Yesterday, I winterized my Catalina 310 diesel and water systems in anticipation of the, usually, not too harsh winters in the Chesapeake Bay region where I berth my boat. I am staying in the water this winter. I have one small question. I understand that some sailors spray WD40 or similar on the outside of their engines for winter layup. Is this important for the @ 4 months until my spring '24 recommissioning? Seems like it would just make the outside of my now clean engine a sticky mess.
Newbie Question RE: Winterizing Universal M25 XPB
- Thread starter Monheganlover
- Start date
No need to spray WD 40 especially because it evaporates quickly. I don't see any need for spraying a protective coating on the engine, that's what the paint is for. If there are rusty areas on the engine, clean them up and paint them.
C'mon, you're kidding us. Winterize in your climate ?
Your expected lows are in the low 40"s F. and you're in the water. Our expected lows are in the mid 20's F. and the faucets will not freeze. The thermometer in the cabin never goes below 35 F. due to the water around the hull and a bit of diffused sunlight in the day.
If you're worried about your engine, put a 25W bulb under the oil pan. And your engine does have 50/50 antifreeze for corrosion control I trust ?
Two recommendations :
1. Stop listening to the mental black holes on your dock.
2. Buy yourself a good book on boat maintenance such as Caulder's "Boatowner's Mechanical and Electric Manual".
I don’t know what red line in your chart is meant to show (average high? Average low? Daily average?), but I can tell you most years our marina on the northern Chesapeake gets at least a skin of ice at least briefly. Some years parts of river get a decent layer of ice for a couple weeks. The OP’s profile says Annapolis, about 40 miles south of me, but well north of the southern bay. The average low in Annapolis in January is 29. Personally I wouldn’t be comfortable without winterizing in that area.
I agree with the previous comments to not use any kind of coating. Seems like anything that doesn’t evaporate would just attract dirt too.
Thanks. I appreciate all the help. I know people here in the Annapolis area who have had damaged engines and water systems during the rare long, hard freezes we get here. I consider the couple of gallons of antifreeze cheap insurance.
I had that engine on my C30. I drained the heat exchanger, drained the water muffler and then put the oberdorfer pump suction hose into a bottle of the pink stuff and ran the engine. Draining the exchanger and the muffler minimize A/F dilution. You still have some water in the exhaust hose from the muffler to the rear exit. I also use to remove the cover from the Oberdorfer pump and pull the impeller just out of the pump and I would loosen the engine belt. I have a different engine now and removing the pump impeller is a pain so I have left it in - now on the fourth winter coming up) . My theory is "nothing succeeds like excess" - but I do temper that with reason.