www.iFourWinns.com

So, it is a very sad day in NJ. Other than receiving the slip renewal for the boat, they announced that they'll be lowering the lake by 5 feet total over a few weeks for the 5 year dock/slip/ramp repair here at Lake Hopatcong. Sept 22nd, 1 inch per day. Sadly, that means my 02' 248 and her big ole bottom will have to be out once it hits 2 feet down or so.

Regardless, my question is - what is the best policy on gas tanks for the winter - full so there is no room for air space/condensation in the tank or it doesn't matter if they put in a stabilizer into the fuel? I'm having them do the full winterization of engine and grey, black and fresh water systems, etc...Fill her up gas wise, or gas level doesn't matter?

Much thanks,
NJBoater

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Current Boat: 2016 V275 6.2L MC B3
Previous Boat:2002 Vista 248 5.7l dp

You will hear to do it both ways, full or almost empty, but I have usually stabilized what I had and left it at whatever level I had a the end of the season. Last year I filled it up in Sept thinking I'd use it more, and didn't have time to. But then Sandy came and I pulled it out a few days before. Having 40 gallons of gas I could use in the home generator if needed was nice, I wound up siphoning out about 25 gallons.

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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

We always try to put in the appropriate amount of stabil in for the last outing. That way while you are boating it gets it mixed up & run all the way thru the system. Usually we end up storing the boat with little gas in it.

Since the tank is vented, does the level really matter unless you keep it high enough to reduce the fuel/air surface area? Just asking...

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Joe
2007 Four Winns H200, MC 4.3mpi
2008 Hurricane GS202 (sold)

I have always heard to add stabilizer and keep the tanks pretty full so as to limit the amount of air in the tank (thus not allowing condensation to occur). Of course, that was before I moved from NY to Florida Hooray for all-year boating!

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2007 Meridian 341
2008 SeaDoo Speedster 200 "Caliente"
1994 Larson Cabrio 280 "Liquid Asset"- Sold

Historically I have stored full, however last year I used a hand pump to empty the tank... no small feat finding a home for about 40 gal of unleaded! Anyway, in the past I would have to run for about a month before getting "good" fuel through the boat. This year after the first fill up I was able to go nutty! I expect to continue this way in the future.

You can't really go wrong either way. Full or empty, make sure you use proper fuel stabilizer.

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Walt B
"Debt-Charged"
Black '07 H210SS
6.2L Bravo One turning a 21P HIFive
Wakeboard Tower with Perfect Pass Stargazer version
Missouri River; Kansas City, Mo.

I do it as low as possible I over stabilize it with the green stabil, and a bottle of Startron, antifreeze it and fog it out.

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2000 Four Winns 268 Vista, 5.7 GSI

I store mine where ever the gage sits at the end of the season but I also treat my fuel with a good dose of methyl hydrate. I back it up with a winter storage treatment of Star Tron. Then I give her an hour or two of run time.

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

Ontario, Canada

Thanks all for the replies!

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Current Boat: 2016 V275 6.2L MC B3
Previous Boat:2002 Vista 248 5.7l dp

I have been storing with as little fuel as possible, with stabilizer, for the last 6 seasons, with no ill effects. Like others here have stated, I ad the stabilizer well before my final pull out for the season to make sure that the stabilizer has made it's way through the system.

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2009 H180 w/3.0 Merc
Homebuilt Minimax Hydro
2011 Zodiac Cadet 310