My first boat... and Sea Ray

Hi Folks. I'm new to the boat-ownership game, but have been playing on & around the water all my life.

We will be closing on a condo unit at the Lake of the Ozarks in mid-December, and then take delivery of my new (to us) boat a couple days later: a 2008 Sea Ray 260 Sundeck. So in the middle of December, the dealer will splash the boat for my trial. Assuming, 1) all is well with the boat, and 2) the weather is typical for Central Missouri in the days leading up to Christmas, I'll likely head straight for our dock and get it up on the lift to winterize.

I've watched enough YouTube and lurked on this board long enough to learn, unsurprisingly, there are a variety of opinions on how to winterize. My inclination is to follow the process as detailed in the factory service manual. I know there are sources for these manuals online (and have downloaded #24), but I need some help verifying that I have the correct one. All I know at this point is that the engine is a 350 Mag with a BravoThree drive in a boat manufactured in January, 2008.

edit: I should add that I am pretty mechanically inclined - more so than the average bear (don't want to come off as bragging - just letting it be known that I know my way around engines). Hence my desire to verify the factory-prescribed procedure.

Any coaching is sincerely appreciated.

I would suggest finding a marina mechanic who follows the factory checklist...It's not that hard to do.
Welcome to the Sea Ray family, they are great boats.

Welcome aboard. The first thing to do would be to get some dirt on that engine, bilge and outdrive. You are embarrassing us.

GRod, are you related to ARod? JK

Welcome to CSR and congratulations on your new boat. Now we sorta have a rule here on CSR that without photos of the boat, the area where you boat and your family using the boat, well, it didn't happen.

JK, but we all do like to see photos of other guy's boats.

Welcome good luck with both purchases...sounds like a good summer coming up

Lots of threads on here about winterizing.

Best of luck and welcome to CSR!

Welcome and Good Luck with both!
Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for the replies and the warm welcome, folks. At this point the only photos I have are from the dealer's website (which are nice, but I need to get some of my own once it's on the water).

And no... I'm afraid I'm not related to the ARod everybody knows. If I were, I'd be looking at something a little bigger than a 260. I am, however, related to a lesser-known ARod -- Son #3 is called Alec. Maybe he will become notorious someday as well.

I'm hoping someone can help me figure out if I have the right factory service manual in hand...

bobeast said:

Welcome aboard. The first thing to do would be to get some dirt on that engine, bilge and outdrive. You are embarrassing us.

Click to expand...

There....he said it! lol!

Groucho said:

I would suggest finding a marina mechanic who follows the factory checklist...It's not that hard to do.
Welcome to the Sea Ray family, they are great boats.

Click to expand...

Welcome aboard... Say hi to Marty and Wendy Byrde for us...