Why pay to have winterization done?

[glocklt4]

Besides that they do it all the time or that you just don't have time to, why would you pay to have your boat winterized by a dealer? I'm more specifically concerned with a smaller single engine boat with open bow (like my 200 sport). I understand paying if you have a 40ft dual diesel up north, haha.

The cost of winterizing via dealer seems ridiculous for what they do:

1) Change oil & filter - $40 (should take 15 minutes since i have a drain hose built in)
2) Add fuel stabilizer - $8 (if this is difficult for you, you shouldn't fill up your tank yourself anyway, ha)
3) Flush engine with anti-freeze - $20 (seems pretty straight forward except I'm not going to pay $50 for a bottle kit - my salt water fish stuff uses the same 5 gallon jugs i've seen with just a hose set attached)
4) Change drive lube - $10 (from video at West Marine, this seems very easy to do too with a pump)
5) Change fuel filter - $10 (maybe the most dangerous part, but still should be basic)

So I'm expecting $88 worth (already picked up all parts except anti-freeze as of now). I do lots of work to my corvette and other cars I've owned, so maybe I'm just more adventurous and experienced in these kinds of things than others who are willing to pay...?

Also I haven't winterized before, just bought my first boat in July, so maybe I'm missing something hard to do??

Thanks for your comments! I am planning to winterize this weekend as of now.


EDIT: Forgot to mention Fogging oil... picking that up today.

 

[dpvandy01]

Continuity or service/maintenance records for resale (dealer maintained since new) , piece of mind, and time... + some things I chalk up to "cost of ownership". Don't get me wrong, I can do a bunch of the little stuff, but I have a good relationship with my dealer (boy that sounds bad) and I trust them. I handle the cosmetics (wash, wax, detailing) but the mechanics........ rather leave that to the professionals :thumbsup:

 

[glocklt4]

Continuity or service/maintenance records for resale (dealer maintained since new) , piece of mind, and time... + some things I chalk up to "cost of ownership". Don't get me wrong, I can do a bunch of the little stuff, but I have a good relationship with my dealer (boy that sounds bad) and I trust them. I handle the cosmetics (wash, wax, detailing) but the mechanics........ rather leave that to the professionals :thumbsup:

Hehe gotcha. I consider myself a good mechanic, so since I'm not worried about records for resale and I enjoy doing mechanical work to my vehicles, I don't think this should be that big a deal, so far . Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[Ken@dockside]

Well yes I have to say that doing some of the work yourself is good but, As boats get bigger, things get more complicated. Now you have generators, a/c units, and water systems. And now you have to dispose of the waste oil as well.
Getting them done at a shop is a better way to go. Let the shop be responsible if something goes wrong.
Every spring I get customers that missed a drain plug or something they didnt do everything properly then come into the shop to get repairs done becouse they cracked a block or manifold. Not cheep.
Also, now you have a record on file of all the work done to you vessel.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[Sundancer]

I do my own because it takes less time. If I hitch up, take it to the dealer, unhitch and drive home. I have to go back, hitch up, drive home and unhitch it and it's USUALLY not the same day. Also I can winterize when I deem necessary, not based on the schedule that dealer has available. I can do parts of it one weekend and the rest of it some other time. Or, I can just do it all at once while the oil is draining from the outdrives or getting sucked up from the engines. I agree, it's a piece of cake and the only part that has me cussing is that fact that the mechanic and previous owners didn't put in remote oil filters! They are located on the aft bottom portside of each engine and I can't even see them. It's a mess pulling them off, but not impossible. The rest is just a saturday afternoon sitting on the boat in the driveway listening to a college football game while reminiscing about the past year and anticipating the upcoming season. Cost of items to do it myself is around $120 or so. Cost to have the dealer do it all is around $500 to $800 depending on how much of the system I let them touch.

There is less frustration on my part wondering WHEN the dealer is going to call and have me pick it up and I'm not worrying about a cold snap while it's in their care. Sure, they quick drain the blocks but they don't do the hot or cold water. Besides, most of it is so simple even a caveman could do it! :grin:

 

[VTSeaRay]

Couple items missing on your list, are plugs every so often, greasing the trailer bearings and fogging spray. I've done mine for the past 8-9 yrs on my 185, and have all the tools to do it, and with my new boat, it's even easier (remote oil hose, easier to get to the water drains). But, it was only $100 or so more to have the dealer do it, and I've frozen my fingers to many times in the past doing this. (We got 2-12" of snow the other day up in this area, and it's near 32 most of the time here now)

-VtSeaRay

 

[hack4alivin]

Continuity or service/maintenance records for resale (dealer maintained since new) , piece of mind, and time... + some things I chalk up to "cost of ownership". Don't get me wrong, I can do a bunch of the little stuff, but I have a good relationship with my dealer (boy that sounds bad) and I trust them. I handle the cosmetics (wash, wax, detailing) but the mechanics........ rather leave that to the professionals :thumbsup:

I agree with you 100 percent. With the kind of financial investment we have in our boats, I would rather spend a little more and have “the pros” do the work, as well as having it documented also. The warranty still has several years left so no need to chance that as well. Like you I have a great relationship with my dealer and service department.

 

[comsnark]

Wow. Those winterization costs seem like chump change to me! The local people charge a few MULTIPLES of that up in the North East.

 

[Bottom Line]

I do change my oil and oil filters as well as fuel filters. I pay to have the engines, generator, air conditioner and water system winterized. As I become more knowledgeable, I may attempt the winterization...but right now I view it kind of like insurance....if something was done incorrectly....the marina is responsible.

 

[Overextended]

I paid someone to teach me along time ago, now I do everything myself and with the mindset that I know it was done right and not half-a**ed.

 

[glocklt4]

I paid someone to teach me along time ago, now I do everything myself and with the mindset that I know it was done right and not half-a**ed.

This is a good point. When I bought my boat in July I paid to have someone check it all out. He helped me out a lot as far as what needs attention on the boat and what all to check on a used boat. About 2+ hours of work checking all the cylinder pressures, plugs, prop alignment, and other systems... and he was only $50 too!!!

 

[glocklt4]

Couple items missing on your list, are plugs every so often, greasing the trailer bearings and fogging spray. I've done mine for the past 8-9 yrs on my 185, and have all the tools to do it, and with my new boat, it's even easier (remote oil hose, easier to get to the water drains). But, it was only $100 or so more to have the dealer do it, and I've frozen my fingers to many times in the past doing this. (We got 2-12" of snow the other day up in this area, and it's near 32 most of the time here now)

-VtSeaRay

Ah yes, forgot to mention fogging the engine. And good point about checking up on the trailer too. I would bet that a boat dealer would charge extra to even glance a peek at your trailer too though. I do think I have a bearing going out on one wheel though since I notice it angles a bit when i take a tight turn.

Plugs I consider normal maintenance and not really winterization, although it's definitely a good time to check them. I don't know of any reason that plugs on a boat should last less time than those on a car, so a couple seasons at least per set.

Thanks for the additional items input!

 

[glocklt4]

Well yes I have to say that doing some of the work yourself is good but, As boats get bigger, things get more complicated. Now you have generators, a/c units, and water systems. And now you have to dispose of the waste oil as well.
Getting them done at a shop is a better way to go. Let the shop be responsible if something goes wrong.
Every spring I get customers that missed a drain plug or something they didnt do everything properly then come into the shop to get repairs done becouse they cracked a block or manifold. Not cheep.
Also, now you have a record on file of all the work done to you vessel.
Just my 2 cents.

I agree with you on a larger boat. A lot more invested and a lot more to do to it that you want to have help. However if you had a smaller boat like me without all the extra systems, would you change your stance?

 

[Against The Wind]

Every spring I get customers that missed a drain plug or something they didnt do everything properly then come into the shop to get repairs done becouse they cracked a block or manifold. Not cheep.

Admiral works at a Storage/Winterization, service dealer here near Buffalo, They do approx 10 engine blocks a year here due to DIY Mistakes, along with other little mishaps...
A Suggestion is to make a check list before starting the process and double check when you "think" your done, I always did my own like that until we move up to the 330, with a/c, icemaker, 3 sinks, 2 engines etc.... and most shops will summerize that is included, checking other things like batteries, bilge pumps etc... Good luck.....

 

[fwebster]

The key missing ingredient on the $88 list is removing the outdrive and checking its alignment. I guess you only have to buy the alignment tool once. Can you get to the grease fittings on the u-joints and are there grease fittings on your coupler without pulling the outdrive? Can you reseal the outdrive if you find milky oil?

I do all my own maintenance and its a good bit more involved than with a single gas i/o, so I understand the do it yourself logic. My point is to be thourough and do everything if you are not going to use a dealership for winterizing and annual service needs.

 

[sbw1]

At 6' 4" I do not fit in the bilge very easily. It's hard to just check the oil on the mains and genny. The guy who does my work is about 5'6".

 

[Luckydogs]

I do all of the winterizing on the mains, gen, water system etc...., but I let the pros do the outdrives; pull and grease, align, impellars, having the bellows and trim sensors replaced this year.

 

[Air O'Nautical]

If you have the skill and tools go for it, save the money.
If you don't, pay for it. Winterizing is an easy job for the pros.
Mark.

 

[glocklt4]

The key missing ingredient on the $88 list is removing the outdrive and checking its alignment. I guess you only have to buy the alignment tool once. Can you get to the grease fittings on the u-joints and are there grease fittings on your coupler without pulling the outdrive? Can you reseal the outdrive if you find milky oil?

I do all my own maintenance and its a good bit more involved than with a single gas i/o, so I understand the do it yourself logic. My point is to be thourough and do everything if you are not going to use a dealership for winterizing and annual service needs.

The alignment was checked 3 months ago when I purchased the boat. Is that something that needs to be checked each year?

To me there is "winterizing", and then there is maintenance. Certain things need to be done before letting the boat sit like my $88 list, but then there are mechanical maintenance things that need to be checked at intervals as well (like outdrive alignment, spark plugs, etcc...), but not necessarily need to be done before putting it away... Maybe it's more standard to do those other things when doing the winterizing because your boat is usually stored in the water or whatever.

 

[Woody]

The only thing I want the pros to do is take care of engines and drives. I don't have any interest anymore in doing that kind of stuff. After trying 3 different shops I found one that I was satisfied with. Unfortunately they have become a casualty of the current economic mess. It would be nice to think only crappy places will be hurt but we'll lose some good ones also, that's a shame.