The Essential Boat Winterization

Step by step winterization on my 2006 Mastercraft X15 with the Indmar MCX 350 inboard engine. This video will show you how to fill the engine with antifreeze without warming up the motor or removing the thermostat. This is applicable to many inboard/outbard, ski, and wakeboard boats. I will also go through winterizing your ballast system and heater.
00:00 Intro
00:26 Fuel treatment
1:07 Draining water
4:07 Draining heater
5:35 Prep for antifreeze
7:02 Run antifreeze through engine
8:29 Checking that engine is full of antifreeze
9:33 Checking that heater is full of antifreeze
10:21 Ballast winterization
13:53 Corrosion protection and lubrication
15:00 Fogging the engine
16:34 Final thoughts

[@user-mn8fr5iz8m]

THIS IS A FANTASTIC VIDEO. Even if you don't winterize your own boat it is good to know what should be done to be able to double check that the marine tech that does your work does all the steps. And to understand your boat to check for leaks or problems the first time in the spring and periodically during the summer. I have owned and and been around inboard engine boats since 1970 with my fist Correct Craft Ski Nautique when I was an active water ski competitor. Now own Mastercraft 2007 X-14 with the MCX engine direct drive (center mount engine.) The comment regarding water pump and ballast pump impellors is excellent. I carry spares on the boat, including the gasket. Smear Vaseline or similar on impellor to make it easier to put back in. And it helps to remember with way the impellor comes out. I usually don't use antifreeze in engine since boat is stored in a garage. Instead, I leave the hoses open at winterization and re-attach in the spring. I do fog the engine. For the hard ballast tanks, I prefer to flush them in the spring to WHEN BOAT IS OUT OF THE LAKE using the clorox chlorine and water solution described in the video TO do my part TO STOP THE SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES into our waterways.

[@braddoesitall]

Thanks for the kind words! I like to keep antifreeze in the engine as it does prevent corrosion of the metal.

[@jefmichel4027]

Great tip showing how to check that block is full of antifreeze.

[@braddoesitall]

I appreciate you watching!

[@jefmichel4027]

@@braddoesitall While I normally just drain the block and call it good, I wanted to add antifreeze if I could find a way. Your video showed me just what I needed. Filled it up yesterday. Quick and easy. Thanks again.

[@sawabrus6271]

@@jefmichel4027did you do the test to see if the thermostat is full too ?

[@Johnnykirkpatty]

Fantastic video and incredibly thorough. Thanks Brad!

[@braddoesitall]

I really appreciate that!

[@CreativeMindPress]

Firstly, great video Brad, thank you very much! I can’t seem to find the ballast T tube you have at the back of your boat (2008 X2) so I suppose I have to drop AF down the thru hull fitting. Question: shouldn’t I somehow get the AF through the pumps for their preservation? Thx.

[@braddoesitall]

Since you don't have the T-tube at your manifold, you can just pour in extra antifreeze in your tanks. Then, turn on the pumps one by one to drain out the AF until you see a little come out. This will fill your manifold, pumps and hoses with AF. I pull the ballast pump impellers out as I show in the video, so they definitely don't hold any water over the winter.

[@CreativeMindPress]

@@braddoesitallthanks for the reply. Your video gave me the confidence to do my first winterization process ever. Hope you had a good summer on the water this year!

[@craigsanders9030]

What sizes are the clear hose and PVC pipe? Great video! Thank you!

[@braddoesitall]

I'll have to check, can't remember right off hand.

[@craigsanders9030]

​@@braddoesitallI called a MasterCraft store. They said it was 1.25 inch. I was surprised too when they said they only meticulously drain the water and don't use antifreeze! I am not that brave.​

[@craigsanders9030]

Thank you again! The instructions were easy to follow. I ended up going to an industrial pipe and hose store to get the clear plastic hose.

[@clarkgwozdecki6782]

06 is by fart the best year of this boat for shade tree mechanics to wrench on.

[@braddoesitall]

I agree, no touch screens to complicate things.

[@clarkgwozdecki6782]

@@braddoesitall MCX engine with no Cat exhaust or sensors is the main reason I like this boat.

[@joshsinclair8337]

Would you be willing to do an engine oil change video?

[@braddoesitall]

Yes, I would, but it wouldn't be until next year since my boat is put up for the winter now. The oil change is the same as a car except you will need to suck out the engine oil through the dipstick hole with an extractor pump. If your boat has a drain hose attached to the bottom of the oil pan, you can use this to drain the oil out instead of using an extractor. Just route the drain hose out of the rear drain plug opening and then open it up and drain into a pan. It is always quicker to drain or extract the oil when the engine is hot.

[@ryknowo9]

@@braddoesitall Will the prophecy be fulfilled?

[@braddoesitall]

Here you go: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eae2aaWGaLqkedU

[@tylarbestward6093]

Do your ballast pumps drain on the bottom of the boat? Do you run the pumps in fill and empty with anti-freeze in it?

[@braddoesitall]

My pumps drain out the side of the boat above the water line. I just run the pumps to fill the tanks. If you have check valves on the drain side of the pumps, it would be good to run the pumps to empty a little anti-freeze so that the check valves don't freeze. My boat has check valves, but I have never had a problem with them freezing.

[@joshkarg4790]

Brad, What oil do you run in the transmission? Is it the same 15w40 oil that is run in the engine?

[@braddoesitall]

Yes, same 15W40 that is used in the engine.

[@joshkarg4790]

@@braddoesitall Thank you. I run a 2007 X15 with MCX and love it. Great boat.

[@mattcarlson12]

I read a comment by a boat mechanic that said you didn't need to drain the water out of the engine first... but when you run the antifreeze through it, it will flush out that water and replace it with antifreeze. Is that accurate?

[@braddoesitall]

Yes, that is correct, but there is a downside to doing it that way. First, it will require you to run much more antifreeze through the engine to be sure all the water is pushed out. Second, I like draining the water each year because it will get rid of any rust and sediment that has settled into the bottom of the engine and exhaust manifolds.

[@mattcarlson12]

@@braddoesitall Ok thank you so much for your help! Winterizing my MasterCraft X-2 for the first time this year in Indiana! Wish me luck!

[@sawabrus6271]

Nothing comes out of my thermostat. What do you want me to do :) ?

[@sawabrus6271]

But my heater is full with AF

[@braddoesitall]

How much anti-freeze did you pour into your J-hose that you removed from the thermostat housing? Did the J-hose fill up completely without any AF coming out of the thermostat housing?

[@sawabrus6271]

Yes J-Hose is completely full with AF but nothing is coming out from the thermostat…i add i would say way more in to the J-Hose than you did in the video. But still noting is coming

[@sawabrus6271]

My boat is from 2009 maybe there is something a little bit different ?!

[@braddoesitall]

Did you add a pipe inside the J-hose to get it above the top of the thermostat housing? What model boat and what engine do you have?

[@toddr5732]

Don't just drain the water out without adding antifreeze. dont ask me how I know....

[@braddoesitall]

I agree.