Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

  • 0

Winterizing, Summerizing, etc.


Scott M

Question

Hey Valv, Surface Tension, et al.,

Please post (and maybe pin at the top) some good tips for winterizing boats, and "summerizing" ice augers, as examples. That would be great for those who don't know, good reminders for those who do, and you never know what new trick you'll learn from someone. I thought of this as I start thinking about putting away the old ice auger. We've had some good times and cut some good holes. I hope I can run her a few more times this winter/spring.

For the auger: My plan is to run her dry, wipe down the whole unit, and add fuel stabilizer to whatever is left in my gas can. (Although I've heard that StaBil is only good for 90 days?)

Any other tips?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Recommended Posts

  • 0

Pump it out... or, stick a hose down the fill tube and siphon it out...

marine_man

It is the only way to do it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

You also could disconnect the fuel line to the motor, and pressurize the fill cap and force it out into a gas can. Pumping it our that way would be the other best option.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I have an older jiffy auger,handle on side throttle on top. It run great, drills fine until I tip on its side,the side opposite the primer, and then it kills instantly with no warning. It does not do it if I tip it on the other side. whats up????? anybody????

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Someone told me to put the boat away for the year with a full tank. (17 gallon built in tank). They said its better that way because you dont get moisture buildup. I did put blue stabil in but now talked to a boat mechanic and he said it would be good to not run that gas through the engine?

So, can a person buy a cheap "gas pump" somewhere and just pump that gas into my own vehicle - side by side to the boat?

This guy also said to replace the fuel filter and water filter every 2 to 3 years. Thats like 500.00 with labor (I cant do it myself - at least I dont think I can...).

Does anyone here replace those things that often?

(2004 75HP Mercury 2 stroke).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I would have no problem running that gas through the engine. Thats the reason to use stabilizers. And who the heck is charging 500 bucks to change filters? Find another mechanic...FAST!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I may just run it through then...

I did do some google searching and Northern has a cool portable "siphon/pump" for like 29 bucks that looks like I could easily park my van next to the boat and siphon the gas from the boat into the car. I may just do that to be on the safe side.

yeah, I wont name the marina - just will say they are one of the "main" ones in the twin cities area.

I originally called about a "spring tuneup" they said they could do it for about 125.00. I asked them what that would include..they said they would hook it up and run it and make sure "its running good", then check hoses and grease thinsg up. I asked them if they would check filters, compression, etc...for that price - and they said no - thats all extra and they would change plugs as well - but thats extra.

Heck, I am terrible around mechanical things - but I always hook my boat up in the Spring to make sure "its running right" and i check hoses and grease things up and also change plugs...so I dont think I will be dropping it off for 125.00 for them to do that.

Thats when I also asked about fuel filters, air filters and such. he said replacing the fuel filter was "150.00 to 200.00" and the same for the air filter. So, if I did the "Spring tuneup" and had them also do the filters that would be 500.00 easily.

I guess I am just wondering how often people here change out those things and if I really need it?

The main concern is that I am spending a week in Canada in early June in the middle of nowhere and I dont want any surprises. If i was just running around here I wouldnt be so concerned..

Thanks!!

Hoffer

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I've got a Yamaha 90hp and I make sure the tank is full when I put it away. I also add Ring Free Fuel Additive (Yamaha product) every time I put gas in my boat and since I've been doing this I have never had fuel problems in the spring. I change my fuel filter every year just to be safe, it's on the side of the motor and not that hard to do. I don't have a water filter but haven't had any problems that way. I would think you would be safe running that gas. If it starts and it's not sluggish your good to go. As for the filters I don't know how yours is set up as to how hard that would be. 500 bucks is pretty steap.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

No Compression check? between that and the spark tester, those are the first 2 things I usually do. Whatever it takes for them I guess. And the Air filter??? What air filter????? If you are unfamiliar with marine engines, thats one thing, I understand, but they should know better than to offer replacing the air filter you dont have for 150-200 bucks.

You are doing the right thing by asking questions. Save your 125 bucks and see if runs good on your own. There are many things you can do yourself with that engine. Spend your money on a good service manual and save the bigger stuff for a competent honest service shop.

Change plugs, filters as needed. Gear lube annually. Grease annually. Water pump impeller every few years. Just check for loose, worn stuff periodically.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I may just run it through then...

I did do some google searching and Northern has a cool portable "siphon/pump" for like 29 bucks that looks like I could easily park my van next to the boat and siphon the gas from the boat into the car. I may just do that to be on the safe side.

I always use a "jiggle tube" siphon. Works awesome. In fact, it works so good I use it to put the fuel in the boat too. I can drain a 6 gal can in under 2min (faster than the nozzle) and never spill a single drop in the water (boat is in the water all summer, no gas pump on lake). And I can just set the can up on the side of the boat and not have to lift it the whole time. The jiggle tube costs about $10. Can get them at northern and some other places.

If you need a hand wrenching, let me know. I'm no mechanic, but I'm pretty handy with the tools and have about any tool I can think of.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Hey Boatfixer and Lightning -

Thanks for the replies! This is what makes this site so great - knowledgeable people and willingness to help. I may have brought my boat in to this place and paid 500.00 bucks for not much - you guys saved me! So, lets say I wasnt listening right...could there have been another filter that mechanic was talking about other than the fuel filter? Cause I know he mentioned 2 filters...

Regarding the water impeller - I have that mentioned on this site before. So, how hard is that to replace...keep in mind I have limited knowledge. The issue is that there are just very few boat places around this neck of the woods. I am in maple Grove - and both Crystal and Link in Rogers are gone.

I actually brought my other boat up a few years ago to the BP gas station by my house. I have been bringing my car up there for years. They did my wheel bearings for about 120.00. I may just bring my boat up there this Spring an have him do the wheel bearings again and then see if he can do a fuel filter.

Lightning...thanks for the advice on the siphon. I will check that out. I have a 17 gallon built in - but when I go to Canada for a week - I have to go through about 5 other six gallon gas containers. Its hard to sit boat side and try to fill a funnel holding a heavy 6 gallon tank of gas. I am going o check out Northern today. The one I saw on line for 30 bucks looked pretty nice too - it had an actual gas pump kind of handle with an on/off lever. It would be great to just keep in the boat and use it to gas up...like you said I like the idea of not spilling gas into the water too!

Thanks also for the offer...we are probably neighbors...might have to get you over sometime.

Thanks again.

Hoffer

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

I think that engine might have an inline fuel filter, if so, should be super easy to change, they cost $5-$15 for most that I have seen. Would need the serial number to get the exact one. Chances are a local service station wouldn't have one on hand.

As far as other filters....Gas/water separator?

I'm thinking it MIGHT look something like this, tough to say without the exact serial. #21 should be the fuel filter.

75.jpg

Again, please keep in mind, I'm no mechanic. I normally just take stuff apart and stare at it until I figure out whats going on.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

Hey thanks lightning!

Great schematic.

When I pick up my boat from storage - I will take a look at where the fuel filter is and see if I can try to figure that one out on my own..doesnt look too hard.

In the meantime, I found a certfified mechanic on mercs that will do the following for 400.00

1. New fuel filter

2. new water impellar

3. compression check

4. Brand new wheel bearings for trailer - not just repacked.

I didnt think that was too bad...but then again - I just dont know if it all needs to be replaced or not. i would probably just do it for preventative manitenance for the canada trip.

On a different note, while at Northern today - I saw LED trailer replacement light kits for 65 bucks. I wonder how hard it is to replace those on your own? I would like the idea of fully submersible lights and not having to replace bulbs all the time!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

400 bucks doesn't sound to bad. To replace the impeller you have to drop the lower unit which I think is 4 or 5 bolts and then another 4 or 5 hodling the pump cover on, slide the old impeller off the shaft, slide the new one on (squeeze the fins inside the housing the same direction the old ones were) put the cover back on, and slide the lower unit back on. Not to hard. But I would have them check it if it's been a few years. Don't foreget the lower unit lube, should be changing that every year as well. The lights aren't to tuff either, and if you have any questions on the wiring it's all pretty basic, color coded, I'm sure someone on here will be able to help you figure it out.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0

What is best way to store boat batteries for winter?? 31 and 24 series. I just give em a good charge and leave in unheated garage, charging them again acouple of times in winter.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 0
  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

What is best way to store boat batteries for winter?? 31 and 24 series. I just give em a good charge and leave in unheated garage, charging them again acouple of times in winter.

That will work fine.

I take mine out of the boat and put the charger on every couple months .

During winter when the power goes out I use them with a inverter in my home.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Answer this question...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.