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I may have to put 4 Havin' Fun up for 18 - 24 months. Any idea or tips. I am undecided as to weather I should remove the batteries or leav them in and having my wife hook up the shore power cable I made and keep them charged. I also don't know about the Motor. Should I drain all the fluids or just have it started every so often. I was thinking it should run occasionally that way the seals don't dry out. I will remove the sails and running rigging and tarping it off. Any tips would be appreciated.

My 99 26X ( 'IWALANI) has been stored since Sept. 03. I jacked up the trailer and took the tires off and put them in the garage, then set the axle down on wood blocks. I made sure the boat was still tilted to allow proper drainage of the cockpit. I took my bearings out and replaced the right side since the seal had failed and water got in there. You may or may not have to, but checking and re-packing is a good idea. When I walk by her, I take my foot and give the hubs a spin to spread the grease and keep the bearings from sitting in one spot. I have a small trickle charger on the batteries and plugged into the garage. Inside I opened all the storage areas for air to circulate. In the winter, I put a small heater inside set to low ( it has a thermostat) to prevent mold and condensation. My engine is a 50 hp Mariner Big Foot. I changed the fluids before storing, and again in the spring. I run it once a month, and have added Stabil to the gas tank. I don't fill the tank up, but I replace the gas every 3 months. I've had it washed and waxed a couple of times, and cover with a tarp. I've left the mast and furler on, makes a good ridge pole. I wrapped bubblewrap around the mast light and sharp edges to keep them from tearing up the tarp. I have had no problems starting the engine and the batteries seem fine too.

The only thing I would do differently than the others is to winterize the engine, per the book, change the fluids, fog the cylinders, then leave it alone. I think starting it once a month just so you can run it at no load is way harder on it than just leaving it alone.

Starting in cold weather is doubly damaging, as something over 95% of total engine wear occurs in the first seconds of a cold weather start.

IMO running the engine periodically on a steady diet of gasoline with stabilizer is also a particularly bad idea. If you're going to store it more than a month or so, disconnect the fuel lines at the tank and run the entire fuel system dry. Skip the stabilitzer, and pour what's left of the gas in the lawnmower, or (as in my case) the snowblower.

Chip Hindes wrote: If you're going to store it more than a month or so, disconnect the fuel lines at the tank and run the entire fuel system dry. Skip the stabilitzer, and pour what's left of the gas in the lawnmower, or (as in my case) the snowblower.

I use a fuel tank with a small amount of gas and stabilizer. With that mix, I then run the fuel system dry. As the engine starts to stall, I spray fogger into the carburator. I then remove each spark plug and spray fogger into the cylinders. I rotate the engine by hand and spray again. I read somewhere that keeping weight off the tires is important so I jackup the boat and put jack stands under the axil.

I change the lower unit grease because water there could freeze and cause damage.

I'll store the battery in the garage and a couple of times during the off season recharge it with a trickle charger.

I'll put one of these inside West Marine:
.

I'll also put mouse poision inside.

And as Bill says:

Bill at BOATS 4 SAIL wrote:Put a roll of toilet paper aboard. If you get mice aboard, there is a good chance they will make a nest out of that instead of your cushions or sails.

BoatSafe.com wrote:Outboard Engine(s) - Flush engine with fresh water using flush muffs or similar device attached to the raw water pickup. Let all water drain from the engine. Wash engine down with soap and water and rinse thoroughly. Disconnect fuel hose and run engine until it stops. It is important to follow a step by step process to make sure that all fuel is drained from the carburetor to prevent build-up of deposits from evaporated fuel. Use fogging oil in the cylinders to lubricate the cylinder walls and pistons. Apply water resistant grease to propeller shaft and threads. Change the gear oil in the lower unit. Lightly lubricate the exterior of the engine or polish with a good wax.
Change the fuel filter(s) and water separator(s).

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/winteriz.htm

I'm not sure what a water separator is or whether a typical outboard has one.

Some more info;
http://www.iboats.com/basics/guide_winterization.html

iboats wrote:On carbureted outboard motors, if the motor is to be stored for any length of time more than one off-season you really SHOULD drain the carburetor float bowls.

You might want to drain that carb.

I'm not sure what a water separator is or whether a typical outboard has one.

Here is a typical separator... they prevent water getting to the motor, such as from condensation in the tank, contaminated fuel, etc.

I've seen folks mount them inside the cockpit lockers. I don't have one (yet) but I have been seriously considering one as I have a built-in 18-gallon tank and consequently am more likely to have a problem.

Oh, and as regards little mousies... there's natural way to prevent them from roaming about - or at least, one that has worked for us. It seems that mice *hate* the scent of Osage Oranges... you know, those gross-looking greenish-yellow knobbly fruit that drop from the Osage (Maclura pomifera) trees? They are also sometimes called "Hedge Apples" Here's a pic:

We cut them in half and lay them on a plate in our garage... helps keep the mice at bay. I've not had a problem with mice on the boat yet, but now that I'm aware it's a possibility, I think I'll put some on as prevention there too.

Then again, you could just set traps.

I was watching a show on DIY the other day and they were showing how to prep a classic car for storage. One of the things they did was to place a bar of Irish Spring soap on the floor to keep mice away. Maybe a few scattered around the inside of the Mac would work, plus you get that fresh scent. And later, something for the shower.