The winterization process is not rocket science, but you do need to know
what you're doing in order to guarantee at a minimum that all water is
evacuated from the engine (or diluted with antifreeze). Changing out some
of the fluids is a pain in the butt sometimes also and better left to those
with the proper tools and equipment.

You can do it yourself or pay someone and the rub is when you do it
yourself, you're on your own. If you pay them to do it and something weird
happens, it becomes their problem, not yours as all winterizations from
reputable dealers should include a 'guarantee' that it's done right and you
don't have to worry about something freezing and breaking.+

Steve L.



"werlax" wrote in message
om...
It seems that everyone knows someone who has wrecked an engine by
improper winterizing. I was planning on just following the Mercruiser
engine manual and their recommended procedure. Having mentioned that
to a couple of friends, and their reaction, makes me wonder if there
is something that I should be aware of? Is this all just a mystique
perpetrated to get our money into the pockets of the marinas?
Should I do some additional reading at a URL or should the manual be
enough? For reference, the engine is a Mercruiser 4.3L I/O.
Thanks for any help!

If you want to winterize yourself, I suggest a healthy belt of Crown Royal.
Alcohol doesn't freeze. :-)

If this is your first boat I would recommend having the marina do it. If
possible watch and take notes so you can do it yourself next year. If you
want.

I'm new to this whole thing and to me the couple of hundred for a
winterization (I have twins ... engines not kids) seems like cheap
insurance -- especially considering my knowledge of the engines is limited
to "the noisy things where the money goes".

I'm having them do all my water/waste etc. this year too. I just don't feel
confident enough in my knowledge of the systems to go it alone. Next year
I'll do that part myself when it's less mysterious but everyone I know, even
with decades of experience, still lets the marina do the engines.

It just seems like too good a deal.



"werlax" wrote in message
om...
It seems that everyone knows someone who has wrecked an engine by
improper winterizing. I was planning on just following the Mercruiser
engine manual and their recommended procedure. Having mentioned that
to a couple of friends, and their reaction, makes me wonder if there
is something that I should be aware of? Is this all just a mystique
perpetrated to get our money into the pockets of the marinas?
Should I do some additional reading at a URL or should the manual be
enough? For reference, the engine is a Mercruiser 4.3L I/O.
Thanks for any help!

(Gould 0738) wrote in message ...
If you want to winterize yourself, I suggest a healthy belt of Crown Royal.
Alcohol doesn't freeze. :-)

I've found I keep sobering up and require a shot on a regular basis to
stay winterized.

On 11 Sep 2003 20:51:05 -0700, (werlax) wrote:

It seems that everyone knows someone who has wrecked an engine by
improper winterizing. I was planning on just following the Mercruiser
engine manual and their recommended procedure. Having mentioned that
to a couple of friends, and their reaction, makes me wonder if there
is something that I should be aware of? Is this all just a mystique
perpetrated to get our money into the pockets of the marinas?
Should I do some additional reading at a URL or should the manual be
enough? For reference, the engine is a Mercruiser 4.3L I/O.
Thanks for any help!

If you are confident in your skills, go ahead, and follow the manual
TO THE LETTER. Keep your eyes open for any possibility of raw water
remaining in the systems.

If you're unsure, hire it done.
Good luck,
noah

There is nothing difficult or magic about winterizing and engine and water systems.
However, I have always let the marina handle this task....a concept called "risk
transfer". Let them pay the bill for a cracked engine block if the winterization was
not done properly.

More expensive? Yes. But a small price to pay for ease of mind.



"werlax" wrote in message
om...
It seems that everyone knows someone who has wrecked an engine by
improper winterizing. I was planning on just following the Mercruiser
engine manual and their recommended procedure. Having mentioned that
to a couple of friends, and their reaction, makes me wonder if there
is something that I should be aware of? Is this all just a mystique
perpetrated to get our money into the pockets of the marinas?
Should I do some additional reading at a URL or should the manual be
enough? For reference, the engine is a Mercruiser 4.3L I/O.
Thanks for any help!

"Jim -" wrote in message
news:sav8b.427890$o%2.194502@sccrnsc02...
There is nothing difficult or magic about winterizing and engine and water systems.
However, I have always let the marina handle this task....a concept called "risk
transfer". Let them pay the bill for a cracked engine block if the winterization was
not done properly.

More expensive? Yes. But a small price to pay for ease of mind.



"werlax" wrote in message
om...
It seems that everyone knows someone who has wrecked an engine by
improper winterizing. I was planning on just following the Mercruiser
engine manual and their recommended procedure. Having mentioned that
to a couple of friends, and their reaction, makes me wonder if there
is something that I should be aware of? Is this all just a mystique
perpetrated to get our money into the pockets of the marinas?
Should I do some additional reading at a URL or should the manual be
enough? For reference, the engine is a Mercruiser 4.3L I/O.
Thanks for any help!


Edit: There is nothing difficult or magic about winterizing *an* engine and water
*system*.

Brain fart. Sorry.

Hey Jamesgang, Didn't I just see your boat this weekend on Cayuga Lake?

jamesgangnc wrote:

(Gould 0738) wrote in message ...
If you want to winterize yourself, I suggest a healthy belt of Crown Royal.
Alcohol doesn't freeze. :-)

I've found I keep sobering up and require a shot on a regular basis to
stay winterized.


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I was planning on taking this project myself. I have the same drive
system as you. For the heck of it I stopped by my local boat shop today
and got a price of $275 to winterize, shrinkwrap and store for the
season. I think for that price I will leave this to the pro's.

werlax wrote:

It seems that everyone knows someone who has wrecked an engine by
improper winterizing. I was planning on just following the Mercruiser
engine manual and their recommended procedure. Having mentioned that
to a couple of friends, and their reaction, makes me wonder if there
is something that I should be aware of? Is this all just a mystique
perpetrated to get our money into the pockets of the marinas?
Should I do some additional reading at a URL or should the manual be
enough? For reference, the engine is a Mercruiser 4.3L I/O.
Thanks for any help!


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http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----

I've never paid to get my boat winterized and have had the boat for 21 years.

It's really not that difficult. There's a guy here who has a website
on the subject.

My routine:

Fuel Stabilizer
Change fuel/oil filters, change engine oil.
Change outdrive oil.
Run the engine, fog the cylinders.
Drain the manifolds and block with the petcocks.

b.