Winterized - Tips

sunedog

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I winterized my 2011 2275 GCW over the weekend.

First thing was pulling the boat out of the water, adding a healthy dose of Stabil to the gas tank, and filling it up with 100% gas. The ride home allows the Stabil to mix completely with the gas.

Next I acid washed the toons. I use a locally produced mag wheel cleaner I get from my locally owned hardware store. I understand you could also use AC coil cleaner or "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner from the Dollar Store.

(Edited to add: I mix one quart of the acid with 3 quarts of water in a 2 gallon garden pump sprayer. It takes about two or three cycles of applying acid solution and rinsing with a strong blast from the hose nozzle to completely remove all the organic growth.)

I have a bunk trailer and I need to be able to clean between the toons and bunks. I dropped the tongue to the ground to raise the stern as high as possible:
Winterize 2018 2.jpg

Then I measured from the motor pod to the ground and cut two 2 x 4's to fit snugly:

Winterize 2018 3.jpg

When I raised the tongue, the toons lifted slightly off the bunks. Be really careful if you do this. I realize there is a chance the 2 x 4's might break or tilt sideways. But they only jacked the toons up an inch (at most) so I figured, if anything went wrong, the boat would come down on the bunks.

Before acid wash:

Winterize 2018.jpg

After acid wash:

Winterize 2018 9.jpg
Winterize 2018 10.jpg

Changed the oil in the lower unit. On Yamaha's, the drain screw (longer one) and air vent screw (shorter one) are different:

Winterize 2018 5.jpg

(Edited to add: Don't forget to replace the washers on these screws every time. They are not reusable. My next door neighbor told me he tried to reuse them one time and he ended up with water in his lower unit by the end of the next season.)

Then I ran the motor on muffs for about 20 minutes to warm the crankcase oil to change it. This also allowed the Stabil in the gas to get into the motor.

I saw this attachment on a Youtube last week so I ordered it. $18 bucks delivered on eBay and I think it was worth it. It eliminated any mess from draining the crankcase:

Winterize 2018 6.jpg

Winterize 2018 7.jpg

This was my first time servicing this 2010 Yamaha F115 and I did make a mess replacing the oil filter. It was pretty full and, even though I stuffed a bunch of paper towels under it before unscrewing it, it still spilled lot into the base of the cowling. Next year, I plan to 1) wait until all the oil is out of the crankcase and 2) tilt the motor all the way up and turn the steering wheel all the way left so the oil filter is at it highest point on the motor.

After refilling with fresh oil and checking for leaks and oil level, I pulled the plugs and fogged the motor. Bumped the key switch twice with the plugs out to distribute the fogging oil in the cylinders. Re-installed the plugs.

Then I greased all the fittings I could find on the motor.

Then I cleaned the interior and treated all the vinyl with 303. Got it very saturated, but wiped off all the excess. Scrubbed the floor with Purple power and rinsed it well.

Now it's ready for winter storage.

(Edited to add I forgot I needed to change the fuel filter and water seperater. Ordered from Amazon and will install this weekend.)
 
Last edited:
I winterized my 2011 2275 GCW over the weekend.

First thing was pulling the boat out of the water, adding a healthy dose of Stabil to the gas tank, and filling it up with 100% gas. The ride home allows the Stabil to mix completely with the gas.

Next I acid washed the toons. I use a locally produced mag wheel cleaner I get from my locally owned hardware store. I understand you could also use AC coil cleaner or "The Works" toilet bowl cleaner from the Dollar Store.

I have a bunk trailer and I need to be able to clean between the toons and bunks. I dropped the tongue to the ground to raise the stern as high as possible:
View attachment 23589

Then I measured from the motor pod to the ground and cut two 2 x 4's to fit snugly:

View attachment 23590

When I raised the tongue, the toons lifted slightly off the bunks. Be really careful if you do this. I realize there is a chance the 2 x 4's might break or tilt sideways. But they only jacked the toons up an inch (at most) so I figured, if anything went wrong, the boat would come down on the bunks.

Before acid wash:

View attachment 23591

After acid wash:

View attachment 23592
View attachment 23593

Changed the oil in the lower unit. On Yamaha's, the drain screw (longer one) and air vent screw (shorter one) are different:

View attachment 23594

Then I ran the motor on muffs for about 20 minutes to warm the crankcase oil to change it. This also allowed the Stabil in the gas to get into the motor.

I saw this attachment on a Youtube last week so I ordered it. $18 bucks delivered on eBay and I think it was worth it. It eliminated any mess from draining the crankcase:

View attachment 23595

View attachment 23596

This was my first time servicing this 2010 Yamaha F115 and I did make a mess replacing the oil filter. It was pretty full and, even though I stuffed a bunch of paper towels under it before unscrewing it, it still spilled lot into the base of the cowling. Next year, I plan to 1) wait until all the oil is out of the crankcase and 2) tilt the motor all the way up and turn the steering wheel all the way left so the oil filter is at it highest point on the motor.

After refilling with fresh oil and checking for leaks and oil level, I pulled the plugs and fogged the motor. Bumped the key switch twice with the plugs out to distribute the fogging oil in the cylinders. Re-installed the plugs.

Then I greased all the fittings I could find on the motor.

Then I cleaned the interior and treated all the vinyl with 303. Got it very saturated, but wiped off all the excess. Scrubbed the floor with Purple power and rinsed it well.

Now it's ready for winter storage.
Nice job! What is the name of the Mag Wheel cleaner? Looks Good !
 
Nice job! What is the name of the Mag Wheel cleaner? Looks Good !

Answer: "Mag Wheel Cleaner." Not trying to be a smart alec, but this is locally produced and has a very limited distribution. The guy who makes it puts it in used windshield washer jugs. He does put an official looking label on the jugs with MSDS info, but I'll have to look tonight to see which acid he uses and at what concentration.
 
Great info Sunedog, thanks for sharing
 
Answer: "Mag Wheel Cleaner."

I stand corrected. The name is Quality Mag and Wire Wheel Cleaner. As you can see, the active ingredients are hydrofluoric acid, a surfactant and ethylene glycol (ingredient of most ant-freezes).

acid for cleaning pontoons.jpg
 
Hey neighbor, thanks for the good info (I'm across the lake in Gilbert). Question, did you lift the rear of the boat enough to get the front of the toons off of the trailer? Also, where did you purchase the cleaner? I may need to take a trip to the other side of the lake and pick some up.

I didn't think folks down here fogged their motors. I'm sure it's good insurance, but I've always been told it doesn't get cold enough here for all that.
 
Hey neighbor, thanks for the good info (I'm across the lake in Gilbert). Question, did you lift the rear of the boat enough to get the front of the toons off of the trailer? Also, where did you purchase the cleaner? I may need to take a trip to the other side of the lake and pick some up.

I didn't think folks down here fogged their motors. I'm sure it's good insurance, but I've always been told it doesn't get cold enough here for all that.

Hey Robert -- I only was able to get the rear of the tubes about an inch (or slightly less) above the bunks, so the fronts of the tubes were still pretty much in contact with the bunks. I would have gone higher, but the boat kind of listed to the side as I lifted it and I didn't want to chance it. I was still able to get just about all the organic growth off the tubes.

I bought the cleaner at Lake Murray Hardware in Ballentine. Call them before you make a trip. Last time I was in there, they told me the guy who makes it had some kind of medical issue and wasn't making more. Hope he's better by now.

And I believe fogging motors is done to prevent corrosion while you're not using the motor for an extended period. Don't believe it has anything to do with temperature.
 
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