Leaving Yamaha in water over winter

[jman]

Thinking about leaving an AR190 in the water all winter long if I can't find a boat lift in time. Plan to use it every couple of weeks. Anything I should do to make sure the boat doesn't get destroyed? Any precautions or things I should be worried, look out for? Is Winterizing required, since I'll be using it? I'm in Northern California and while it sometimes gets cold. Normally doesn't freeze. Thanks.

 

[OrangeTJ]

What water would you be leaving it in, specifically? In most of California, sitting in the water for the winter is probably not any harder on the boat than it is in the summer. It may actually be less hard on it since less stuff will be growing on the hull. It will be a mess below the water line when you take it out but probably not anything that can't be cleaned up. The hardest part, in my opinion, is going to be keeping the interior dry and mold-free.

 

[swatski]

Cool weather, less growth, but I would keep an eye on steering linkages, pumps etc. for excessive growth. It's not going to be pretty when you pull that hull out after few months in a wet slip. Also, I would expect major performance loss.

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[swatski]

If you have access to shore power, I would keep the batteries on a charger, and use a small engine heater (I use Pali brand) in the engine bay, that way you are minimizing the risk of freezing damage.

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[anmut]

These boats are leaky AF - I would make sure you have a back up bilge pump and keep your batteries on a float charger.

 

[Julian]

These boats are leaky AF - I would make sure you have a back up bilge pump and keep your batteries on a float charger.

Some of these boats are....not all. My 230 was dry....my 242x....not bad....I get more water through the cover and into the bilge than from leaks (know this from being on a lift in the rain)