NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums

Boating => Boating General Discussions => Topic started by: Luna Sea 5 on March 25, 2008, 06:14:12 PM

Title: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on March 25, 2008, 06:14:12 PM
I ran each engine for about 10 minutes with my old plugs in.  How long should I run the engines to make sure all the winterization fog is out of the cylinders so I can replace the plugs?
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: IrishAyes on March 25, 2008, 06:16:22 PM
10 minutes should be enough.  When you first start it up it will probably be smoking more than usual (2stroke).  Then it will clean up.  If the motor is running smoothly, I would say change the plugs and you should be good to go.   t^
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on March 25, 2008, 06:18:28 PM
started up first crank, ran smooth, no smoke, none at all.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: rugman on March 25, 2008, 06:19:17 PM
10 minutes should be enough.  When you first start it up it will probably be smoking more than usual (2stroke).  Then it will clean up.  If the motor is running smoothly, I would say change the plugs and you should be good to go.   t^
DO YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE PLUGS? bngh
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on March 25, 2008, 06:21:51 PM
yes, when you fog the cylinders in the winter, your doing that with your old plugs in. In the spring, you want to run the engine to get all that winter gook out of the engine, while that happens it will dirty the plugs.  You don't want to put new plugs in that dirty them up right away after the first start, so you keep old plugs in, run the engine for a while, then replace the old plugs and start the season fresh.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: wb on March 25, 2008, 06:26:28 PM
10 min ea should be more than enough.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: rugman on March 25, 2008, 06:28:01 PM
yes, when you fog the cylinders in the winter, your doing that with your old plugs in. In the spring, you want to run the engine to get all that winter gook out of the engine, while that happens it will dirty the plugs.  You don't want to put new plugs in that dirty them up right away after the first start, so you keep old plugs in, run the engine for a while, then replace the old plugs and start the season fresh.
thanks  t^
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on March 25, 2008, 06:28:49 PM
the main thing to my surprise, no smoke... I thought for sure I was supposed to get an abundance of smoke.  If there is no smoke, should I belive that my marina didn't do what they are supposed to do to the engines.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: CapBob on March 25, 2008, 06:30:49 PM
Nick,

I run it 10 min or so then change the plugs TT^
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: rugman on March 25, 2008, 06:46:08 PM
what happen to the old days of cleaning the plugs??????????????????????????
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: IrishAyes on March 25, 2008, 06:46:50 PM
It you have a sand blaster for plugs, there is no reason that would not work.  Clean and regap them.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: GregB on March 25, 2008, 06:54:22 PM
funny story, I bought some l.e.d. lights for the trailer last September. I was psyched that they will last a long time and save me some aggravation with bulbs burning out. Left rear light died after 1 month. West Marine brand. They sent me an email in December. They were recalling them so I brought them back and just redid the whole trailer with heat shrink on the wires. I love doing stuff twice. This is what chases people out of boating, all the little crap that adds up over time.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: IrishAyes on March 25, 2008, 07:02:00 PM
Don't forget to unplug the lights before backing into the water.  The heat from the bulb being lit will pop the bulb as soon as it hits the cold water.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Duffman on March 25, 2008, 07:03:14 PM
Hey Luna, bump the idle up a little. Dont go nuts, you dont want to rev to high when its running on the hose.  Once the idle raises you should see some smoke burning off.
  I wouldnt worry about the plugs. Once you are running on the water any fogging residue will burn off quickly.
  Sandblasting plugs? I have not had my blaster out of the toolbox in a decade!!  Todays electronic ignitions burn hot enough to clean off alot of crap from the plugs.
  Weak spark because your points are worn is a thing of the past. You guys are showing your age ya old farts!!!!!! ;D
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on March 25, 2008, 07:05:00 PM
what happen to the old days of cleaning the plugs??????????????????????????
there is just too much junk on the plugs from all the winterization fog they stuff in there.  Not worth it.. plugs are black when you change them.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on March 25, 2008, 07:07:53 PM
I also bumped up the revs, no smoke.  The only thing I am concerned about is, DID THE MARINA FOG THE ENGINES LIKE I PAID THEM TO DO.  I don't mind not seeing smoke, but I thought its a no brainer to see smoke after fogging the engines.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: rugman on March 25, 2008, 07:09:16 PM
 t^
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: IrishAyes on March 25, 2008, 07:09:29 PM
Hey Luna, bump the idle up a little. Dont go nuts, you dont want to rev to high when its running on the hose.  Once the idle raises you should see some smoke burning off.
  I wouldnt worry about the plugs. Once you are running on the water any fogging residue will burn off quickly.
  Sandblasting plugs? I have not had my blaster out of the toolbox in a decade!!  Todays electronic ignitions burn hot enough to clean off alot of crap from the plugs.
  Weak spark because your points are worn is a thing of the past. You guys are showing your age ya old farts!!!!!! ;D

Hey Duff,  (http://www.getsmile.com/emoticons/funny-smileys-68129/grimace.gif)  hehehe
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: wb on March 25, 2008, 07:17:24 PM
DID THE MARINA FOG THE ENGINES LIKE I PAID THEM TO DO
Good question. I have seen firsthand some of the things that go on or don't at (some) marinas. Hell even been a victim. Even more frustrating is you will likely never know for sure.

 
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Still Running on March 25, 2008, 07:57:52 PM
That is why I do that kind of stuff myself. You know what was done and what you didn’t do.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on March 25, 2008, 09:44:07 PM
DID THE MARINA FOG THE ENGINES LIKE I PAID THEM TO DO
Good question. I have seen firsthand some of the things that go on or don't at (some) marinas. Hell even been a victim. Even more frustrating is you will likely never know for sure.

 
your right, you will never know.  I thought for sure there is a way to tell if they fogged the engines by the smoke.  Other things I doubt they do, or if they do fix, they don't use new parts but charge you for new parts.  I am done with Coty Marine...  completely. 

I checked everything again today, and sure enough, my fresh water washdown pump isn't working... I am not fixing it as I don't need it.  Also, 1 of my floor bait well pumps isn't working again.  It seems like every season the left one break, then the right side, then the left again.  I personally think they are using used pumps.  They shouldn't be going dead after 1 season. 

I took a good luck at the pumps, and sure enough, they are deep into the transom and can't be fixed by me... so I am just going to do without it this season.  They are the biggest crooks I have ever seen.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: mboy on March 25, 2008, 10:07:56 PM
Take it to PJ and see what he says.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on March 25, 2008, 10:17:00 PM
at this point I will wait for the end of the season.  I will have PJ winterize next season and fix what needs to be fixed.  I don't need those 2 pumps, so I will due without them this season.  But your right, PJ may be the man from now on.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: GregB on March 28, 2008, 09:58:34 AM
you should try to learn how to check for voltage at the pumps and learn how to winterize yourself. You save big money, make sure its done right, and also get the satisfaction of fixing yourself. Unless, you have disposable income then by all means pay someone!! If you want to attempt to troubleshoot the motors, turn on rocker switch and get a volt meter or some kind of test light rated for 12v and check for power to the pump. I bet its an electrical connection at a molex connector(plastic quick connect) and not the pump.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: Luna Sea 5 on March 28, 2008, 10:10:30 AM
For the Floor Mac pump, I heard it run, but very weak, and as I hold the button, it gets weaker and weaker until it stops.  The fresh water washdown was the other one.  Usually when its not working the light goes off on the switch that runs it.  With this, the light is still on, pump don't work, which in this case make me belived your correct that it might be a connection. Either way, the way my boat is designed, the do it yourself is almost out of the question as everything is out of reach.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: LotzoFish on March 28, 2008, 09:13:31 PM
I always inspect the plugs in the spring, and if they are not burned and the electrodes are even I just clean them with a brass brush and gasoline. I always get at least 2 years out of my plugs. I have also used a very fine grit emory paper to clean them up, works just fine.
Title: Re: Unwinterizing your boat
Post by: ped579 on March 29, 2008, 12:03:43 AM
I use to do that years ago with my GTO, heck I even set my points with a match cover once, worked just fine, but I would not recommend it.  Especially if you fish far enough off shore that your life might depend on it.

It is a small price to pay for piece of mind.

Paul