This post may contain affiliate links*
The Joy of the Seasons
On the Great Lakes we experience all four seasons. It is hard not to look back on our 1st summer sailing on Lake Michigan with starry eyes and remembering the warm sunny days. Going into fall, the leaves signal the change of season; bonfires, s’mores, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie are just a few of the fun and delicious treats that fall brings. Winter is cold and dark, but can be cozy, calling for family and slower times together.
For SV Zeke E Boy, fall and winter signal the end to the sailing season. We need to wrap up, hunker down and wait for next year … Spring, the budding growth of life, and thawing of the lakes – and really everything! Spring brings new possibilities and new beginnings but that’s a few months out yet; let’s just focus on Fall first.
Haul Out Scheduled
In October, we are scheduled to have SV Zeke E Boy hauled out from Lake Michigan, and to be stored in a boatyard parking lot for the winter. In preparation for the coming cold and harshness of winter, here is our initial list to winterize the boat*:
Mechanical
Change the engine oil and filter – inboard diesel oil changes are a slight variation of the automobile method. We vacuum pump the warm oil out of the dipstick tube, change the filter and then add new oil to the proper level. We also send the old oil off to a laboratory for analysis.
Change the engine cooling fluid/antifreeze – two drain locations for us and then a refill.
Fill the diesel tank full with fresh fuel and add proper stabilizer and biocide to prevent the “diesel bug” from biting us.
Flush antifreeze through the raw water system right before or right after we haul out. This is the last time the engine will run for the season and we’ll need to replace any raw water in the system with antifreeze.
Drain all the potable water off the boat and put a small amount of potable specific antifreeze throughout the system. Drain the water heater separately, but no antifreeze in the water heater.
Unhook the 6 batteries and take them home to be maintained throughout the winter.
Clean Her Out
At this point, the mechanical systems are set for winter. Now the process to finish winterizing becomes a matter of removing food, cushions and all personal items, folding and storing sails and canvas, then shrink-wrapping the boat. After a long day (or several days later), we can enjoy a cozy fire at home with hot chocolate while the snow falls on a calm Saturday afternoon – possibly as early as Halloween … Although Kara’s hoping for later – like December!
Our Project ⛵️
While we are a bit sad to see one season go, it is also what we have been waiting for … after all, we bought a used boat – a project boat. And we ❤️ projects!
We have a list of things that we want to do for next year. And now we can take some of SV Zeke E Boy apart, clean, repair, and replace items that we found all season that need love and attention. We plan to share these ‘off the water’ adventures this winter. Some projects will be new and we may need your help and advice as we work through them, and some projects we have done many times … but we still like your feedback.
*This is our 1st year winterizing SV Zeke E Boy so we don’t know what we don’t know. You may see this list evolve over the years but this is a start after several weeks of researching what to do.
Tell us what you think
Are we completely out to lunch on winterization? Is SV Zeke E Boy doomed to problems because we’re missing a big gotcha?!? Please help a fellow sailor out so she stays safe and sound this winter. We want to get better and better, and we’d love to hear from you!
– Kyle from Zeke Life
Live like Zeke
You’re such a good boy!
