Welcome to the second part in our series on simple steps to take for getting your boat ready for its winter rest period. The previous article introduced the importance of changing the oil and flushing the engine before you pack your boat away for the winter.
To protect engine internal components from rust and corrosion, remove the engine air cleaner or flame arrestor and spray a lightweight oil down the carburetor with the engine running. Shut off the fuel supply with the fuel valve or pinch off the fuel line to burn the remaining fuel in the carburetor or fuel-injection system. On engines with carburetors, the main jets are so small that even a tiny amount of fuel left in the carburetor can gum them up. You need to remove the carburetor drain plug to extract all of the fuel.
When the engine stops, pull the spark plugs and squirt a small amount of lightweight oil into the cylinders. Rotate the engine a few times to ensure a good oil coating of cylinder walls and reinstall the plugs. An alternative is to disable the ignition and turn the engine over while spraying a lightweight oil down the carburetor.
Following these boat winterizing procedures can reduce the chances of your boat developing problems while idled in winter storage and ensure a smooth start-up in the spring.