Winter Storage

[ampman02]

I recently bought my first bassboat, a 2002 Ranger 520VX with a Mercury 225 Optimax. So far its a great boat (3 months). I guess I may need to take some precautions with cold weather coming as I feel like I won't be using it as much, any suggestions? By the way, I love this site and have learned much since I found it.

[HammysSkeeter]

Hi,
Here is a couple of websites for winterizing your outboard.

http://www.classicglastron.com...g.htm

http://www.brownsmarina.com/te....html

If you are putting it away, I also put bounce sheets inside the boat, as many as you can, in the compartments and lockers. Where I store my boat, the boat that is stored beside mine, also puts the sheets on the ground.

Also, do a search on here for winterizing, I am sure you will get lots of hits.

[ChrisH]

if your fishing at least once a month or every 6 weeks i wouldnt worry about

[ampman02]

Thanks for the feedback. I sure intend to fish at least once a month but was worried about something frrezing on these cold nights. I store my boat under a carport but not in a garage. Thanks.

[lakefolk]

If you are using it as previously stated you need not winterize the motor but make sure you lower the motor so that the lower unit will drain. Leave it stored in the down position so that rain water etc. doesn't get in it. Also if you have a pro air livewell system such as I do in my charger it is probably a good idea to blow the water out of it and plug it off so you can still use the livewells.

[StratosNCO]

wow, you're in alabama. you should be fishing every weekend. I don't winterize mine, but I use mine in the winter.

[ampman02]

Trent, Thanks for the reply. I certainly hope to use mine 12 months of the year but I guess I was kinda scared of one of our cold fronts blowing in and staying for a while. Freezing something that ought not get froze. I'm more scared with this thing than I was when I had young kids!