Winterizing questions on 2017 RT 23 Yamaha 200 only.

[MACHAYA21]

In order to winterize under warranty one must go to an authorized Yamaha service. In my area of N.J
my marina is not a Yamaha agent. In order to winterize I have to go to a land based service. Since I don't have a trailer, the service has to pick up the boat at a ramp,service at their facility and am forced to store at the location. I didn't forsee this problem, nor did i want a trailer. I am curious if other Rt 23 owners had this problem and how they resolved this last year.

 

[ixlr8]

Do you know what is done to 'winterize' the F200? My local Yamaha dealer told me all he does to 'winterize' my F300 is a lube and filter change and run the engine with ethanol free gas (avgas) long enough to ensure that the ethanol containing fuel is out of the system.

 

[baz]

Yep.... Doing the pre-checking for having a suitable and nearby Yamaha service shop before purchasing is paramount to avoid the issue you've described.

I'm in PNW and my boat is in water 100% of the time. My local authorized Yamaha service shop which is but 1000 feet from my moorage tells me all I need do for winter time is to raise the F300 engine out of water and have it flushed with fresh water and leave it alone for the most part but do an occasional engine run for 20 mins periodically. I have a 9.9 Yamaha kicker motor and its winter protection process is the same as for my F300.

I use my boat year round.

BTW... I use ethanol free gas 100% of the time to avoid the nasty yellow-like caking residue in the fuel lines.

At this time I dock bow in with a starboard tie. I'm contemplating that during winter months I will stern in with a port tie in my covered slip to better protect the F300 and 9.9 Kicker from exposed fairway winds, rain and the occasional snow we get here. This also protects the engines from someone accidentally bashing my engines due to any of their poor docking management. 😱 :shock:

 

[jagizzi]

So we were told the same by our service folks. Winterizing not necessary. I left the boat on the trailer in the driveway with the engine down. The water intakes catch rain and it remains in the engine. I didn't want a freezing problem. Dealer was non-committal in this regard.

 

[dclagett]

In the 10 years prior to moving to my RT I owned boats with Honda outboards. I am not familiar with Yamaha’s however if I wanted to know what is required to winterize/store an outboard I would read the owners manual. I have found in my area one will get a different answer for the same question from different outboard service organizations. Knowing what is required prior to contracting for the service will help you make sure manufactures recommendations are followed.

 

[MACHAYA21]

Hi Barry,
Your reply is interesting compared with what the dealer here recommends. I have another question. How do you handle recommended maintenance intervals under warranty?

 

[baz]

Hi Barry,
Your reply is interesting compared with what the dealer here recommends. I have another question. How do you handle recommended maintenance intervals under warranty?

I have the engines professionally maintained by authorized Yamaha service shop at my Marina. I don't have a trailer, there's no convenient off-ramp near my marina (nearest one is some 10 miles north of my Marina. My Marina's Yamaha service takes my boat, hauls it out onto their trailer, uses a fork lift to tow the boat to their shop, performs the engine maintenance, cleans the hull, takes boat back to my slip and calls me when it's all done. Easy-peasy for me.