Consensus on storing a diesel powered boat

[Fortunate One]

I'm wondering what the consensus on storing a diesel powered boat.

The clock is ticking and I've made arrangements for interior heated (up to 55 degrees) storage.

What I'd like to know is,

fuel tanks best to store them full or partially full.

How about additives. Are they needed with the current fuel formulations?

Other than running the normal anitfreeze through the blocks, is there anything else that I really need to be concerned with.

The engines in my boat are new with only a few hours on them. I'll go through the owners manual to see if I'm missing anything, but other than that if there's any advice that can be shared, I'm all eyes.

[CaptainCJ35]

As far as fuel goes, I've always gone with full is the best option. The boats hull will warm up during the day and cool at night. This heating and cooling tranfers to the tanks to a lesser degree, and can make the tanks "breath". Topped off tanks have less air in them, and therefore less air will be "breathing" through your vents from warming and cooling. Now, this may not make much difference in a temp controlled environment, but I've never heard a good reason to store the boat with partially full tanks.

[Seaker]

Mikey I always stabilized the fuel in Seaker and never had an issue in the spring. I used a popular biocide and used the recommended amount. Layed her up with nice clean racor's trickeled the batterys during the course of the winter.

Bob made a cable connection for me that went from the 110 directly to the 50 amp at the cockpit. It made everything real easy while I was on the hard.

My mufflers were huge and closed so i used copious amounts of anti freeze to protect everything but if your going heated there is no need

Hope this helps

[getreel]

What I do:

Fuel tanks full and I add Startron diesel treatment. I usually top off and then go for a ride to get the engines up to temperature and burn some fuel to leave room for warm weather expansion. With the engines warm, I change the oil/filters and replace engine zincs. I flush raw water side with -100 degree PG antifreeze. I store outside, so I go with the -100 antifreeze. You should be fine with the -50 with indoor storage. I leave the old fuel filters and racors in until next season. I change fuel filters in the spring after I run most of the stored fuel through them.

[Fortunate One]

CJ, Vinny and Will thanks for the quick replies.

Since the Racors look like the day we put them in, I don't see a need to change them especially since I'm going to run some type of treatment through them.

Zincs will be looked at but I suspect they'll be like new also.

Dave Loughborough also said to top off the tanks.

Since we're doing some detail work over the winter as well as installing the electronics package.

She's going to be stored in a controlled environment. That is as long as the power stays on. So I will make sure she's winterized to an outdoor level. Vinny, the Strad has huge mufflers in her too so I'm going to make sure that they have enough antifreeze.

I will talk to Bob about the electrical connection. That's a good idea.

I have a case of Racor filters so changing them out is not a problem.

I just dread the thought of the winter setting in even though she's going to be stored indoors.

[Fast Forward]

I agree with all info so far. I would add in as many know, do not leave the tanks 100% full because on a warm spring day it can expand and leak out the vent. The diesel parts store I use sells a ton of Stanadyne fuel addative.

I don't ever check zincs, I always change them. Reason being they are easily removed when they are in good condition or very eaten away. Anything in between raises the chance of breaking the small part of the zinc that screws into the plug, then you need to get the rest of it out (not fun), or leave it (not good).

[canyongear]

Bring her south, better alternative

[Fortunate One]

Bring her south, better alternative

Now that's the best Idea so far.

[Captbillb]

Mike,
No doubt about it.. full tanks with additive. Some great advise listed above.
However, the best idea... boat and you to the southern!

[perfectscore]

Mike,
No doubt about it.. full tanks with additive. Some great advise listed above.
However, the best idea... boat and you to the southern!

i'd be careful about exposing glass over wood boats to extreme NE elements ie. dream catcher