Thread: For you guys that don't put the boat away

What do I need to do to keep the boat ready for winter time fishing? I don't have a heated garage.
I know to keep the motor in the down position.

Should I remove the batteries and store them in a warm location
Should I remove the fuel lines and run the gas from the carbs while at the lake/dock
I don't have livewells, yet
I do have a tarp

All responses appreciated

antioch....i now put mine away, but when I was taught a very important lesson. Keep your gas tank full!! If not moisture will build up in your tank. It caused my boat to run poor. The biggest problem I was having was that it would start up just fine but by the time I got it to the dock to pull the truck out it would die. It was a pain in the ass to get it started again. It flooded out most times. But once I got it started again you would just have to run it like hell at full throttle to get it cleaned out. Then it would run fine the rest of the day. It happened to me 2x that winter. Took it to Ozawkie and Bass pro both and they said there was nothing wrong. It would work just fine for them. I figured out that I was filling the gas tank before taking it to them...Out 2 times later on 1/2 - 3/4 tank I was screwed again. Just fill er up before you head home.

If you need someone to tag along let me know. I will be a dock rat from now until March 1 as the boat is stored away

Thanks Chad...you are welcome anytime

I keep gas tank full,and use sea foam in the gas. while I am putting everything away after I pull out of the ramp I drop the motor all the way down to drain the water out of the motor, I hit the live well pumps,bildge pumps and sling what water is in them out. remove drain plugs from live well dont forget to reraise the motor and turn off them aireator motors. check the grease in the wheels, make sure the battery cables are clean, no need to take them inside as far as I know. make sure they are charged and the wate is full at all times. later and hope this helps.

Originally Posted by AntiochBA

Should I remove the fuel lines and run the gas from the carbs while at the lake/dock

All responses appreciated

I've had someone tell me to disconnect the fuel line and run the carbs dry and never done that when I had a two cycle.

I had a marine mechanic tell me that that was a real no no with two cyle engins since the fuel oil mixture was the source of lubrication and it made sense to me when I heard it and that you would just be grinding the engine dry.

Beagle man was right on about keeping tanks filled and using sea foam and make sure you run it long enough to get the sea foam into carbs.

My owners manual said not to store the boat with E-10 Ethanol gasoline. Apparently the alcohol absorbs moisture from the air over time, and it also is more corrosive than ordinary gasoline. I put Stabil in the tank too, since I probably won't even run through a full tank this winter. But then, I do a lot more hunting and a lot less fishing this time of year.

Just a thought on those batteries...keep them charged up, cold weather is the hardest thing on batteries (especially marine). If a person doesn't use them at all during the winter, give them a charge once a month. Will prolong the life of the battery if its kept up.

Thanks everyone! One question...is sea foam like a fogging oil? is it different then say a gasoline stabilizer like "stabil"?

Just a thought, and I don't know if it's valid for boats. Most jets and turboprops use an additive in their fuel to keep the water suspended instead of separated. It is also a bactricide. It seems that bacteria will grow along the boundry. It eats the fuel and poops in the water, which becomes corrosive and damages the fuel system. As I said, don't know if this is true for boats. When I was doing airplane fuel, gasoline still had lead and bugs wouldn't grow in it.

Sea foam comes in a spray for fogging or liquid for pouring in gas tank. both ways work.