Storage Without Winterization

[mgrant]

I will be storing my boat for the winter in a heated basement, so I won't be winterizing it. It is a '98 Sportster 1800. My question is what should I do to the boat to keep it in top shape for next season? I plan to fill the gas tank, adding Stabil as prescribed. I then plan to back the boat down into the water and start it up on the trailer to allow the stabil to flow through the engine and lines for a few minutes. Then I plan to start it up out of water for a few seconds to blow any excess water from the lines. Lastly I will disconnect the batteries and hook them up to a trickle charger for winter storage. Am I missing anything? Any other recommendations? Thanks in advance! Mark.

 

[RFoster130]

Personally I would pretty much do the same procdeure I normally would except adding antifreeze. So I would still fog the engine, it will prevent any condensation left over from causing rust on internal parts. Then I would change the pump cone oil and spark plugs, Thats what I do when I store it for the winter, but I may over do it a little.

 

[mgrant]

good to know! i have no idea how to fog the engines though. any easy explanations on how this is done? what kind of fogging oil? where all do you spray it? and for how long? i have the shop manual for the boat but i don't see any info about fogging...

 

[Dr Honda]

this is what I would do:


1) Blow out the engines with compressed air. (though the flush port)

2) put marine Stay-Bil in the fuel.

3) add 1 oz/gal oil to your fuel tank. (optional)

4) fog the engines



OK... to fog the engines:

1) start one engine

2) spray fogging oil into the little hole in the top of the air box. (you may have a small rubber plug in it still)

3) shut off the engine

4) Remove the spark plugs, and spray fogging oil into the spark plug holes, and re-install the plugs.


WARNING: hold the little plastic spray straw while fogging. Every year... we see threads here that say... "I lost the straw in the engine, what do I need to do?" The answer is... disassemble the engine.


As a final note... I like to add a little oil to the fuel. I find that it helps keep the carbs from rusting internally. Also... I'm not a fan of topping of the fuel tank before parking it. I would rather leave it where it's at. That way... next spring... you can top it off with fresh fuel. If you are parking it in a heated garage... then condensation shouldn't be a prob.

 

[dsw222]

Tony... is it necessary to spray the fogging through the airbox? Or is it okay to just spray it down the spark plug holes, crank the engine a few times, and spray more?

I did that for both of my engines since one is bad... but if i should get fogging oil into the carbs then i'll do it properly this weekend

 

[Dr Honda]

Tony... is it necessary to spray the fogging through the airbox? Or is it okay to just spray it down the spark plug holes, crank the engine a few times, and spray more?

I did that for both of my engines since one is bad... but if i should get fogging oil into the carbs then i'll do it properly this weekend

When you run fogging oil into a running engine... when you shut it off... it will actually "Fog" the internals. The residual heat from the run will cause the oil to vaporize, and that's what will actually coat the engine internals. If you pull the plugs while the engine is warm... you will get a stream of oil vapor out the plug holes.

If you just spray it into a cold engine, though the spark plug holes... that will only coat the cyl walls, and piston.

Oh... and fogging into the carbs will give the carbs, and rotary valve a nice oil coat.


SO... if it was mine... yes... I would fog though the carbs, with the engine running.

 

[dsw222]

Thanks again Doc!

 

[JWLogsdon]

so if I take it to the dock and drop it in the water to fog it, when do I add antifreeze. I am keeping it in a heated garage (57 deg) but I still want to add antifreeze

 

[mgrant]

Great info doc! I will do all of those things this weekend. Would oil stabilizer be a good idea too? Thanks for the help! Us mechanically challenged boaters would be out of pocket a lotta money if it weren't for experienced people like yourself helping us out!

 

[unclejay]

Battery Tender brand

Instead of a trickle charger, use a Battery Tender. It turns on and off periodically and doesnt run constantly like a trickle charger. ebay

 

[Dr Honda]

Thanks for the kind words... its always appreciated.

Oil stabilizer is a big NO!