The sailing season is coming to an end and during the summer months you have been able to enjoy your boat and outboard motor. Time to prepare your outboard motor for winter. During the winter the outboard motor is used little or not at all, so it is wise to ensure that your motor survives the winter well. We explain how.
Why prepare your outboard motor for winter season?
It is important to winterize your outboard motor after the boating season has ended. This is especially important if you rarely or never sail in the winter. Naturally, you want to use your outboard motor again immediately at the start of the new sailing season. Preparing an outboard motor for winter ensures that damage to parts and the engine is prevented. If you store your outboard motor immediately without maintaining it after the sailing season, this can cause damage due to oxidation and anodes that are eaten away. You may also experience engine and fuel problems. In short, preparing your outboard motor for winter ensures a smooth start in the spring and a longer lifespan for your engine.
Preparing the outboard motor for winter
At Outboard Occasions you can schedule maintenance from September to February. This is how your outboard motor is prepared for winter. This way you can get back on the water after the winter period with peace of mind and a working outboard motor. To prepare your outboard motor for winter, you can opt for a minor maintenance service or a major maintenance service. We carry out the important actions below.
1 Replace filters
It is important to check filters and replace them after each season. That is why we replace the oil filter and the petrol filter. We do this during minor and major maintenance. An unchecked filter that is dirty can cause damage to the engine and fuel tank.
2 Change engine oil
Before the new sailing season we change the engine oil and remove the old oil. Old oil can damage the inside of the engine. That is why this is a crucial part of the minor and major maintenance for preparing your outboard motor for winter.
3 Change tail oil
We also change the tail oil for you during our minor and major maintenance. Old tail oil can contain water, which causes damage. That is why it is important to carry out major or minor maintenance before the new sailing season, so that we can check this for you.
4 Lubricate pivot points
We lubricate all important pivot points of the outboard motor using a filled grease gun. This way the pivot points remain smooth and working. We do this action during minor and major maintenance.
5 Check cooling
We check the cooling water system of the outboard motor. If you sailed on salt water last sailing season, this can cause limescale and corrosion. To prevent this, we flush the system with fresh water. We do this during minor and major maintenance.
Would you like to make an appointment for a maintenance service at Outboard Occasions to prepare your outboard motor for winter? Then do this by completing the appointment form.
6 Check spark plugs
We check the spark plugs during the major maintenance service. We check whether the spark plugs are working properly and whether the contact points are still intact. If not, new spark plugs will be required. If the spark plugs are only dirty, we clean them completely.
7 Replace impeller
We replace the impeller during our major maintenance. The impeller is responsible for transporting cooling water. It is important to have us replace the impeller regularly, because it is very sensitive to wear. The rule of thumb for this is that we replace the impeller after approximately 100 operating hours.
8 Check anodes
Checking and, where necessary, replacing the anodes is also part of our major maintenance. The purpose of the anode is to prevent metal corrosion. Therefore, it must be replaced in time. We also check the anodes in the cooling channels and replace them where necessary.
Would you like to know what else is done during a major maintenance service, or would you like to make an appointment in advance for a major maintenance service to prepare your outboard motor for winter? Then go to our Repairs and maintenance page.
Actions you can do yourself to prepare your outboard motor for winter
Do you have a 2-stroke outboard motor? Then you can drain all the fuel from the carburetor after the end of the sailing season. You must then clean the carburetor thoroughly. If you do not have a carburetor, you can remove the fuel from the engine just before winter storage. Fuel that is four or more weeks old can no longer be used. Old fuel can cause a non-working engine at the beginning of the sailing season.
You can also clean the outside of your outboard motor. Inspect crevices and moving parts for debris and remove if found. This way you prevent damage to your outboard motor.
Have your outboard motor prepared for winter by Outboard Occasions
If you want to be sure that your outboard motor is thoroughly and professionally checked, have your outboard motor winterized by Outboard Occasions. We ensure that your outboard motor is completely ready for the new sailing season. We are an authorized workshop with professionals who know what they are doing. It is useful to be able to show that your outboard motor has always been professionally maintained. This is also very useful for guarantees.
Winter storage at Outboard Occasions
The boating season is over and you want to store your outboard motor for the winter. You do not have winter storage yourself. In that case, you can contact Outboard Occasions. You can use our winter storage for outboard motors. This way you no longer have to worry about your outboard motor until the new sailing season arrives. You can use our winter storage for a rate of only €35 per season. Please contact us if you are interested in this.
