Time for Winter Maintenance

Get to the front of your carbs by removing silencer-cover.

Hook a hose to your water intake .

Crank and let engine warm-up, with motor running at fast idle;increase speed slightly {be ready for this next step!}.

Disconnect fuel line at engine and spray a couple ounces of Fogging oil into each carb as motor runs out of gas and stalls.

Remove the spark plugs and spray some in each cylinder; turn flywheel by hand a few times.

Change the lower-unit lube and remove prop, grease shaft and all other fitting and lube points.

Spray a little corrosion preventitive on engine and BE SURE to leave your motor in vertical or down position so water won't lay in there and freeze.

Put your battery inside shop and charge it now and then; as long as you're going that way why not put your prop on the shelf by the battery {a good way to still have it come spring}.

I fill my fuel tank and add proper amount of fuel stabilizer to it for the winter.

While you're at it, just as well go ahead and clean and wax the boat and motor.

Get a good quality cover for your boat that breathes. The covers mentioned below are ideal for the winter and you won't find a better price anywhere!

Don't forget the bottom while your at it!
Keep it Clean - Your boat bottom will be quickest if it is perfectly smooth. Dirt and slime buildup will slow you down. Clean the bottom with a strong cleaner. Wet sand any tough bumps in the running surface with 400-600 grit paper. You don't need wax (in fact it can, in some circumstances, slow you down.)

HAPPY BOATING

Click here for instructions to winterize inboard or stern-drive boats.

If you want to work on boat hull and trailer at the same time then you will have to carefully block the boat up with a series of wooden blocks. I wouldn't use jack stands at all!

Blocking a hull up while removing a trailer requires a great deal of care and attention and quite a bit of re-jacking and blocking, but it's pretty straightfoward stuff. You will appreciate having a friend or two around to lend a hand.

You can simulate the same(or close to same) points for supporting hull as it is now supported by the bunks on trailer. Remember you will have to re-position the blocks after initial painting is complete and dry in order to paint the areas previously blocked during painting.