www.iFourWinns.com

Okay...

So the boat is new to me by 3-4 weeks. Which means that I'm on it every chance I can get. We've been sleeping on it every weekend since we got it and I don't see that stopping anytime soon. While we don't use the water for cooking, I do use the shower pretty regularly. That being said, I have absolutely no idea what I should do to "winterize" this boat.

I'm looking for steps to Winterize a Vista 288...what I need to buy....and what I can and can't do once winterized.

I live in Grand Prairie, TX (75052) and the boat is Wet Slipped year round. Historic Record Temperatures range from 2 degrees Fahrenheit to 112 degrees Fahrenheit. Historic Average Temps range from 36 degrees Fahrenheitto 96 degress Fahrenheit.

Here is some info about the lake temperatures: http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?tx4597

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Current Boat
- 2004 Four Winns 288 Vista "Pier Pressure"
* Dual 4.3 Volvo Penta GXie

Previous Boat(s)
- 2010 Sylvan 8520 Mirage F-N-C Pontoon

I would talk the the boaters in the slips beside you. You need to winterize your engine, water system, A/C if you have it and your head.

Its not hard to do.

You really don't need to do anything. You have a bilge heater?

It really doesn't get cold enough here to worry about it. It sits in the water so it doesn't get cold like it would if it was on land.

I do fill up the gas tank and add fuel stabilizer.

We boat in the winter too on nice days.

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2006 Four Winns 278

It sounds like you don't need to do anything now based on your past weather patterns. However, I'd make sure I knew how to drain the engine and manifolds and your water systems just in case you get a freak freeze where it goes down to the 20s for a day or 2. It has happened but likely to be rare.

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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

Not to sidetrack the topic but I'm in north Alabama and it gets in the low 30s - high 20s here over the winter. I was going to winterize the boat but had another idea.

Has anyone used something like this http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MEMRGZE/ref=s9_simh_gw_p147_d0_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=0YZHSWXYARZ66ZBK83ZH&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop heater for a boat stored out of water in a boat house over the winter. I was thinking one of these under the engine cover might do the trick.

Thoughts?

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Lou

2004 Funship 234

Funny you bring this up Lfm614. This year I decided to do the same so I added 2- 300w Xtreme Heaters. They are made for marine use and turn on @ 40 degrees then turn off @ 50 degrees. They have great reviews from the Coast Guard and many others. We went ahead with two to circulate the air better due to the fact I have a hot water heater and generator. We went ahead and plugged them into a 3 prong extension cord and attached that to a external plug out the back of the boat(same concept as a external cig power outlet with the rubber flap) below the transom shower. This way all I do is plug in the extension cord and Im good to go. With the extra power port from the cord I plugged in a camera to see and hear the heaters turn on and also added a outdoor thermometer with a LED display you leave in your house so I can keep an eye on the temp inside the engine bay.

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1996 278 Vista Dlx Twin 5.0
1999 Sea Ray 215 ex cruiser (sold)
1989 Seaswirl (sold)

My only concern with bilge heaters is "What if the power goes out?" Like LouC said, even if your area doesn't normally see freezing temps, a bad winter storm that brings cold is also likely to kill the power. Having bilge heater is a great idea but I'd make sure you know how to at least drain the cooling system. If power goes out and you are trying to protect your house from freezing are you going to remember to get to the boat?

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Terry
Current: 07 Crownline 255 CCR cuddy - 350 Mag MPI/B3 "Casi Cielo"

Previous:97 245 Sundowner 5.7GI/SX

Tow vehicle: 1986 GMC 2500 Camper Special 454/TH400

Good points Terry, I am a fellow North Avenue Trade School grad.

I see you're in MI where you get real and prolonged freezes. I am in north AL, our freezes are short and infrequent if at all but you never know. I do think the remote thermometer with alarm is a good idea. Isn't everything that could get damaged by freezing under the engine cover?

Has anybody used one of these heaters for a while? How's it been working for you?

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Lou

2004 Funship 234