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carvermitch
Canada
407 Posts |
 Posted - 09/17/2005 : 07:51:14 AM
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OK so its a little early but time catches up with you and then its a mad rush to get things done before that frozen stuff starts to fall.
Who has some good tips and advice on how to store and prepare your boat for winter.............?
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n/a
148 Posts |
Posted - 09/19/2005 : 9:00:31 PM
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WATER TANKS,WHEN I WINTERIZE MY FRESH WATER SYSTEM THE FIRST THING I DO IS PUMP AS MUCH WATER OUT OF THE SYSTEM AS I CAN ON THE 70 SERIES CARVERS YOU CAN DISCONNECT THE HOSE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK TO DRAIN ALL THE WATER OUT. ON THE 80 ,S THERE IS A SCREW CAP ON THE TOP OF THE TANK YOU CAN VACUUM THE WATER OUT WITH YOUR WET VAC. THE NEXT STEP I DISCONNECT THE HOT AND COLD WATER LINES FROM THE HOT WATER HEATER OPEN THE POP OFF VALVE AND LET THE WATER DRAIN USUALLY RIGHT INTO THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT.IF THERE IS ANY WATER LEFT IN THE TANK THERE IS ENOUGH ROOM FOR EXPANSION SO IT DOES NOT CAUSE ANY DAMAGE. I DO NOT PUT ANY R.V. ANTI FREEZE IN THE HOT WATER HEATER, IT IS HARD TO GET RID OF THE SMELL.NEXT I CONNECT THE HOT AND COLD WATER LEADS TOGETHER AT THE WATER HEATER WITH A PIECE OF PIPE. IN MY BOAT I PUT 7 GALLONS OF R.V. ANTI FREEZE IN THE WATER TANK, TURN ON ALL OF THE FAUCETS AND THE SHOWER AND THE HEAD THEN I TURN ON THE PUMP AS THE WATER GETS PUSHED OUT OF THE LINES IT WILL TURN PINK IN COLOR STARTING WITH THE CLOSEST VALVE TO THE PUMP I START TO TURN THEM OFF WHEN THE PINK STARTS TO COME OUT YOU HAVE TO BE FAST OR YOU WILL RUN OUT OF ANTI FREEZE BEFORE YOU ARE READY THE LAST HOSE I DISCONNECT IS THE ONE WHERE YOU HOOK UP THE OUTSIDE WATER SUPPLY LET IT TURN PINK AND HOOK IT BACK UP AGAIN.[THAT IS THE ONE MOST PEOPLE MISS]TURN OFF THE PUMP AND RELAX. SOME BOATS HAVE A SHOWER SUMP PUMP POUR SOME ANTI FREEZE DOWN THE SHOWER DRAIN AND PUMP IT OUT THIS WILL PROTECT THE PUMP.IF YOU HAVE A SELF CONTAINED HEAD THIS TO SHOULD BE PUMPED OUT PRIOR TO STORAGE. IF YOU HAVE A MASERATER PUMP THIS TO SHOULD BE WINTERIZED. WHEN YOU ARE ALL FINISHED CHECK THE BILGE FOR WATER .IF WATER IS LEFT IN THE BILGE IT CAN FIND A POSSIBLE CRACK IN THE FIBER GLASS FREEZE AND EXPAND AND DO A LOT OF DAMAGE. I LEARNED THAT ONE THE HARD WAY.
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Edited by - n/a on 09/19/2005 9:41:16 PM |
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n/a
148 Posts |
Posted - 09/22/2005 : 7:51:06 PM
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WHAT DO KITTY LITER BAKING, SODA ,AND MOTH BALLS HAVE IN COMMON? THREE THINGS YOU NEED TO WINTERIZE YOUR BOAT. I'M NOT CRAZY. THE KITTY LITER ABSORBS MOISTURE, I USE ABOUT 10 POUNDS OF IT. I PUT IT IN MEDIUM TO SMALL CONTAINERS ALL OVER THE BOAT ,CLOSETS COUNTER TOPS ,FRIDGE, STOVE, DRAWERS, VANITY ,MOTOR COMPARTMENT , IF POSSIBLE UNDER THE FLOOR BOARDS, ANYWHERE YOU THINK MOISTURE CAN ACCUMULATE. THE BAKING SODA ABSORBS ODORS. WE ALL LIKE THE LOOKS OF OUR OLD BOATS BUT WE DON'T LIKE THAT OLD BOAT MUSTY SMELL. A FEW BOXES SET STRATEGICAL AROUND THE BOAT WILL DO WONDERS COME SPRING. THE MOTH BALLS MAY BE AN OLD WIVES TAIL OR NOT, BUT IT SEEMS TO KEEP THE CRITTERS OUT,FIELD MICE AND SQUIRREL'S,AND SNAKES IF THAT HAPPENS TO BE A PROBLEM IN YOUR AREA.LAST FALL I INSTALLED A SOLAR POWERED FAN IN THE FRONT HATCH, IT WORKS GREAT AS LONG AS THE SUN CAN GET AT IT.
REMEMBER TO REMOVE ANY FOOD STUFFS BOTTLES OR CANS CONTAINING LIQUIDS LIKE CLEANING PRODUCTS, TOOTH PASTE, AROUSAL CANS, BEER, LIQUOR,POP,TOILET CLEANING SUPPLIES, DEODORIZERS,PAINTS, THINNERS,VARNISHES, OR OILS. WE HAVE ENOUGH WORK TO DO IN THE SPRING LET ALONE CLEAN UP THE MESS ALL THAT STUFF CAN MAKE. I HAVE OFTEN THOUGHT ABOUT LEAVING A SMALL FAN RUNNING IN THE BOAT,BUT THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS.I HOPE MY ADVISE IS HELPFUL TO SOME OF YOU I HAVE LEARNED A LOT BY TRIAL AND ERROR, ONE OF MY FAVORITE SAYINGS IS"YOU LEARN BY YOUR MISTAKES, AND I KNOW IT ALL"
MY NEXT INSTALLMENT WILL BE ON WINTERIZING ENGINES AND FUEL SYSTEMS.
BOAT ON FRANK |
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n/a
148 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 7:47:32 PM
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i am sorry but i failed to mention when it comes to the moth balls 1 is usually enough don't go over board you will never get rid off the smell if you use to many.
frank |
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Rob
Canada
79 Posts |
Posted - 09/26/2005 : 11:29:03 PM
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| Moth ball do not work!!!! found a coon laying in them in the spring in one of our trailers, she had 4 baby's we had to remove. The smell not worth it. i use new papers, they get rid of the smell and absorbs moister and for the critters lock it up good..LOL |
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n/a
148 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2005 : 6:42:31 PM
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| I AM GLAD SOMEONE HAS DISPROVED THE MYTH ABOUT MOTH BALLS, I NEVER COULD STAND THAT SMELL ANYWAY. |
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n/a
148 Posts |
Posted - 09/28/2005 : 7:45:16 PM
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FUEL SYSTEMS AND ENGINES, THERE ARE TWO LINES OF THOUGHT ABOUT FUEL TANKS; SOME SAY FILL THEM UP FOR THE WINTER AND YOU WON'T HAVE ANY CONDENSATION OR VAPOR PROBLEMS. MY LINE OF THOUGHT, IF I COULD AFFORD TO FILL THEM UP AGAIN I WOULD STILL BE BOATING. I RUN MY TANKS DOWN TO ABOUT TEN GALLONS EACH AND ADD A PRODUCT CALLED STABIL, THE BOTTLE CALLS FOR 1 OUNCE FOR EVERY 2.5 GALLONS.IT PREVENTS THE GAS FROM TURNING TO VARNISH FOR 1 YEAR IT ALSO CLAIMS TO ABSORB WATER. AFTER POURING THE APPROPRIATE AMOUNT IN I WILL TAKE THE BOAT OUT FOR A ROUGH RIDE TO MIX IT UP WITH THE REMAINING FUEL AND GET THE FUEL FILTERS AND CARBS FULL OF THE STUFF.
ONCE THE BOAT IS OUT OF THE WATER IT IS TIME TO WINTERIZE THE WATER SYSTEM AND MECHANIC'S OF THE MOTORS.A FEW YEARS AGO I BOUGHT A WINTERIZING KIT FROM BOAT U.S.IT CONSISTS OF A 5 GALLON JUG AND 2 VALVES A TEE AND A CLEAR PLASTIC HOSE.I CUT THE WATER INTAKE HOSE ABOUT A FOOT AWAY FROM WHERE IT COMES OUT OF THE WALTERS V DRIVE AND MADE A T FITTING OUT OF GALVANIZED PIPE AND PLASTIC FITTINGS.AT ONE END OF THE TEE THAT FITS ON THE 5 GALLON JUG I HOOK UP A REGULAR GARDEN HOSE WITH A SHUT OFF VALVE THE SECOND PART OF THE TEE IS HOOKED TO THE VALVE ON THE 5 GALLON JUG WHICH I FILL WITH ANTI FREEZE THAT IS MIXED TO A 50 DEGREE BELOW ZERO MIX AND THE THIRD PORT ON THE TEE I HOOK UP THE CLEAR PLASTIC HOSE THAT GOES TO THE WATER INTAKE THAT I CUT AND INSTALLED MY HOME MADE TEE.IT SOUNDS MUCH WORSE THAN IT REALLY IS.NEXT CLOSE THE VALVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT. THE NEXT STEP IS TO TURN ON THE WATER AND LET IT RUN THRU THE ENGINE. NEXT I START THE ENGINE AND LET IT RUN UNTIL IT COMES UP TO OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND THE THERMOSTAT OPENS. I RESTRICT THE FLOW OF THE WATER A LITTLE OTHER WISE WITH THE COLD WATER IT WOULD NEVER WARM UP ENOUGH TO OPEN THE THERMOSTAT.ONCE THE ENGINE IS HOT AND THE THERMOSTAT IS OPEN , I TURN OFF THE GARDEN HOSE AND TURN ON THE VALVE AT THE 5 GALLON JUG AND LET THE ANTI FREEZE RUN THRU THE MOTOR. WHEN THE JUG GETS DOWN TO ABOUT A 1/2 GALLON I REV THE MOTOR UP TO 1500 RPM'S AND SPRAY ENGINE STOR INTO THE CARB UNTIL IT KILLS THE ENGINE TURN OFF THE KEY AND QUICKLY UNHOOK THE HOSE FROM THE HOME MADE TEE AND CAP IT SO ALL THE ANTI FREEZE DOES NOT LEAK OUT.THE LAST STEP IS TO OPEN THE VALVE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE BOAT TO LET ANY TRAPPED WATER GET OUT OF THE V DRIVE RE CLOSE THE VALVE AND THAT PART IS DONE.
AFTER THE ENGINE COOLS DOWN I REMOVE ALL THE SPARK PLUGS AND SPRAY THE CYLINDERS HEAVILY WITH THE ENGINE STOR CRANK THE ENGINE OVER A FEW TIMES AND SPRAY THEM AGAIN AND REINSTALL THE PLUGS.REMEMBER IN THE SPRING TO TAKE OUT THE PLUGS TURN THE MOTOR OVER A FEW TIMES TO CLEAN OUT THE CYLINDERS BEFORE TRYING TO START THE ENGINE . IF THE CYLINDERS ARE FULL OF THE STORAGE FLUID YOU COULD BREAK A RING AND THAT IS NOT A GOOD WAY TO START THE SEASON.
THE SAME SYSTEM ALSO WORKS VERY WELL ON BOATS WITH OUT DRIVES THAT HAS ITS WATER PICK UP IN THE OUT DRIVE BUT YOU HAVE TO BUY A SET OF MUFFS TO CLAMP ARROUND THE OUT DRIVE. |
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carvermitch
Canada
407 Posts |
Posted - 10/09/2005 : 6:15:26 PM
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Thanks for the very good advice Frank. I am sure there is something to be learnt by all from this information.
regards
Paul |
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Winterize your boat tips
