#439002 - 10/07/0807:35 PMRe: Do you top off the tank before winter storage?
[Re: BillyB]
230 Mike
IT Not Wannabe
Admiral
Registered: 05/29/05
Posts: 3385
Loc: Kansas City
I add the right amount of Stabil every time I add fuel, so I don't worry about stabilization. As to full/empty, right now gas is below $3.00 again. I don't know what it'll be in the spring but I've got a good idea. So "as full as I can get it" for me.
Did the same thing last year. A good part of this summer, the boat was burning $2.85 gas.
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Mike 2005 Four Winns 240 VP 5.7GXi/DP 1998 F-150 XLT Boat Pic
Registered: 11/21/03
Posts: 7759
Loc: Kennewick, WA
What's it mean to 'store' your boat? That does not compute.
I do fill mine before the really cold weather hits and add Stabil to it, but I use it throughout the winter. About once a month we'll take it out and put a few hours on it just to charge up the batteries and keep things lubed.
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"Liquid Asset" 96 SeaRay Sundancer 330 I just want to go boating!
#439065 - 10/08/0807:10 AMRe: Do you top off the tank before winter storage?
[Re: ABoater]
That English Guy
One day I'll be King!
Admiral
Registered: 02/10/06
Posts: 2541
Loc: Rochester, MN
For the past three years gas has been much cheaper in October when I store than in May when I start my season therefore I always top up before I store it.
I also subscribe to the idea of less air in the tank reduces the chance of condensation.
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Legal Alien livin' the American dream baby!
Registered: 07/27/07
Posts: 126
Loc: North Bay, Ontario Canada
I leave mine as empty as possible, as I don't want the extra weight of fuel sitting in the boat all winter long. More important to me is using sta-bil, and running the engine with stab-bil treated fuel to reduce the chance of gumming in the fuel system before winter lay-up. A quick treatment of water-eater on the first tank in the spring takes care of any possible condensation.
Registered: 10/02/03
Posts: 2678
Loc: Tinley Park, IL
We add stabil the last couple fill ups and then leave boat fairly low on fuel. Have owned a boat for 19 years and have never had any fuel related problems. Boat is stored indoors in an unheated building most of the year except when being used.
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2005 Rinker 232 open bow 5.7 MPI Bravo 3
#439091 - 10/08/0808:09 AMRe: Do you top off the tank before winter storage?
[Re: Frantically Relaxing]
Keith
Admiral
Registered: 01/17/03
Posts: 2273
Loc: Indianapolis, IN.
Originally Posted By: Frantically Relaxing
Ok, so who HAS ever had a problem with gas? From our little unscientific survey here, it seems to be a non-issue...(aka worrying about nothing)
My buddy has a 97' SeaRay with a 5.7 carbed Merc Alpha one. Low hours and well taken care of. Couple of years ago he was getting a pinging under load, quickly the pinging got worse and I was with him when the motor made a horrible pinging noise and died. Time for a new motor. Everybody he talked to said it probably started as a fuel related issue. Either bad gas (old) or water in it.
I suppose we'll never know for sure what the root cause was but this was enough to scare me into paying attention to what's in my gas tank.
#439093 - 10/08/0808:12 AMRe: Do you top off the tank before winter storage?
[Re: Keith]
Bowline
What's higher than
Admiral
Registered: 01/14/03
Posts: 4369
Loc: Kansas City, MO
I do normally top off the tank although last year I didn't because the tank was already pretty full. My dealker advised me to top off the tank before storing all winter. I think that it's supposed to help keep condensation from forming on the inside of the tank surfaces. Less condensation is good.
#439099 - 10/08/0808:26 AMRe: Do you top offf the tank before winter storage
[Re: Frantically Relaxing]
Sea Ray Guy
Boating Fanatic
Vice Admiral
Registered: 03/03/05
Posts: 439
Loc: Chicopee, MA
I put about 3/4 full with Star-tron for 4 years with no issues on our old carbed 3.0L and new 4.3MPI Star-tron during the season around August and there on out
I have always tried to fill the tank prior to storage. As TEG has stated it seems gas is cheaper in the fall then in the spring when the boat comes out of storage for the summer.
What's it mean to 'store' your boat? That does not compute.
It means waking up early next Saturday morning, hooking up the boat and driving to the storage facility, unhooking and not seeing my boat until next April.
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1998 Crownline 268CR 7.4L B2 "La Vida Loca" 1999 Yamaha SUV1200 Waverunner
What's it mean to 'store' your boat? That does not compute.
That's the thing that I do with my boat between uses. From about October until March those uses are little to none as it's time to go ski in the snow, so I ski on the same water year around.
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72% of fatal boat accidents are caused by boaters that haven't taken a safe boating course.
2001 Sea Ray Sundeck 190 5.0 EFI Alpha I,Generation 2 2002 4x4 LB Lariat CC F250, 7.3PSD
I have always stored full (for 12-13 years) with Stabil and never had a problem. This year I choose to run the tank as low as possible, add some Stabil, and wait to fill.
Sitting on 60 gallons of gas for 8 months (from fill up in Sep to when the tank is empty) can't do the gas any good. I'll take my chances with condensation but would rather have fresh gas in the spring.