De-Winterizing Questions.

[BigDaddy&LittleMama]

Hey guys i have a few questions that hopefully yall can help me with? Out tri-toon was new to us last year and we are also new to boating. At the end of summer last year we filled her up with premium fuel and parked her, with full intentions of getting back out and putting in some fuel stabilizer. Well never mad it back out to do that and we are starting to warm up in Kansas. I was thinking about bringing her home this week-end and start cleaning her up and getting ready for summer. By the way the engine is a 150 Johnson outboard. Any suggestions on what i need to do to get the motor ready? Where would i find these muff things to be able to start her up at the house. Also thanks for the pontoon guide adjustment advise to another poster as i have the same problem loading in this damn Kansas wind. Any insight from all will be greatly appreciated.

[BigDaddy&LittleMama]

obviously forgot to use spell checker.

[HandymanHerb]

Just hit edit and spell check, took care of it for you

Welcome glad to have you with us

[smltooner]

You can find the "muff things" at WalMart.

[lakerunner]

Don't buy the POS plastic ones. Get the kind with spring steel frame

[Woody]

Maybe I got lucky, but I've had a set of the p.o.s. plastic ones for several years.

[WaltF]

Maybe I got lucky, but I've had a set of the p.o.s. plastic ones for several years.

Me too...

[GXPWeasel]

I have both. The cheapo ones that are smaller and round, ( but still large enough to cover the intakes ) I keep on the boat, and the nice larger rectangular ones that I keep at the house, for startups before we go out.

As for your de-winterizing, I didn't have to do a thing. I did add fuel stabilizer last year though at the end of the season when I winterized, and my boat started right up the first turn of the key this spring. Also, you may check other post on here, but I've heard you always want to put 87 octane in a boat, especially an outboard, but maybe that's for me and my 2 stroke. This is because of the ethanol.

Good luck getting her wet this spring, and just remember to take it slow the first few times, and you'll get the hang of it.

[JohnO]

Seems as good a place to ask this as any.

I had the boat winterized last year, 3/4 tank of fuel, stabil etc.

Took it out a couple times so far and I'm getting to the bottom of the tank. The motor would run well and then sputter and seem to lose power for a bit, then run well again.

I'm assuming it's the old gas as everything else seems to be OK.

Once I get a fill up (the gas dock was closed last time I got out) is there anything else I should add to the tank or that I should check?

[tkrein]

check your water seperator. i think you are suppose too change them every season just a thought but yes put some new fuel in see if that takes care of the problem. also you could add some kind of octane booster not sure. but that is what i would do maybe some one can shed some light on that. anyway new fuel and new water seperator. thats all i did this year fresh fuel and changed theseperator.

[trott46]

I would fill up with 93 octane and also add a can of seafoam. Sounds like bad fuel or clogged carbs. Also make sure you change your water /fuel seperator. Also if it is a 2 stroke put in some new spark plugs. I know its overkill but i change mineevery years as two strokes are not as easy on plugs as 4 strokes./

[onthelaketwo]

JohnO

I second the suggestion to change the fuel filter and add a can of seafoam.

If you know how to do it yourself the price of fuel filter is almost nothing.

[FloterBoter]

i wouldn't run that old stale fuel. i would siphon it into gas cans and run it through
one of my trucks, like 5 gals to 20 gals fresh. then i'd put fresh fuel into the boat,
stabilize it and go. you could leave about 1/5 tank in the boat and top off with fresh.

your situation is the exact reason why i stabilize every drop of fuel that i use in any
engine other than the trucks. mechanic friend warned me over and over to do it,
many years ago i didn't listen and paid the price when i varnished up an engine.
fuel is so expensive, the sta-bil costs about nothing. and disregard the comments
you'll get about red residue, just read the label and actually measure it.

i also run techron through the boat once or twice a season. twice a year through all
the vehicles.

[margaritaman]

I use two of the red 12 gallon tanks and fill up only what I think I would use for the day. At the end of the day I pump it out and put it in my truck. I use fresh fuel everytime I go out so I don't have to worry too much about the ethanol problem although I still use an additive on the fuel. I learned an expensive lesson last year when I had to rebuild my carbs twice due to the water accumulating in the tank even though I had a water a good water filter.

[lakerunner]

Well keep your POS plastic muffs if you want but I tell you they won't hold up when you take off down the drive with hose hooked to them and attached to motor.