Winterizing a 200V

[trsulliv]

Hi, I just bought a 2015 200v with a 409 and I am starting to think about winterizing the boat - yeah, I know it's early to think about winterizing. It does have the heater for the driver seat. Thanks.

[Nautiquehunter]

'' I am starting to think about winterizing the boat'' You should be thinking moving south we are just getting started here.

[bturner]

Ah geez it's not getting to that time already is it? This has to be one the the lamest summers up here for us in quite some years. Cold spring, rainy summer and now cops patrolling the lake in force for some reason.

Noticed the sun light hitting the water creating that "fall" glitter effect in the morning along with some "fall like" clouds in the afternoon. Boat traffic was down considerably as well but that could be because the cop was out pulling over one boat after another. I actually got pulled over for driving in the wrong direction. Mind you there were only about 4 boats on the lake at the time and not a one within a 1/4 mile. He actually came across the lake to talk to me. To his credit I got a warning and he was very polite and professional. After that encounter we decided today was not the day to go surfing and left the boards on the racks.

Back on topic..... I'll admit I'll start prepping for winter layup about now. It never hurts to do your research on how to with your new rig and I believe the 409 has a hybrid cooling system BICBW. This will be my third season winterizing my 200V. I have the 343 so probably going to be quite a bit different with the engine but some will be the same. The big thing I learned that helped a lot was that you can quickly remove the center vertical back seat cushion which exposes the front of the engine and the ballast pumps. Don't know what information you're looking for so I'll leave this post at that.

[amaaraba]

How do you remove the center back seat?


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[bturner]

Don't have the boat at home as it's on my lift at the BIL's house but I can vaguely describe it.

Open all three hatches to let in light so you can see what you're doing. From the center hatch look at the top, back of the center cushion. You'll see about 4 or 5 studs going through the framing into the middle rear cushion. Can't remember if there were wing nuts or just nuts but you take those off and the cushion will come out if I recall correctly. It's not near as bad as it sounds and opens up the entire area at the back of the engine where the trans and engine mount. You'll also have complete access to all three pumps.

To winterize the ballast system I pull the intake side hose off at the pump and use a length of hose inserted in a bucket with a gallon of RV Antifreeze. Turn the pump on to fill and it will suck a gallon in, in seconds. Do that to the two other pumps, disconnect / remove the piggyback bags and the ballast system is winterized. This also gives you very clear access to the strainer. Remove the strainer, dump it out, clean it out, lube the threads and O ring with some silicone grease, reinstall and that's done. I'll then wash the back area of the engine, the pumps and bilge with boat wash, wipe it all down, reassemble and the entire back of the engine and bilge area is done. Combine this with draining the block, the cooling system per the owner's manual, the heater system, then fill the block and heater with antifreeze and you've completed winterizing all of the "wet systems". All in I probably have about an hour and a half to two hours into this depending on how fast I'm trying to work or if I decide to clean more.