Brand New R8 - First Winterization

[MontanaR8]

I am new to the forum and Cobalt boats so a kind hello to all of you. I took delivery of my R8 in St. George UT this weekend and drove it back to Montana where I live.

I have owned several ocean going Sea Ray boats in Southern California and never had to deal with winterizing a boat before. My new R8 has the Volvo 380 DP engine in it with the easy drain system. As far as removing all the water from the system before winter layup, Volvo's manual says all you have to do is use the easy drain but I have read that some owners opt to flush the system with anti-freeze and then drain the system and I have read that some owners just drain it and blow compressed air into the flush hose to remove any additional excess water trapped inside the raw water system... I would assume that if you go with that method it makes sense to also blow air into the raw water pickup at the bottom of the boat as well?

What is the correct method to doing this and what do y'all do?

Also, when and if I flush the engine using a garden hose at the sterndrive flush port, are you supposed to close the onboard seacock or leave it open?

Thank you and thanks for welcoming me to the forum.

Mike B

[AsLan7]

.
So glad you found us Mike.

Opinions vary on this subject as do Dealer and Marine technician lay-up procedures.

Some use the EZ drain to quickly drain the block in case of an early freeze but still want to use the boat before winter sets in. That’s how we used ours.
Then for winterization lay up we would pump the blue anti-freeze into the block for freeze and corrosion protection during the winter months.This is how our Marine Tech would also winterize.

Others will chime in shortly.

Any pics?

And welcome aboard mate.

.

[stifflkd]

I use the EZ drain. It will drain all the water in the pump, heat exchanger manifolds and risers. I also blow compressed air but because it is before the water pump it only will blow out any residual water between the intake and the water pump. The impeller will prevent air from traveling through the engine

[MontanaR8]

Thank you Aslan7 & Stifflkd. I appreciate the response!!!!

I think I will do both as well. Flush the system with anti-freeze and then drain as much out as I can with the easy drain system and compressed air. That way if there is any water still left in the system, it will at least be anti-freeze! Normally this wouldn't be a problem but I am having a new shop built where the boat will be stored and it will be climate controlled. Problem is getting anything done in Montana takes a LONG time so I may not have heat this year...

Here is a photo of her wedged under my overhang. LOL...

[dsthomas]

Beautiful boat! Do you need to do anything with the three ballast pumps?

[drtbar]

AsLan summed it up well, however, I know I read somewhere on here where someone contacted the manufacturer and they did not recommend running antifreeze through an engine with the EZ drain.

Couple dealers wanted to run antifreeze through it "just to be safe." I'm glad I didn't listen to them and waste my money. I winterized my R6 for the first time last fall and used the EZ drain followed up by air compressor. No antifreeze. I had zero problems.

[Krob1114]

We've never done anything other than use the easy drain. Four winters with no problems.

[MontanaR8]

Thank you all for the response. My boat has a thru hull fitting with a brass valve. That really threw me because being a prior ocean boat owner, that's where the raw water typically enters the boat to cool the engines and run the A/C units. I guess in the case of the Cobalt R Series, that fitting actually draws in raw water for the head (electric head). That's what was really throwing me because I was afraid that the easy drain would not flush out the water in that pickup... Cobalt actually confirmed that the raw water pick up is only for the head and once you layup the boat for winter, you simply open that valve and flush the remaining water through the head along with some antifreeze (so the waste tank doesn't freeze) and pump it out...

Thanks again for all your responses and the warm welcome to the group.

[MontanaR8]

dsthomas,

My R8 is not a wake or ski version so I don't have ballast tanks.

Thank you!

[kas232ca]

Sorry, I don't know anything about winterization, but your boat looks great!