Laying Up - Winterising - Beta Marine Beta 43 Operator's Maintenance Manual

Winterising and Laying up
Heat Exchanger Cooled Engines Left Afloat and Ashore
(a) The engine oil and oil filter should be changed at the end
of the season rather than in the spring.
See section 2.
(b) The closed circuit system should contain a 33% to 50%
solution of anti-freeze to water (this also applies to warm
and tropical climates).
(c) For cold climates where the air or water temperatures
can fall below 3°C, the sea water circuit must be
protected in addition to the fresh water system. This is
best achieved as follows:
(d) Close the inlet seacock to the engine (engine stopped).
(e) Disconnect the sea water inlet pipe and dip it into a
small bucket containing 50/50 anti-freeze solution.
Laying up Ashore
(a) Change the engine oil before the boat is taken out of
the water. Warm engine oil is much easier to pump
than cold!
(b) Cooling system - As above in 'Winterising and Laying up'
paragraphs (b) to (f) should be followed.
(c) If the engine is to be laid up for more than 6 months
then remove the sea water pump impeller.
(f) Start the engine (out of gear) and run for 5 to 10
seconds until the anti-freeze is used up and can be seen
coming out of the exhaust outlet.
(g) Shut engine off and reconnect the inlet pipe to the
seacock. The sea water or raw water circuit is now
protected by anti-freeze.
(h) Ensure instrument panel is well protected and give the
key switch a spray of WD40 or equivalent.
(i) With the engine stopped, disconnect the battery (always
disconnect the negative cable first and re-connect the
negative cable last) and take it ashore for trickle charging
and top up as necessary. If AC power is available then
this can be done on the boat.
(j) Fuel tanks should be kept full during the lay up period to
eliminate water condensation in the tank. Water entering
the fuel injection system can cause considerable
damage.
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