Winterizing Boat ?'s

[bc23champ]

I was wondering if anyone had ideas on what to do over the winter months. I am unable to keep my boat in the garage through the winter. I still try to get out every couple of weeks and wet a line..so im not just letting it sit all winter..i try to keep my on-board plugged in to help the batteries and i use a motor-flush so i can start it up every few days or once a week...does anyone have some tips on winter-time care. If it matters my outboard is a

Merc 150 XR6. thanks fellas

[denjac]

I wouldn't mess with starting it every week. Put fuel stabaliser in the tank, open the livewell drains and drain plug. Keep the motor in the down positon and keep the boat covered. When winter fishing I always drain all the water from the lower unit at the ramp by putting the motor all the way down for a few minutes before leaving.

[Dutch]

If you will raise the motor all the way up after it has drained and then go all the way down again, you might be surprised at the extra water that will come out of most motors. I always raise and lower 2-3 times when it is cold weather. I don't bother with stabil in my gasoline. I just keep adding fresh gas as I fish during the winter. You don't have to keep the tank full in the winter because condensation is a very minor amount of moisture if it happens at all.

[Brennan]

Not sure where you live, but up here in Kansas City Area we have underground cave storage facilities. I store my boat in them for a few months in the winter. It is about 55-60 degrees year round in the caves. I put stabil in the tank....run the motor for a few minutes to get the treated gas into the engine, then put her to bed in the cave. Kinda spooky going down there....it's like a bass boat graveyard. lots of guys here do the same thing.

[Trav]

Could just fish more often...haha, I fish 4 to 6 days a week. Of course I keep mine stored in the lake. I never really thought I had to worry too much about it.

Am I missing something with that practice?