advice for first winter in PNW

[Iced-D]

I'll be asking the dealer but I'd appreciate advice here. I plan to leave the Gulfstream in the water year round, and I don't know what the Puget Sound weather will be like from now until March or so.

The bottom is painted and I hope to keep the tank pretty full, with ethanol-free gas. I have shore power at the marina if I see the batteries are not fully charged. No fresh or salt water in any tanks.

I have canvas for the helm but no cover for the cockpit or over the bench seat and side bolsters. Thoughts on that?

Recommendations for running the engines, even if the conditions are suboptimal? E.g., don't let more than X days go without taking the boat out for at least Y minutes, with Z minutes on plane?

I have time to maintain the boat, but don't know what I don't know. All tips welcome.

 

[DennisG01]

Do the temps there get cold enough where it warrants ensuring the fresh/salt water lines are cleared and maybe run some pink stuff through for good measure?

Vinyl... if you haven't been covering them now, it probably doesn't matter. There's more damage happening to them in the Summer than the Winter.

If you can have the batteries on your charger all Winter, that's the best thing you can do (assuming it's a good, quality "charger/maintainer", not just a cheapie "trickle charger"). Second best would be to fully charge and then remove the negative cables. However, a FULLY charged, healthy battery won't freeze and if you're positive that nothing is left on, then they'll be OK as is.

Engines will be fine - but add stabilizer to the tank and run it through the engines. If you KNOW you won't be using the engines for a few months, then I would probably fog them for good measure - it's not imperative - but it's "better" than not. Fogging procedure depends on what engines you have.

 

[Mustang65fbk]

What are the condition/age of the batteries? I bought my boat back in October of 2021, ran the boat for two seasons just fine and then at the end of the 2023 season, I had to buy two brand new Interstate brand batteries when I took my boat out of the water, as the old ones wouldn't start up the boat anymore. I don't know what the age of the batteries were, as I bought the boat used, though one of the batteries had a sticker on it with I believe it was a "3" that was punched on the sticker. I don't know if that meant "2013" for the year or what it meant, and then the other battery had no date sticker on it at all. So, both were of an unknown age. I don't put a tender on them, just turn the battery switch off and leave them that way until the next spring/summer. The only time I've ever had an issue starting up the motor doing it this way was when I had a bad connection after replacing the two batteries, when the connection wasn't fully tight on the battery terminal, mentioned above. Other than that, they've always started up every spring/summer when the batteries have been in good shape. When they're 5-7+ years old and past their prime, that can be a bit of a different story. I'd check yours if you haven't already as shore power is a great thing, but if the batteries won't hold a charge then it won't make much of a difference. I've also been running Salt Away through my outboard as well as I've been using Ethanol free fuel for the last 4 years now and haven't had any issues as of yet. I don't add any fuel stabilizer or anything like that and as mentioned before, I haven't had any issues. I typically pull my boat out of the water in late September/early October and then she'll sit essentially until June. You could always go out and start up the motor(s) every couple of weeks, let them idle for 15-20 minutes or take the boat for a quick spin if you want. That being said, there's literally thousands and thousands of boats in the Seattle area that sit all winter long, some of them even being wet stored, and aren't run again until the next spring/summer without any issues. I've never filled my freshwater or other water tanks as I don't ever use them and don't want the potential issue of the water freezing or not draining out of them completely. So, I just leave them empty. Good luck!

 

[Fishtales]

Treat the gas and the water and head systems. If you can, get to the boat every couple of weeks if you have a battery charger and charge. Alternatively, you can charge the batteries, disconnect and leave on the boat or pull and charge at home. Maybe consider shrinkwrapping in the water if it works for you and you have the money. If your nervous about taking on water, look for a high water alarm that can be monitored over the net.

 

[Iced-D]

All good suggestions, thanks. The boat is a new 2025 -- just took delivery in late July -- almost 70 miles on twin Yamaha 200s.

(Based on how I watched my Dad age, I'm guessing I'll have 10-12 or so good years of vigor left, and then I'll be year-to-year before selling the boat, in as good a condition as I can reasonably keep it.)

 

[Seymour Flatwater]

Alan,
Knowing that your boat is near your home, it will be easier for you to keep an eye on things. In addition to the full fuel tank and empty water and black tanks, I would flush a cup or two of RV antifreeze through the freshwater tank to the sink(?)/shower and another cup or two through the head (raw water valve closed) into the black tank. With the raw water valve closed, run the washdown pump/sprayer for a few seconds. Disconnect the washdown hose and drain it.
During the 1 or 2 Puger Sound winter cold spells (°20's) drop the motors to keep the trapped water from freezing and cracking the lower units.
My advice is all hearsay... my boat and motorhome live in a heated shop.
Regards, Michael

 

[Mustang65fbk]

All good suggestions, thanks. The boat is a new 2025 -- just took delivery in late July -- almost 70 miles on twin Yamaha 200s.

(Based on how I watched my Dad age, I'm guessing I'll have 10-12 or so good years of vigor left, and then I'll be year-to-year before selling the boat, in as good a condition as I can reasonably keep it.)

I think you'll be just fine with a brand new boat that only has 70 hours on the motors. If you're that worried about it, you could always have Jacobsen's Marine in Edmonds winterize the boat for you. If you bought the boat locally, that's likely the Grady White dealership that you got it from, of which I'm guessing you likely already have their phone number.

 

[vocz]

If you don’t use the boat for another 6 months or more take her out of the water and winterize. Most people leave them in the water because it isn’t towable. It will deteriorate faster, more chance for damage in the marina IMO. Keep you batteries top off to keep the bilge pumps running. There are many ways the water can find it way in the bilge.

 

[Iced-D]

If you don’t use the boat for another 6 months or more take her out of the water and winterize. Most people leave them in the water because it isn’t towable. It will deteriorate faster, more chance for damage in the marina IMO. Keep you batteries top off to keep the bilge pumps running. There are many ways the water can find it way in the bilge.

I'm essentially retired, so in my first PNW winter I'm hoping conditions will allow me to take the boat out at least weekly. If that turns out not to be the case, then I may have to find dry stack somewhere. Appreciate the tips so far.