Should I be worried?

Nov 30, 2009
80
Oday 28 Lake Michigan
There has been many changes with the marina I have my boat (1984 Oday 28) at this last year. The owners have changed, management has changed, the personnel in the service department have changed. I traditionally have the marina do my engine winterization. Issue is that there is some evidence that the work was done, and some evidence that the work was not done. Still to be determined.
I live in Michigan and we had a pretty mild winter, but there was a several weeks where we got pretty cold 10's and 20's. Should be concerned that my engine did not get a full winterization?
 
Sep 15, 2009
6,243
S2 9.2a Fairhope Al
if they did not do the work and you have problems from that .....you need to get them involved in correcting that
 
Mar 26, 2016
45
oday 27 newport, or
What signs are there that work was done? What signs are contrary? Turnover isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it can be.
 
Feb 8, 2014
1,300
Columbia 36 Muskegon
Are you in Muskegon? If so I know which marina you're talking about, and I don't trust them as much as I used to. I'm now storing at the yard at Bear Lake Channel. They're cheaper and the employees are more helpful.
 
Aug 2, 2009
639
Catalina 315 Muskegon
A little more specificity would be nice regarding the evidence.

Winterizing an engine is one of the easiest maintenance chores on a sailboat. I like to change my oil in the Fall, so I don't have oxidized oil sitting in the engine all winter. Other than that, it's just a matter of getting the water out of your raw water system. Remove the water inlet hose from the intake seacock, stick a double ended hose barb (Home Depot) in the hose, and attach about three feet of garden hose to it. Fill a bucket with glycol based RV anti-freeze, stick the hose in it, and run the engine until you see pink water coming out of the exhaust port. Then run another gallon or two through it (important...stopping when you first see pink is NOT good enough). And, you're done.

I live about three minutes from one of the best sailboat service marinas in Michigan, but I don't let them touch my boat unless I lack the ability or tools to do a job. Luckily, that only happens about once every 10 years. There's no way they'll be as careful with my boat as I am. The internet, and excellent forum contributors like MaineSail have truly revolutionized DIY boat maintenance (although I'm surprised at how many people I talk to in my marina don't take advantage of it...baffling).

Oh...and the answer to your question. Yeah, you should be worried as to whether they did the winterization on your engine. I wouldn't think they'd put their best man on a job that easy. Not much you can do about it at this point. You might as well just forget about it, launch it, and run it. If it runs right and doesn't leak, you're golden.

Or...run it on the hard, first. Use the same technique I described for doing the winterization, but instead of filling the bucket with antifreeze, just fill it with water. You can run the engine as long as you want, as long as you keep water in the bucket. Ideally, run a hose from a faucet, and have someone filling the bucket (nozzle on hose for control) as it depletes. If you don't have a faucet nearby, start with several buckets of water, and fetch more as the motor runs. NEVER run a hose straight from a faucet into your engine, as it can cause damage. Use a bucket, so your engine's water pump does all the work. So, run it on the hard, and if all is well, launch it.

If you're in the Muskegon area, I'd be glad to show you how to do. Send me a PM. There's a large marina here, that seems to change owners and/or management every few years, but always ends up with another bunch of scoundrels. I would NEVER let them work on my boat.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Is your engine raw or fresh water cooled? That will tell you how big the potential bill might be. if you are fresh water cooled you might blow out your water pump and/or your heat exchanger. Could be costly but not catastrophic. But a raw water system lets freezable water inside your motor.
 
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Jul 5, 2011
702
Oday 28 Madison, CT
A little more specificity would be nice regarding the evidence.

Winterizing an engine is one of the easiest maintenance chores on a sailboat. I like to change my oil in the Fall, so I don't have oxidized oil sitting in the engine all winter. Other than that, it's just a matter of getting the water out of your raw water system. Remove the water inlet hose from the intake seacock, stick a double ended hose barb (Home Depot) in the hose, and attach about three feet of garden hose to it. Fill a bucket with glycol based RV anti-freeze, stick the hose in it, and run the engine until you see pink water coming out of the exhaust port. Then run another gallon or two through it (important...stopping when you first see pink is NOT good enough). And, you're done.

I live about three minutes from one of the best sailboat service marinas in Michigan, but I don't let them touch my boat unless I lack the ability or tools to do a job. Luckily, that only happens about once every 10 years. There's no way they'll be as careful with my boat as I am. The internet, and excellent forum contributors like MaineSail have truly revolutionized DIY boat maintenance (although I'm surprised at how many people I talk to in my marina don't take advantage of it...baffling).

Oh...and the answer to your question. Yeah, you should be worried as to whether they did the winterization on your engine. I wouldn't think they'd put their best man on a job that easy. Not much you can do about it at this point. You might as well just forget about it, launch it, and run it. If it runs right and doesn't leak, you're golden.

Or...run it on the hard, first. Use the same technique I described for doing the winterization, but instead of filling the bucket with antifreeze, just fill it with water. You can run the engine as long as you want, as long as you keep water in the bucket. Ideally, run a hose from a faucet, and have someone filling the bucket (nozzle on hose for control) as it depletes. If you don't have a faucet nearby, start with several buckets of water, and fetch more as the motor runs. NEVER run a hose straight from a faucet into your engine, as it can cause damage. Use a bucket, so your engine's water pump does all the work. So, run it on the hard, and if all is well, launch it.

If you're in the Muskegon area, I'd be glad to show you how to do. Send me a PM. There's a large marina here, that seems to change owners and/or management every few years, but always ends up with another bunch of scoundrels. I would NEVER let them work on my boat.
Siamese has it 100% correct. I have done all my regular (Winter/Spring) maintenance on my O'Day 28 since 1995. It is a cinch and I know it was done right. Replaced a heat exchanger and exhaust system too, also not hard if you are just a bit handy.