challenger winterizing

[phil tiehen]

i have a couple of questions about my 1999 1800 challenger, one is we winterized per the owners manual but could not get any antifreeze to come out the tuned pipe bleed port,but did get it comming from the exhaust outlet at rear of boat got water first then antifreeze wondering if this will be ok?. also tried to get the battery out for the winter but there must be a trick to this as i could not get it removed without removing something else,the oil reservoir or the electrical box to the left of the battery.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Your set to go!......

If you got anti-freeze from your exhaust, your ready for the winter. As for the battery, I don't think your suppose to move anything to get them out. Unless someone has put the wrong battery in your boat. But, only someone else with your boat or has seen how this boat is set up can answer that. My Challenger is the single 787 and is easy to get to......:cheers:

 

[masonf24]

i have the same boat and it is tricky to get the battery out!!! once you remove the holster for the battery you kinda have to force the battery by the spark plugs ( if the 97 is set up the same way as the 99) i hope you do this ok because it took me quite a while to get the right angle for the removal of battery since i had to replace it

 

[Maciej]

If you got anti-freeze from your exhaust, your ready for the winter. As for the battery, I don't think your suppose to move anything to get them out. Unless someone has put the wrong battery in your boat. But, only someone else with your boat or has seen how this boat is set up can answer that. My Challenger is the single 787 and is easy to get to......:cheers:

Gonna piggyback on this thread. I also have the single 787 (96 Challenger) and I'm having a time figuring out how to get the battery out. Access is easy but the battery is sitting in the holder which I assume is bolted down. I'm thinking this may have been a replacement battery and original had a strap or something to lift out of the holder? Right now I can't get a grip on the battery to lift it out because it fits right to the sides of the holder. Any ideas? If it is some idiot putting the wrong battery in (3rd owner here) I guess I'll wait till the spring to carve up holder and replace everything.

Thanks for any help/suggestions.

Maciej

 

[seadoosnipe]

Battery?

Yes, the battery, if marine, should have a strap across the top to lift it with. The battery for it, should not be squeezed into the box.

You can go to your local auto parts store and by a battery lifter that works like an ice lifter. It squeezes your posts as you try to lift, getting a grip as you pull on it........that's about the only advice I can give you on removing the battery. Or, you may try lifting it with the cables attached to it.:cheers:

 

[Maciej]

Thanks, will look at the parts supply store, either that or leave it over the winter and just put the other battery, that does have a strap, into the boat in the spring.
Another question on leaving the boat outside over the winter (Ontario, cold). I've had it winterized at a Seadoo shop ($145 Cdn), do I leave the rear drain plugs open? What angle should the boat be at, level or angled to drain more water out the back? Any other tips for leaving it outside over the winter?

Thanks

Maciej

 

[seadoosnipe]

Cold....brrrrrrrrrr

Yes, elevate the nose as much as you can. If you can cover it, this is best. You do want all water or melting snow to exit the boat through the rear cockpit drain or engine hull drain.

Yes, leave the plugs out.

Engine is winterized, your good.

 

[full speed]

on the 98 challenger 1800 with twin 800's to make battery removal easier i remove both plugs and water temp sensor but it's still tough. Last two years i have not even disconnected and removed but just left the battery in and charged it in the spring with the battery in. so far no explosions and no fires!!

for winterizing i follow the instructions in OWNERS MANUAL and use the hose pinchers.