Winterizing Costs.....

[Chief Engineer]

I was down in Annapolis and just for the halibut I picked up various "flyers" for winterizing boats.....Unbelievable!!!!!!!!

Winterize a diesel $160.00 plus Materials
Oil and Filter $135.00 plus materials
Fresh water system $165.00 plus materials
Head (per) $65.00 plus materials
Air Conditioner $80.00
Air Conditioner Pump $65.00

(This is an average of the 4 flyers I picked up)

ANd the one thing that made me laugh was when they said spring commisioning was free......sure buddy and "I gotta bridge I'd like to sell ya"

I find it unbelievable that people will pay this amount.

My winterizing costs to the customer don't even come close.....
but then again I have a lot of repeat customers over the years

[FrankZ]

But do you charge extra for Spring commissioning?

[irwinsailor]

I use 20 gallons of RV antifreeze and a air compressor. Plus oil change. It takes me about 4 hours to do it all.

[GordMay]

FWIW:
Four hours at a "yard" rate of $85/Hr = $340 ...

[irwinsailor]

Using the rates above it would cost me $960 plus materials to do my boat.

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by irwinsailor

I use 20 gallons of RV antifreeze and a air compressor. Plus oil change. It takes me about 4 hours to do it all.

Wow, that's a lot of antifreeze. I use less than 2 gallons of RV antifreeze and one gallon of engine antifreeze. I use to use a lot more RV antifreeze but now I drain and by-pass the hot water tank. In the spring without the antifreeze in the hot water tank you can clear the fw system of antifreeze a lot faster.

[irwinsailor]

About 10 gallons go into the engine and generator I run more through them than I need to but it is cheep insurance. the rest goes in the AC, washdown and shower sumps etc. I blow out the water system and drain the water heater.

[Vasco]

Gunner,

I've always used automotive AF in my engine but notice many are now using the RV stuff. Looking at the cost of the automotive stuff I think I'm going to switch next year. Have you heard of any problems with the Rv stuff in an engine?

[sandy daugherty]

A friend was told that marine antifreeze in the engine side of his FWC was preferred because of its anticorrosion properties. I wonder if there were other reasons too.

[sandy daugherty]

Many owners who paid for winterizing in the past are considering doing it themselves this year. We are spending a lot more time explaining how to do it, and some of these guys really shouldn't.

As far as what is charged for winterizing in the Annapolis area, ask yourself this: What hasn't gotten more expensive lately? What makes you think that the guys doing this work don't pay the same cost of living you do? No one around here is getting rich doing winterizations.

[Vasco]

The anti corrosion is the only reason I use it but I'm in fresh water and wonder if it's really needed.

[Sandero]

I don't do much in the way of winterizing as I remain in wet storage. I do an oil change and filter, primary fuel filter and two Racors in the manifold, I replace the tranny oil, replace and put anti freeze in fresh water side and in the raw water system. I take a sample of the engine oil for testing. The yard charges $500 for all the above. I let them do this because they have a great mechanic and I like him looking over the engine. I think he can notice things I don't. So I get a good mechanic to check out the engine and all the above for $500 - expensive, but money well spent.

At the end of December I will empty out the water tanks and dump some anti freeze in the head.

[Charlie]

I spent about $2000 winterizing my boat. I sailed her from Astoria Oregon to SF and then from SF to San Diego. I could have saved $1000 by keeping her in SF but San Diego is warmer.

[Vasco]

I went to the Chesapeake from Toronto one year and left my boat in Oxford for the winter. It was nice and warm in late September. About a month later it dawned on me that Oxford wasn't far south enough! Had to go down and move the boat to Oriental. Oxford was like a ghost town. Blue Jays were in the world series (shows how long ago this was) but we couldn't find a bar open to watch it.

[Chief Engineer]

Well I did a boat today, 2 Engines, Genset, 2 airconditioners, potable water system,
1 head, one ice maker.

Them..................................... Me
160 Engine .............................4 hours @ $80=$320
160 Engine ............................-60 Antifreeze $140
160 Genset............................. Potable lines blown out
165 Potable water....................with air inc shore water inlet
160 A/C
65 Head
65 A/C pump
60 Icemaker
140 Antifreeze

$1135.....................................$460.00