Unwinterizing your boat

[Luna Sea 5]

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?

[IrishAyes]

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.   

[Luna Sea 5]

started up first crank, ran smooth, no smoke, none at all.

[rugman]

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.   

DO YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE PLUGS? bngh

[Luna Sea 5]

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.

[wb]

10 min ea should be more than enough.

[rugman]

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 

[Luna Sea 5]

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.

[CapBob]

Nick,

I run it 10 min or so then change the plugs

[rugman]

what happen to the old days of cleaning the plugs??

[IrishAyes]

It you have a sand blaster for plugs, there is no reason that would not work.  Clean and regap them.

[GregB]

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.

[IrishAyes]

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.

[Duffman]

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!!!!!!

[Luna Sea 5]

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.

[Luna Sea 5]

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.

[rugman]

 

[IrishAyes]

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!!!!!!

Hey Duff,    hehehe

[wb]

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.

 

[Still Running]

That is why I do that kind of stuff myself. You know what was done and what you didn’t do.