Hey, I know most of you dont have to deal with winterizing your boats but I sure do. I was just wondering if you guys had any tricks to make next seasons first start any easier? All Iv done is run antifreeze through the block then pull the drain plugs on the block aswell. Ill be pulling the carbs off aswell but thats for a rebuild. I still have to drain my fuel tanks and pull the battery. Any other tips while I had to uncovered for the last time until the heat comes back? It gets pretty damn cold in the winter up here (31 degrees right now) and I dont want to forget something stupid.

If you have logs, make sure you pull the hoses off the lowest port and drain them.  I forgot to do that one year.....  

I've never bothered to pour antifreeze in the bowl, and never had a problem with it in 25+ years of St. Louis winters.  I think the boat would have to be sitting nose-down big-time for you to trap enough water between the vanes to cause a problem.

Just my 2 cents.

I wrap my engine with moving quilts. I also place a low watt light bulb under my oil pan to keep the engine from freezing and possibly cracking the block. And I place a tub of kitty litter somewhere in the boat so it will absorb some of the moisture that will occur. Believe me its's not a pretty site to take your cover off in the spring to find black mold on your seats, steering wheel, etc. Or to find that the condensation pitted the surfaces of carbs and whatnot. Believe me, I learned from experience. Winter sucks!

Lakelily

I did the light bulb method ONLY after returning back from the river, and lived in Big Bear, 110* at the river, 22* at home, till the next day so I could winterize it right.
After one MISSING freeze plug event at Needles, (found out in the marina, freeze plugs are below water level) I would winterize at the ramp, before heading home, 250 miles. (2 engine plugs, lower hoses on the logs, 5 minutes tops). Now living in AZ, Mines only winterized for about 60-70 days anymore ( mid Dec to mid-late Feb)

Daniel
Mash on it