Inboard/Outboard Boat maintenance?

Question

I recently purchased a 2004 Four Winns Freedom I/O boat. It was winterized for the cold months up here in the great lakes region, and there is a tag on the trailer that says:

"This boat has been winterized. Do not use or place in water prior to dewinterizing."

Does it really have to be dewinterized, or can I just put it in the water and start it up?

Answer 1

When winterizing anyone with any sense will put all hoses back on but it will be bagged so water cant get back into the engine if the lift goes down. The draincocks are left out to make sure all water is out. Make sure there is no bags on your water inlet hose, put your draincocks back in charge your battery and rock on. As far as marina's charging for it and it being a scam, Do you think I should go back all the way across the lake and put those things in and dewinterize it for free???? Not everyone is as "mechanically inclined" as yourself so they need us techs to do it. Not only that they have lake homes and want thier boats ready to run when they come down for the weekend. It may be a scam to you sir but I assure you we dont scam noone.

Answer 2

It may have antifreeze in the engine block.  Also, the stopcocks on the block and exhaust manifolds are probably open.  To be sure, check that the draincocks are closed, get a set of water muffs at Walmart for under $15, and fire it up in the driveway.  Check the gear oil and engine oil levels before you even do that much.  If drains are open, or hoses were left off during winterization, you will fill the bilge with water in short order.

Answer 3

Replace all the plugs and hoses that were removed during the winterization process.

After that it is just typical maintenance:

charge the battery

plug in the hull

nice fresh gas, with some SeaFoam

Should be ready to go.

I am very dubious of the marinas that charge for both winterization and summerization. To me it is just a scam some places run on boat owners to generate revenue. There is a marina in the Lake Minnetonka area that does just what I have described above, they put the hoses and plug back in and charge for it. Hoses should have gone back in the fall, and the boat owner can put back the plugs, especially if they are the plastic wing type. Easy!

Edit: EVERY marina and marine service in my area of Northern Minnesota puts the engine back together in the fall. All you have to do is charge the battery, connect the cable, and put the plug in the hull. The boat is now ready to go. If you can't do these three simple tasks you have no business owning a boat.

Answer 4

In Montana we have to winterize using anti-freeze. The hoses have to be put back on and the plugs have to be in place prior to filling the engine with Anti-freeze. To summerize you need to charge battery, check all electrical connections and ensure they are tight, put a set of muffs on the lower unit with good water flow and start the engine, let it run for at least 10 minutes to ensure everything is working properly. Prior to starting, check your oil and other fluids to ensure they are full.