Winterizing cutoff line?
 

I understand that you don't need to winterize boats left in the water from Norfolk south. How about boats in racks, lifts and etc which are exposed. In Virginia and North Carolina do you winterize?Anyone have a cutoff line to go by?

I'm not far from Norfolk and I wouldn't leave a boat un-winterized.......about a week + ago we had 2 days that went from a low of 18, high of 38, low of 15, high of 31.......then it did get up in the 50's after that (and was upper 60's yesterday :rolleyes:). This is December and Jan/Feb are the coldest months. Do you consider those high/low temps acceptable to leave a boat un-winterized?

That sounds too cold to me iof only December. Maybe in the carolinas would be a safe cutoff line.Although it probably won't do damage unless frozen solid which would need extended days at sub 32 degrees. I wouldn't chance it.?

had a boat at a dealership in chesapeake, they had it over the winter and that year had 2 ice storms, when i got it back the block was busted in 4 spots! :eek:

Maybe someone further south in VA or NC would have something to say? You winterize down there?

You don't get much further south in Va than Chesapeake and you better winterize. Two or three days at or below 32 and it's busted. $8.00 a gal for antifreeze or $700.00 for a block or $1700.00 for manifolds. just my $0.02

Agreed, who ever told you not to winterize in VA is NUTZ.

At our SML location we replace at least 6 motors a year from people not winterizing.

Whats really phubed up is people who bring in their boats now and the blocks are already busted, and they get mad at us. Any boat we winterize after basically Oct we have to look at very close.

WILL:evilb:

Wow! I guess south carolina or georgia may not even be safe.So much for a year end trip to Va. to avoid winterization.Thanks!

You would be crazy not to spend a few minutes winterizing the boat. The antifreeze is also a good anticorrosive agent, as well as the obvious properties of keeping the block crack free....

My inlaws live in Holden Beach, N.C. - about the southernmost tip of N.C. and they see days that are cold enough to make me nervous.

I live in Central NC. Everyone winterizes here that I know. We have had many nights in the low twenties already and one day that never made it above freezing. I pay the marina $165.00 a year to winterize. Cheap insurance if you ask me.. Most of my friends just open all the drains in their blocks and drain the water out.. I have my engine run and filled with antifreeze because my Exhaust costs more than most of their motors do... Jeff Wurl

Baja Will
 

Need anything this winter, give me a call. We have a whse. in Culpeper Va. and deliver.

Factory Engine Exchange
Don
800-764-5040

Don

will do, have a 01 7.4 merc out of a Baja helping customer figure out what to do, we are not interested in full rebuilds, too many problems.

WILL

There really isn't a geographic line that seperates " winterizing" from not winterizing. Basically, if it's freezing outside, winterize your boat ( not just engines ). It can't hurt

Here in Raleigh if you don't winterize, your done....Also, there is more to it than just draining the block. I have done it myself before, but now I have my boat winterized, not just the motors: oil changes, drain &antifreeze, inspect hoses and belts, lubricate and fog, clean and wax, jack up & block the axles to relieve stress on tires and springs....try to remember everything....& we only have 3-4 months off season. Florida is the only state on the east coast that is safe,imho.

It's going to be a high of 25 on fri. I hope that everyone has there boat winterized.

I know yours is!! :)

Yup I got all the water out ,all the oil is out Hell everything is out pistons,rods,crank,cam and the blocks are in the shop. The only good thing about winter is the beer stays cold. :D

Winterizing is more for me with 2 engines, generator, water system and a head. I don't do it myself so its over $1000 each year. No complaints about the costs but it would be nice to put that towards boat transport south and keep on running through winter.I guess we really need to go all the way to Florida to make it work. To go that far will be impractical for me but I would if I could.

or learn to do it yourself......
Central VA forcast for the next 2 days.....32 today, 12 tonight. 25 tomorrow, 5 tomorrow night. 30's Sat....then getting up to the 40's during the days.

Good Lord.

Winterizing for me - 2 engines, watersystem, head - do it myself - about 100 bucks, and 30 minutes.

What the hell is winterizing?:party-smiley-004: