Winterizing at home

[eks]

Do any of you know how to do the winterization?

I payed $230 to winterize my boat this year, I know it got to be something simple as to remove water from the system or replace with antifreeze.

Does anyone know a procedure on how to do it correctly?

Thanks

[bowdoc]

I also want to learn how to winterize. I paid $220.00 and also paid $180.00 to de-winterize last year. It cant be that hard to do and it will save a ton of money. Money to buy gas, beer, etc.

[xpjim1]

Here are a few threads that chpthril documented.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/show...31&postcount=3

Do a search on winterizing

[chpthril]

Read through those posts and use the search button. After that, if you have any specific questions, please feel free to post or PM me, we are all here to help.

[eks]

Read through those posts and use the search button. After that, if you have any specific questions, please feel free to post or PM me, we are all here to help.

Thanks, I guess I still have a entire year to learn since I already did this year at the dealership.

[maximus2003]

I also want to learn how to winterize. I paid $220.00 and also paid $180.00 to de-winterize last year. It cant be that hard to do and it will save a ton of money. Money to buy gas, beer, etc.

De-winterize? That's a huge scam dude! Any dealer/service guy that tells you you need to come back in, in the spring to de-winterize is a scam artist. They are just milking you for some more cash. If you pay anywhere from $200-$300 for "winterizing" then whatever they need to do in the summer to get your boat back in the water should be included for that fee. Did they take your prop off or something like that? We had a guy(not a tige dealer) here in Vancouver pulling that move. My buddy and I both used to take our old boats to him for servicing and one day he just happened to mention he was taking it in to be "de-winterized" & I was like, what for? We both get our boats "winterized" by this guy & I don't need to have mine "de-winterized" each spring. My buddy just didn't know any better and had taken it in each spring for a couple of years. We confronted the guy about it & man did he ever back peddle fast. Needless to say we don't use him anymore. Now I'm not saying that there are not things that can be serviced in the spring and depending on how anal you are about your boat maybe you want to take it in. I'll also not sure exactly what your "winterizing entails."But if you're just having the oil changed and water drained, then any reputable service guy will say that there is no need to come back in the spring. It should be already to go as soon as it's warm enough. I would just ask a few questions about it, thats my two cents.

[bowdoc]

I have to go back in the spring because they leave all the plugs out of the engine and manifold. Then they charge me again to reinstall.

[chpthril]

I have to go back in the spring because they leave all the plugs out of the engine and manifold. Then they charge me again to reinstall.

Put the plugs back in your self. Other then an impeller change in the Spring, there is nothing else that need to be done

[Lucky 275]

$220 to pull the plugs and $180 to reinstall... I'm in the wrong business

[chpthril]

$220 to pull the plugs and $180 to reinstall... I'm in the wrong business

I'd like to know what all the dealers include in these services.

[spharis]

Depends on how cold it gets, but it is something you can do in your driveway with simple hand tools and readily available items.

Dealers know that, for the most part, the people buying the boats we use have money (I wish I was in that group). In most cases someone cleans our house, does our lawns, changes our oil in our cars, and they know that winterizing is another item someone with expendable money will no problem with. What's $300 twice a year when the people being charged don't know how to change a spark plug and would rather be drinking a $5 cup of Starbuck's? Educate yourself people.

If you have the money and don't like getting dirty, then pay the dealer, but educate yourself about it first IMO; but if you have the smallest inkling of mechanical know how, and like working on your own things, then learn to do it yourself.

As GW said.....fool me once shame on me, fool me twice shame me, you,......??? and shame.

[Lucky 275]

I'd like to know what all the dealers include in these services.

Hopefully some lube

[dogbert]

Dealers know that, for the most part, the people buying the boats we use have money (I wish I was in that group). In most cases someone cleans our house, does our lawns, changes our oil in our cars, and they know that winterizing is another item someone with expendable money will no problem with. What's $300 twice a year when the people being charged don't know how to change a spark plug and would rather be drinking a $5 cup of Starbuck's? Educate yourself people.

Ok, I resemble that remark, but I do agree on the educate yourself part.

Seriously, one reason I take my boat to the dealer for the 100 hour service is to have them check out all the moving parts for anything that might keep me off the water. I know how to fix most stuff, but I'm not good at picking up on parts that are about to fail. My boat rarely breaks down and when it does, it's usually not for very long.

I usually have a long conversation with my service manager about the condition of everything and it's worked out well so far. I am fortunate to have a very reputable dealer, so it works for me. Tige does a very good job of making sure its dealers are up to snuff. There's always exceptions, but here in Austin, the dealers from a service perspective are Tige and Supra.