HyFive578

iTrader: (3)

Here's my full list... I have my marina service my drives, but I do everything else... I have Merc 525EFI's which are closed cooling.

 Add Fuel Stabilizer to gas tanks
 Unbolt one engine hatch (in case you want to get in over the winter and batteries have been removed)
 Clean bilge
 Remove batteries
 Remove propellers
 Remove all electronics
 Coat trim tabs with corrosion inhibitor
 Coat steering system with corrosion inhibitor
 Bounce sheets in engine compartment
 Damp-Rid Bag in engine compartment
 Drain fresh water tank
 Add antifreeze to fresh water tank
 Run antifreeze to galley and head sinks and transom shower
 Add sanitizer and antifreeze to vacu-flush holding tank through toilet
 Clean refrigerator and prop open
 Remove pillows, fenders, safety equipment and supplies from cabinets and head
 Hang Damp-Rid bag in cabin
 Hang Damp-Rid bag in head
 Bounce dryer sheets in cabin
 Remove fenders, supplies from side compartments in cockpit
 Remove tools from under bench seat
 Hang Damp-Rid bag in cockpit
 Remove cockpit carpeting
 Bounce dryer sheets in cockpit

For each engine:

 Check spark plugs for signs of any issues (good to know before next spring)
 Flush raw water cooling system (run each engine on freshwater for 15 minutes)
 Change oil and oil filters
 Fog engine on fuel / oil / gas stabilizer mixture
 Drain headers and cooling system components of all water
 Run engine again with anti-freeze through raw water cooling system while on gasoline / oil mixture
 Drain headers, leave drains open
 Drain sea water lines between strainers and drives
 Blow out sea strainer lines
 Drain gas tank / add stabilizer for whatever's left..
 Coat engines with corrosion inhibitor
 Fill sea strainers with antifreeze
 Cover exhaust tips to prevent rodents making a winter home..

There are differing opinions on whether you should store your boat with full or empty gas tanks. Several marine surveyors have told me that if the gas in your boat contains ethanol, you want as much out of the boat as you can as no matter how much stabilizer you put in, you cannot stop the absorption of water and the lower the fuel level, the better. So, I am draining my tanks. To do this, I bought a small 12V fuel pump, wired it to battery clamps and a switch, and then put a 3/8" NPT male adaptor on the inlet hose that I will attach to an output port on the fuel/water filter base and the output hose I will run into a whole bunch of gas cans..

blown

Awesome list Wally, et al!
Question: Why remove the props?
Also, I'm going the full tank route as pumping out the tanks isn't really an option for me. Would it help to plug up the fuel vents on the side of the boat?

Wally

iTrader: (1)

I remove props to keep sticky finger away from them!
i wouldn't block the vents on the tank. you don't need fumes building any pressure in the tank as the temps a change with the weather causing problems...granted it probably wouldn't be high pressure but why chance it

rrentsch

iTrader: (1)

Can you tell me, if you drain both sides of the block, does any water stay above the thermostat ?

launchpad475

iTrader: (1)

I try and get Home Depot involved in all my projects, so I made this contraption. It holds 5 gallons of Pink, which is really the bare minimum. I hook it straight to the hose from the strainer to the pump. Nothing gets spilled or sucked up thru drive.

Then I use the same bucket and a drill pump to backflush the intercooler.