It was a sad weekend....

I tucked the '80 in for the Winter....

$600 for oil change, tune-up and winterization....

It's times like this I'm mad I'm not a boat mechanic, but glad I'm a financial rep!

Ron; I don't know where you live but I bet you could get me and Stang to come there and show you how to do this and for our trouble (read-free beer) it won't cost ya 600 large.

john

I actually enjoy putting the boat away for the winter. My dad and i have done it since i can remember. He taught me when i was 12...not very hard and saves a ton of $$$!

If you live near Minnesota, I would be glad to show you how to winterize your boat. We've been doing this for twenty years and we are definitely not boat mechanics. The previous posters are right; this is not a complicated procedure. $600.00 is way too much; although perhaps this includes storage for the winter.

I'd be happy to attend an "out of water" reunion in the fall to have someone show me the ins-and-outs of winterizing....and summerizing! I'd much rather put the $200 that I pay for winterizing, and another $100 for summerizing towards some other boat related thing. Do it on a Sunday that the Pats are playing. Maybe mid to late October (this time of year). Sort of like a working tailgating party.

Wow, I'm speechless....I know the winterization part of that cost was like $295....the other $300 (for the oil change and 'tune-up')- I guess I have know idea.

Maybe they meant 'tune up' the amount they were charging me since I am (or at least WAS) clueless....

Anyway thanks for the heads up, maybe next fall, I'll at least get in touch with you guys, winterize myself, and ship you some beer!!!

how much for future reference SHOULD it cost to pay a 'professional' to do it??

ski nau-geek,
At the moment, I pay $200 to have it professionally winterized. It includes oil and tranny fluids, filters, fuel stabilizer and fogging oil. And of course all of the labor a$$cociated with the draining process. My boat spends the winter in Maine, in an unheated garage. Temps reach in the sub-zero range at least once or twice a winter. I currently pay for peace of mind. Will it be that way forever, who knows....probably until I take the initiative to learn the process myself. The byproduct of taking it to the dealer for this service is that they really get to know your boat. You become a true "customer" of theirs. This comes in handy when you call in for some support on questionable problem with the boat.

If you can follow what is being discussed in this thread, then take a crack (no pun intended) at winterizing your baby. If not, then cut the check for $200:
Winterizing

I appreciate it guys-thanks!

Just winterized mine yesterday. For a grand total of $16, two gallons of antifreeze. I'll add stabilizer and top off the tank this weekend. I don't fog, never have in the 16 years I've owned my boat. With the belt off the raw pump, I crank my boat about once a month and let it run for about 5 seconds. That lubes everything in the motor.

still not time to winterize yet been waiting to get that one last ski ride in for the year. Been busy, I don't do it this week end. I don't think I will find two people to go with me.

Brian,

Thanks for rubbing it in! I put my boat away last weekend, the duck blind is now out and after that when the lake freezes we bring out the hockey nets, we might have you on the last one!