What's included
- Engine oil and filter changed warm, so the acids and water come out with it
- Raw-water side drained or run through with non-toxic propylene glycol antifreeze until it comes out pink
- Fuel stabilized and run through the system, cylinders fogged on gas engines where the maker calls for it
- Sterndrive or lower unit gear lube drained and checked for water, then refilled
- Fresh water tanks, water heater, faucets, shower and head winterized
- Batteries charged and disconnected, or pulled if you want them home
- A short written list of anything worth fixing before spring
The $150 visit fee is credited to the job. You get the price in writing before any work starts.
Every engine type is a little different
Gas sterndrives and inboards
MerCruiser, Volvo Penta and Crusader blocks have several drain points, and they're not in the same place on every engine. Brad drains every block, manifold and cooler point on the engine's drain map, or runs antifreeze through on muffs, and confirms each path runs pink. Antifreeze alone without checking the drain map is how blocks crack.
Outboards
Gear lube changed with a milky-lube check, fuel stabilized or drained, fogged, and the engine trimmed down so water drains out of the gearcase and exhaust. Brad notes the impeller for spring if it's due.
Jet boats and personal watercraft
Jet pumps and PWCs each have their own sequence (flush, drain, fog and stabilize). Open-loop and closed-loop cooling are handled differently, so Brad follows the maker's steps for your model.
Diesels and generators
Antifreeze goes on the raw-water side only. The closed cooling loop stays on its rated coolant. The generator gets winterized as its own system, with its own seacock, strainer, pump and wet exhaust. Oil, filters and fuel filters get done while the engine's warm.
Why it matters here: one hard freeze on a block that wasn't fully drained costs more than every winterization you'll ever pay for. Lake St. Clair boats sit through months below freezing.
At the slip, on the hard or in the driveway
Most of the job can be done at the slip before the marina hauls you, which gets it done before the yard backs up. Drive gear lube and anything below the waterline gets finished once the boat's out. Trailer boats get done in your driveway or storage lot. Read more in winterizing in the water vs. on the hard.
Found a problem at haul-out?
Cracked bellows, a weeping drive seal, a chewed-up prop or milky gear lube are common finds this time of year. Winter is the cheapest time to fix them. Brad sends photos and a written price, and nothing gets fixed without your OK. See the haul-out inspection checklist.
Book with your dock neighbors
If two or three boats on the same dock book together, Brad lines them up on the same trip. Text the slip numbers and he'll schedule them back to back.
Where Brad winterizes
- St. Clair Shores
- Harrison Township
- Grosse Pointe
- Detroit and the Detroit River
- New Baltimore and Chesterfield
- Algonac and Harsens Island
Common questions
Can you winterize my boat while it's still in the water?
Yes for the engine, fuel, fresh water and head on most boats. Brad winterizes at the slip before your marina hauls it, so it's done before the yard gets busy. Sterndrive gear lube and anything below the waterline gets finished once it's out, on the hard or on the trailer.
Do I need to be there?
No. Most owners leave keys with the marina or in a lockbox. You get a text when it's done, with anything Brad found that needs attention before spring.
What if you find a problem during winterization?
Brad tells you what he found with photos and a written price. Nothing gets fixed without your OK. Winter is the cheapest time to fix it because there's no rush.
When should I book?
Book as soon as you know your haul date. Most Lake St. Clair boats come out from mid-October into early November, and the calendar fills from the late dates backward.
Doing it yourself? Start with the sterndrive winterizing guide. Coming back in the spring? See spring commissioning.
Get on the winterization list
Text the year, make and engine, or a photo of the engine, and your haul date.