engine winterizing. But I have never done it, and never felt I needed to.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

This will be our 3rd season in indoor heated. I never winterized other that the normal maintenace items.

The building I'm in has at least 100 vessels in it. it has a huge furnace at each end of the building, and heat alarms with flashing red light's outside the building. Heck even if there was a power outage it would be days, mybe even a week, before it would cool everthing down to do damage.

Pluse like capt said, they are insured and if you are too, you should be good to go.

My .02

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Jeff

'14 Cruisers 380 Express "Simon Sez"
Merc 8.2 Mag MPI 380
DTS B3X, (x2) Axius Premier


(SOLD)
'08 V318
Merc 350 Mag MPI 300
DTS Seacore, B3 (x2)

I also use indoor heated storage for my 298 Vista and agree completely with the good Cap'n Morgans comments. I do the very same preparation work and have not had any issues starting up in spring either. Our Marina's storage wharehouses have temperature and security alarms, and the facility is kept at around 60°. There is about 50 boats stored in each building.
The only difference is I usually go get the key from the marina office, which is open year round, and do the drive oil change during the storage period, along with all the waxing and cleaning work prior to spring launch. It's a wonderful thing to visit the boat in mid January or February and buff and wax while it's snowing and freezing cold outside!

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2004 Four Winns 298 Vista
"Last Minute"

I have store in a underground Lime stone mine along with about 1200 other boats' campers and motor homes. Stays 55 degrees year round. Always put antifreeze in the engine just for piece of mind or a early or late cold snap and for corrosion control.

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Inboard, outboard, onboard never bored
KUT 'N LOOSE
'99 258 VISTA

Besides the not freezing part of the antifreeze that goes into the blocks it does prevent internal corrosion, especially on salt water models. For the price of a few gallons of -50 and the time it takes I personally would always recommend draining the water and backfilling with this.

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Brian Borchik
The Winds of Cold Springs Harbor Marina
Baldwinsville, NY

Pulled ours out today. Winterized the engine (antifreeze and fogged), changed the oil (outdrive too), winterized the A/C. Tomorrow, fresh water system then shrink wrap her up.... Booo, end of he season!

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

I've always done it that way too, you keep out the oxygen (in both air and water) and it reduces corrosion. I manually drain and then back fill with -100 because it has the most corrosion inhibitors. Yeah it adds to the cost but I think it adds years to engine life too. 'Course in my opinion any inboard should be closed cooled anyway but most are not so this is better than nothing.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Our 288 gets store by the marina in an indoor heated storage building. I still have the boat fully winterized though. I NH we've had snow/ice storms that has knocked out power for a week or more.

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You can't have everything...where would you put it?
Crownline 285 SS
288 V -- sold
278 V -- sold
268 V -- sold
245 S -- sold
214 F -- sold
190 H -- sold

To the original poster, I'd winterize her anyway. You never know the legal loopholes in your storage or insurance contracts that might rear their ugly heads, should there be a lengthy power outage.

I use engine coolant (the green stuff) good to 40 below and mix in Kleen Flo cooling system conditioner. The conditioner has added anti-corrosion stuff and water pump lubricant. I drain block and manifolds and with my winterizing kit, fire her up and let the raw water pump draw it in and circulate it through everything. When I see green coming out of the props, shut her down and it's all over but the crying.

All of my boats I've had and my clients boats have never had a water pump failure by the way. I thank the Kleen Flo for that.

John

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07 Azure AZ200,
Previous boat,
95 278 Vista,
And a lot of others.

Ontario, Canada

I agree with winterizing it despite the heated storage. If there is a power outage and the engine freezes, their insurance pays, but pays who is the question (ie their choice of shops or yours), and will the repairs be done to your satisfaction? I think for the amount of money you are talking about vs what some of these boats cost, that is a silly way of saving money. The engine oil still has to be changed, the drive oil still has to be changed, the engine still should be fogged, so you are saving on the labor to drain water out. A drop in the bucket....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II