Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: dkff49 on September 29, 2009, 11:42:20 AM

Title: Boat Help
Post by: dkff49 on September 29, 2009, 11:42:20 AM
I have had my boat for 3 years now and the closest dealer that I could get to service my boat closed it's doors. I have been considering buying a maintence manual and was looking at this one  http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=87690&pdesc=Seloc_Marine_Engine_Maintenance_Repair_Manuals_Mericruiser_All_Stern_Drive_Gas_Engines_1964_1991&cname=Repair-Manuals&aID=601L12&merchID=1009&r=view (http://www.overtons.com/modperl/product/details.cgi?i=87690&pdesc=Seloc_Marine_Engine_Maintenance_Repair_Manuals_Mericruiser_All_Stern_Drive_Gas_Engines_1964_1991&cname=Repair-Manuals&aID=601L12&merchID=1009&r=view). Most likely I will be buying it since the boat is pretty old and many of the repairs that a boat needs is fairly simple to do for anyone who has even a little mechanical ability.

My question is though do these repair books have winterizing instructions as well? If not can someone point me to one that does?


Thanks
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: 68ZooM on September 29, 2009, 12:24:48 PM
Yes most Matanance Manuals have a winterizing section, Winterizing your boat is really simple, Depending on your cooling system on your Boat.. Mines a Inboard V-Drive, Raw water cooled.  To winterize mine i just open the Engine Block Valves Drain the water out of the Block, Use alittle compressed air to make sure the block and exhaust manifolds are clear of water, then I'll remove the inspection plate on the raw Water Pump spray a good amount of WD-40 all over and around the Impeller cover that back up, Grease all the Zert fittings ( Steering, linkages) Armor-all the interior real good, and depending on how you feel i will fill my fuel tank to the top to pervent condensation over the winter, disconnect the batteries then i cover it up wait till winters over.

Beginning of the season just close the Valves, respray the impeller , change oil and fuel filters and go play on the water
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: Shuffler on September 29, 2009, 01:11:11 PM
In Texas we go fishing in the winter..... we skip both cool days though. BTW the 2 cool days happen in early February.
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: dkff49 on September 29, 2009, 01:20:50 PM
In Texas we go fishing in the winter..... we skip both cool days though. BTW the 2 cool days happen in early February.
You are indeed fortunate but here in PA I would need to purchase an ice breaker to get the boat across the water in winter. :D   hmmmmmmmmmm there is an idea, don't tell my wife.
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: Barrett on September 29, 2009, 01:23:42 PM
You can find lots os good info here: http://www.boatered.com/forum/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=21
Winterizing a boat is pretty simple but if you can find instructions for your specific boat/engine so much the better.

Feel free to pm me if you need any help...
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: rabbidrabbit on September 29, 2009, 02:27:01 PM
Which engine do you have?
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: BigPlay on September 29, 2009, 02:27:21 PM
I would hunt down Cap, he can work on anything.  :lol
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: Captfish on September 29, 2009, 02:28:37 PM
Overtons are fine. I have used them in the past. I am not positive but it should have a winterizing section. What engine is it?
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: dkff49 on September 29, 2009, 02:29:13 PM
Overtons are fine. I have used them in the past. I am not positive but it should have a winterizing section. What engine is it?

3.7 mercruiser  I/O
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: RipChord929 on September 29, 2009, 02:52:10 PM
Hell, boating season is just getting in gear for me!!!  Wind has changed to the NW, rain has started, rivers are rising, salmon and steelies are just startin to surge... $$$$ season for me too, have a charter this weekend!!!
The rotton part, is having to keep the sled heated until the winter is over... Hell on my electric bill!!!!

My youngest son is a Merc certified marine tech.. He just told me Overtons will have what ya need!!!

RC
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: Captfish on September 29, 2009, 02:53:40 PM
cool, yeah will be very easy to do.  :aok

I would also start by running and fogging the engine. remove the air cleaner, while running at an idle spray into the carb marine engine fogging oil do not stall engine. You want to do this until you completely use up one can of spray, just before the can is empty spray and choke out the engine till it stalls. This will protect all of the internal components from corrosion. Drain any water lines to the heat exchanger, oil cooler (if installed) by disconnecting them.
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: rpm on September 29, 2009, 03:00:19 PM
I had a boat with a 3.7 Mercuiser I/O. Mine had a drain valve on the side of the block and a plug on the lower unit.
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: dkff49 on September 29, 2009, 04:13:54 PM
cool, yeah will be very easy to do.  :aok

I would also start by running and fogging the engine. remove the air cleaner, while running at an idle spray into the carb marine engine fogging oil do not stall engine. You want to do this until you completely use up one can of spray, just before the can is empty spray and choke out the engine till it stalls. This will protect all of the internal components from corrosion. Drain any water lines to the heat exchanger, oil cooler (if installed) by disconnecting them.

So what your saying is I need to no special tools and no antifreeze?
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: Shuffler on September 29, 2009, 04:20:43 PM
So what your saying is I need to no special tools and no antifreeze?

Wouldn't hurt to pump antifreeze into it before draining. Some engines are notoriuos for holding pockets of water. I've seen a 350 crack under the heads from a freeze... the owner said he'd drained it and pulled the bottom hose to be sure.
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: Kuhn on September 29, 2009, 04:23:24 PM
Before listening to all the great responses, you would be better looking up the procedure for winterizing your I/O on a good website about boats. The other option would be to just ask a certified boat engine mechanic about the procedure. Most will tell you what you need to know over the phone. Things are quite different depending on the year your engine was manufactured.
Please don't FOG your Merc. I was told by a very good source that that is NOT a good thing for the carb and it will catch up to you in the long run. Seafoam is still the best for preservation of your fuel and cleaning of you Mercs innards.
If you like you can contact me through my website and I will let you know who to contact in your area.
www.CoverSmart.biz
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: Captfish on September 29, 2009, 06:43:40 PM
So what your saying is I need to no special tools and no antifreeze?

You can use antifreeze But I just dont trust it that much. The whole idea is to avoid cracking the block with ice, but if there is no fluid there is no ice. and I am not positive but there should be no special tools.
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: VonMessa on September 29, 2009, 06:57:29 PM
Bring
On
Another
Thousand
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: rabbidrabbit on September 29, 2009, 09:33:36 PM
You should have an email incoming
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: phatzo on September 29, 2009, 11:56:14 PM
Bring
On
Another
Thousand
this is what I tell my customers when they come in buying stainless steel fasteners to refit their boat.
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: Rash on September 30, 2009, 11:29:49 AM
I would change the oil and filter, then run it for a few minutes.  You don’t want used oil and condensation sitting in there all winter.  Don’t run the boat out of the water, unless you have a way to supply water to the outdrive.  The water pumps will burn up fast when ran dry.  You can fog the motor like someone mentioned, or pull the plugs and squirt a teaspoon of 20w oil in cylinders and crank it over a few times without the plugs.  Then wipe up any oil and put the plugs back in.

I have a couple 454 mercs.  I pull the hoses off the back of the rawwater pumps, hoses on the back of the oil coolers, the hoses on the bottom of the water pump on the block (looks like the ones a car has) then the hoses from the bottom of the exhaust manifolds.  All I use for this is a socket driver.  You can use a screwdriver, but it takes a lot more time.  Sometimes the hoses are pain to get off.

Then I open the petcock valves on each side of the block.  I would take them all the way out, then run a piece of wire into the openings to check for any blockage.  Rust will block them sometimes.  Some exhaust manifold will have petnoodles on the bottom of them too.  I also have water pressure gauges, so there is a 1/4" hose going into the side of the block that has to be removed.

Tools needed
Socket driver.
Pliers to open the pitaxles, if they are stuck.
Piece of wire
Spark plug wrench
Oil filter wrench

You can leave it this way for the winter and put all the parts in a plastic bag and leave it on top of the motor.

I know some people will hook everything back up, pull the thermostat housing off and pour antifreeze in till it runs out the drive.  They make special environmentally safe antifreeze for boats.

Every setup is a little different, so get the book.

Rash
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: dkff49 on October 01, 2009, 12:31:54 AM
3.7 mercruiser  I/O

Oh damn i screwed up it is a 4.3l mercruiser I/O

Sorry for confusion. I must have been half asleep when I typed that
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: RipChord929 on October 01, 2009, 07:02:31 AM
It doesn't matter dkff49, the procedure will be the same.. My son says that Mercury Makes books specific to their Engine/drive combos.. You can order direct, or pick one up at any dealer..
Overtons is good too, but not quite as specific to the app...  Its not a bigdeal, just be thorough!!!
Speaking of cracked blocks, when I bought my boat, it had a cracked vortec 350 chevy... My son poked a carbureted 454 into it... It RIPS!!!
Only draws about 10inches of water sitting still, far less when moving, FAST!!!  And it will turn 180deg inside its own length.. Yes it's an Ex police boat, a Local PD got Fed bucks after 9/11 and bought new from Safeboat in Bremerton..  I was johnny on the spot, and preempted the auction for this boat.. Good ole boy network, at it again... :D
These pics were taken the day I bought it, before I removed the PD insignia... Came with the doppler radar too!!!  Jetdrive is the only way to fly!!!
(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv226/RipChord929/SonandBoat.jpg)
(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv226/RipChord929/MercJetdrive.jpg)
Title: Re: Boat Help
Post by: BigPlay on October 01, 2009, 03:49:32 PM
It doesn't matter dkff49, the procedure will be the same.. My son says that Mercury Makes books specific to their Engine/drive combos.. You can order direct, or pick one up at any dealer..
Overtons is good too, but not quite as specific to the app...  Its not a bigdeal, just be thorough!!!
Speaking of cracked blocks, when I bought my boat, it had a cracked vortec 350 chevy... My son poked a carbureted 454 into it... It RIPS!!!
Only draws about 10inches of water sitting still, far less when moving, FAST!!!  And it will turn 180deg inside its own length.. Yes it's an Ex police boat, a Local PD got Fed bucks after 9/11 and bought new from Safeboat in Bremerton..  I was johnny on the spot, and preempted the auction for this boat.. Good ole boy network, at it again... :D
These pics were taken the day I bought it, before I removed the PD insignia... Came with the doppler radar too!!!  Jetdrive is the only way to fly!!!
(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv226/RipChord929/SonandBoat.jpg)
(http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv226/RipChord929/MercJetdrive.jpg)


nice boat for many things. Good job !