And So It Begins

[papajoe222]

The final nail in the fishing coffin for me every year is wrapping the boat up for the winter. As luck would have it, we're in the middle of a warm spell and I was able to do all the 'winterizing' over the past couple of days. One thing I'm doing this winter is setting the trailer up on jack stands to keep the weight off the tires and make rotating them in the spring a whole lot easier. Another was to put a switch on the outside power outlet, so I don't have the on-board charger going 24/7 all winter. On once a week on Sunday morning and off that night. 

No more baseball, no more fishing and no more happy Papa until sometime in March. 

I believe the reason for the invention of liquor was winter for more than one reason, but I'm in the group that blames not being able to fish as the driving factor.

[Glenn]

[Susky River Rat]

Try getting a brand new boat and it’s almost time to put it away. Although I am going to try to sneak out on it as much as the weather allows this winter. March is usually when things turn around here as well.

[DaubsNU1]

Water temps here in Nebraska were 45-50 last weekend...Headed west to chase deer next weekend.

 

Crossing my fingers that I may have a few more trips to the lake after that.

[Bankc]

If the switch is protected from the weather, you might consider installing a smart switch.  That way you don't have to remember to flip it yourself.  You can (fairly) easily program it with your smartphone to come on and off at specific times.  

 

The main problem people run into with them is the switch needs to have the hot, common, and ground wires in the box.  On some older houses, they'll just have the hot and ground.  In my house, each outlet has the common wires, but they weren't hooked up to the old switches, so I had to connect them.  They make some switches that don't require the common wire, but they're a bit more expensive, and you'll have to buy them specifically.  I'll admit, the first time you install one, it's a bit confusing, dealing with the app, the wifi, and the wiring.  But after the first one, they're pretty easy to install.  And it shouldn't take you more than 2 hours or require any special tools.  There are instructions and YT videos to help you through it, to make it a lot easier.  Just remember, as always, to flip the breaker so you don't shock yourself.  

[Darth-Baiter]

you all dont take batteries out and put them in the garage?  on a battery tender?

[TheSwearingAngler]

Ha… boat guys… 

 

I’ll have the canoe out every weekend the water still classifies as a liquid… I’m a glutton for punishment.

 

Good luck drinking the winter away, probably the smarter move.

[TOXIC]

My boat sits out all winter and the charger stays plugged in all winter.  Most modern chargers have a maintenance mode that will keep them topped off.  No fear of them freezing, a fully charged AGM will freeze at -80.  I will throw a cheap blue tarp over my regular cover because it sheds snow easier than my factory cover.  

[A-Jay]

3 hours ago, TheSwearingAngler said:

Ha… boat guys… 

 

I’ll have the canoe out every weekend the water still classifies as a liquid… I’m a glutton for punishment.

 

Good luck improving yourself over the winter, probably the smarter move.

Fixed that one for you.

#borninfiftynine

A-Jay

 

[crypt]

I feel sorry for you all that have a "winter". That is why I will live in Florida forever.......

[einscodek]

I feel for ya.. another 2 weeks and I'm wrapping it up usually every Thanksgiving time is when I pack it in for the year.  Still fish caught but they're busting baitballs mid-lake and tough to distract them there and else deeper and finnicky and I hate dropshots.

BTW its torture to get lures for Christmas and not be able to go out there to test them right away!

[Koz]

I feel your winter pain. In fact, I might have to put a light jacket on when I head out on my kayak this weekend 😀

[slonezp]

22 hours ago, papajoe222 said:

The final nail in the fishing coffin for me every year is wrapping the boat up for the winter. As luck would have it, we're in the middle of a warm spell and I was able to do all the 'winterizing' over the past couple of days. One thing I'm doing this winter is setting the trailer up on jack stands to keep the weight off the tires and make rotating them in the spring a whole lot easier. Another was to put a switch on the outside power outlet, so I don't have the on-board charger going 24/7 all winter. On once a week on Sunday morning and off that night. 

No more baseball, no more fishing and no more happy Papa until sometime in March. 

I believe the reason for the invention of liquor was winter for more than one reason, but I'm in the group that blames not being able to fish as the driving factor.

We're going to have open water for some time yet. I think you jumped the gun. 

[DaubsNU1]

17 hours ago, Darth-Baiter said:

you all dont take batteries out and put them in the garage?  on a battery tender?

 

My previous boat lived in the unheated shop 365...I left the ProMariner plugged in 365...kept the batteries in good shape. 

 

The new boat is in the house garage now, plugged in to another ProMariner 24/7.

 

This winter the Lund will sleep in the shop.

 

I contacted ProMariner...they said I can keep it plugged in and maintaining the batteries all winter. No problem. 

 

[GRiver]

I know how ya feel @papajoe222 and other people, when I lived in Nc. I winterized my boat and put it away, usually not until mid December though. But now that I live in Fl, it stay at the ready, I agree with @crypt.

[papajoe222]

On 11/9/2023 at 8:49 PM, slonezp said:

We're going to have open water for some time yet. I think you jumped the gun. 

Al my lakes are closed for fishing ....waterfowl season, and won't open again until open water in the spring, March for the power plant lakes.

 I read somewhere that leaving your on board charger plugged in over extended storage time reduces the life of the charger considerably.  My outside outlet is switchable and I only turn it on for four hours.  My current MinnKota is on it's eighth year of service. My last two only lasted six. Batteries are on their sixth.

[A-Jay]

On 11/9/2023 at 5:53 PM, crypt said:

I feel sorry for you all that have a "winter". That is why I will live in Florida forever.......

 

Winter in Michigan can be a bear.

But when it's over, my house is usually still there.

A-Jay

[Reel]

Not to bad !  I put my boat away at the beginning of November with the first snow.  I'm way north.  Water is still open here also.  It's been warm.  Today minus 6 Celcius and sunny.  I use to take the batteries out of the boat to charge them every 2 or 3 months.  Now I leave them in and don't charge them.  They are AGM and it doesn't seem to make a difference.  I've done that the last three years. 

[gim]

4 minutes ago, Reel said:

They are AGM and it doesn't seem to make a difference.  I've done that the last three years. 

 

Good to hear.  I just upgraded my batteries in late November during a black friday sale from lead acid to AGM.  I might still put them on the trickle charger a couple times during winter though to keep my sanity level.