Extended period not running motor

[10PoundHammer]

Unfortunately I don't live where my boat is moored (my 27 is in Sidney; I live in Alberta a time zone away) so I can't readily stop by over the winter to regularly run the motor or put a load on it, as I understand is good for diesels.

Does anyone know the manufacturer's advice? Should I just let it sit until next March? Or have the boatminder run it every couple of weeks, even though it would be a relatively short period of time? Or turn it over to circulate the oil but not actually start the motor? I have heard conflicting information.

Have done an oil change to be on the safe side, added fuel stabilizer. Any advice on this?

tx

10 Pound Hammer

 

[Pete]

In northern Michigan it's normal for boats to be in winter storage for 6 months or more without the engines being run. Not a problem.
Pete

 

[knotflying]

I would say you are better off not running it than running it. It is normal up in the Northeast to properly winterize a boat and not use it till spring and everyone survives. Running an engine for a short period of time, in my opinion, is probably worse. You really need to get the oil temperature up past the boiling point in order to burn off any condesation and water that forms in the oil. This can't be done sitting at a dock and letting it run for a bit. Best thing you can do is change the oil before the layover and then just let it sit.

 

[baz]

As others have posted. The engine can safely be left alone and not started over a winter period of time. Many people will fill their fuel tank to reduce chance of condensation build up in the tank.

My primary concern leaving the boat unattended for a long time would be the care for the batteries. I'm fortunate and have my boat moored locally and barley 5 mins away from home. I normally will goto the boat at least once per month to check the battery charger system. We also use the boat all year round in the PNW area. If it's a sunny day, not too cold and weather permitting we take the boat out during winter time to another nearby location for lunch, dinner etc. This also ensures the boat is kept in operating condition.

 

[needatug]

Hi Neighbour (sort of)

We are from Ardrie AB and for a year working in Lloydminster AB, grew up in the prairies, Saskachewan. My two cents on diesels. Every piece of farm equipment runs a couple of weeks a year and sits the rest. Fill the fuel tank, hook up a battery tender or shore power to maintain the expensive batteries. Then change the oil and run the clean oil through the engine before heading to the airport. Used oil has nasty stuff in it that settles in the engines arteries just like us, eventually restricting flow. On the farm we put a rag in the air cleaner to keep the mice out.

We have been only lurkers on the site with no right to comment BUT about January 1 we will be putting our new (to us) Ranger 29 in a slip in Sidney BC! We are expecting to close the deal in days and can't wait to join the rest of the Ranger family. Hopefully we can get together.

Cheers, Leon and Karen

 

[Stella Maris]

Leon and Karen,
Maybe we can hook up this summer while we are cruising the Gulf Islands. We are planning a trip in May and then another in early September. The September cruise will start in Victoria on Labor Day weekend. There will be a couple of other tugs and a couple of other trawlers.

Congratulations on your new Tug!

Oh, and on what to do with the winter layup, those of you in Michigan and such, I understand, Rangers don't make good ice breakers....... but those in the PNW. Just use them. We have a great deal of time that the weather will cooperate. The marinas and anchorages are all empty. You have your choice as to where you want to tie up. As an example, Maureen and I are planning a cruise to South Sound the week between Christmas and New Years. Well, that is if the weather is better than last year.......

David and Maureen

 

[baz]

...snip... As an example, Maureen and I are planning a cruise to South Sound the week between Christmas and New Years. Well, that is if the weather is better than last year.......

David and Maureen

David, be sure to post details of your "cruise to South Sound" the week between Christmas and New Year. My New year activities are already booked but the time prior to this is open after Dec 25th. I'm keen on visiting and seeing south of Seattle. 🙂

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

When we have stored our boats over the years there has typically not been any power for keeping a charge on the batteries. In this case you have two choices. You can take the batteries out, bring them home and put them on a trickle charge for your storage period or (and this is what we've done) disconnect ALL cables to ALL batteries. You can not just turn the battery controls to off because there are still things wired directly to the batteries. By disconnecting everything there is no chance of a drain of any kind. Make sure to label each cable, as to where it gets reconnected and take a photo. In the spring I reconnect the batteries and top off any charging that needs done and we're good to go for the season.

Jim F

 

[Zundels]

We are in a cold environment on Kodiak Island in Alaska so we pull the R-25 out of the water and pull the batteries inside. We have filled the fuel tank and winterized all systems and had no problems in the spring, starts right up.

When disconnecting the batteries we found it easy if for each post we connect all common cables with a zip tie and label. In the spring it is easy to reconnect the batteries.

Question. With our batteries inside is it best to trickle charge them connected all winter or one week a month or what schedule is best to charge the batteries? I had them connected on trickle charge all winter last year and that worked. Was this a good idea?

Happy holidays, Don

 

[knotflying]

I always have a concern that if there is a malfunction in the charger that it may fry the batteries so I check them intermittently and hook up the trickle charger if I see a slight drop in voltage and then disconnect it after they are fully charged. To make life easy I hook up all of the batteries in parallel so I only need to make one connection and charge up all batteries in one shot.