Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Winter Boat Question

I don't want my boat to "set up" over the winter but I'm certainly not getting to use it even as much as I did in October. I have it in mind I want to take it out for a spin at least once every 2-3 weeks over the winter. I topped it off with non-ethanol gas, oil and Stabil. Is this enough to keep it humming? Any other winter tips?

I have always heard if you're going to let a vehicle sit, it either needs to be topped off 100% with non-ethanol fuel and stabil, or be run completely dry. I am by no means an expert on boats, but I would think running it every so often would keep it going without worries.

I topped mine of with Stabil and crank it 1-2 times a month and let it run for about 15 mins. Never had a problem doing this, I also make sure to drain the water from the foot and the block, and if it gets below 32 I put a light on the foot and the block just as an extra precaution.

Ac your good.

Is it an inboard or outboard?

Don't know if it helps but i unhook the gas line ascend leave motor running till runs out. That way if any ethanol is there it can't mess the hoses up. Makes me feel better at least

Fill it full of gas, this prevents an air gap in the tank to condensate. Add fuel stabilizer, run the engine enough to pull treated fuel into engine fuel system. Make sure all water is drained, and keep batteries fully charged and you will be fine.

If it's a smaller motor and the fuel line can be disconnected, disconnect and run the engine until its out of gas and fill the tank and treat.

If it's sitting outside covered trim the motor all the way down so rain can't get stuck in the foot.

Todays motors could be different. I have an old 6hp evinrude over forty years old. We always ran fuel out and turn throttle wide open and cranked again until all fuel was gone in water. Then out of water pulled a few tines to clear out water to prevent freeze up. Can never remember it not cranking on second pull unless plug was worn out!
Read instructions on Stabil. The thing that concerns me about an additive is if the product is bad you will never know. Could be piss in a bottle no guarantee or hard proving it cause problem to your engine.

Drop foot cover it up on real cold nights. Seafoam in the gas and you will be fine.

I've never really done anything but park it. I keep it under my pole barn but didn't always have that but covered it with a tarp. For years I used Stabil but now use seafoam. Cranks right up next spring but I do lube everything, change plugs and pack wheel bearings every spring.

Yep lower the lower unit and add some seafoam. Put it on the hose and run it a few minutes to make sure its in all the lines. you should be good.

If you take it out every 2-3 weeks and lower the foot to drain water in it, you wont have to do anything to it. The good thing about running them in the winter is you can open them up and keep the high jets in it clean as well. If you add additive and only let it idle on the hose all your doing is treating the low side jets. Under no circumstance though do you want to run the motor wide open on a water hose, not enough pressure "Load" on the motor/prop. Blow that baby to a thousand different parts.

I usually do the exact same thing just add Stabil and lower motor all the way down when parked . I cranked mine the other day on hose after I put the Stabil in . And now I'v noticed oil-gas running down the inside of motor and puddling on top of lower unit. Could this be just from running it on hose and not in water?