Quinte Fishing

Hey there, first time posting and newer to boating.

Just wondering if there are any special precautions you guys take with your boats when in cold (sub zero) weather. I plan on trying my luck mid November for quinte gold. Just wondering when you take the boat out, is there a concern with water being left in water pump or lower end freezing up on drive home?

Just trying to prevent new guy mistakes before they happen.

Thanks

Jerry

This is what I do. I’m not sure on others. But. Even while fishing. If it is zero or below zero. I always leave my motor down in the water to make sure of no freezing even out on the water. After loading the boat. I pull it out. Make sure all my plugs are out and draining. Put my motor all the way down. And I’ll go hit the key and start the motor out of the water for only 2-3 seconds. That first initial start up will normally blow all the water inside out. After I get home. I will than crank my boat as high as I can go. And trim my motor all the way back down again. And if it is freezing cold out still I have a propane heater that I will cover my motor and keep the heat to it for a couple hours and make sure no water is still in there. It means more work. But it definitely saves my motor every year

I also forgot to mention. Bring a bag of salt/sand with you because the ramps can very icy and slick when this time comes to pull your boat out

Before you leave the dock make sure your bilge pump is working and not frozen.

Make sure to drain livewells and drain properly so the hoses don’t split.

When pulling the boat out at the ramp pull it out just far enough for the tires to be out of the water and drain the boat/trailer. That way you don’t ice the ramp up for everyone else.

I’ve put an electric heater under my cover to thaw it out once home a couple times, melt snow/ice etc.

Make sure to completely warm the motor up before running it.


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_________________
Bob MacMillan
Owner/Operator
Kingston Sport Fishing
https://kingstonsportfishing.ca/

Beauty! Thanks for the advise. Good call letting the boat/ trailer drain before icing up the ramp for the next person.

Thanks

Jerry

I store my boat inside , not sure about the dry fire but you have to lower the motor, open the drain plug and it doesnt hurt to cycle the bilge and live well pumps. If you don't use the live well (assuming you have one) you could plug the intake and pour some RV antifreeze in it so no water get's in it. Oddly enough one of the previous posters mention the not icing the ramp and he is the guy that taught me to dump a couple of pails of water on the ramp to ice it up so we would have the lake to ourselves. I never liked doing it but he is bigger than me and has a bit of a temper

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Off Shore Tackle Team Canada
Limestone City Fishing Charter
www.limestonecityfishingcharters.com
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Bob MacMillan
Owner/Operator
Kingston Sport Fishing
https://kingstonsportfishing.ca/

Here is what I do. I always throw a bit of salt in the bilge I have an E-Tec so i can fog the motor at the ramp with self fogging sequence but no worries on that but it is a fantastic option. I just undo the coil wire and turn the motor over quickly in the down position to drain the pump. done.
as for the inboard I run two magnetic block heaters on other side of the block and an extension cord from the truck inverter to the block heaters same thing I just turn the pump enough to drain it. Grease the steering with marine grease before you go! and have fun.

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27 Ft. Kingston Pro 7000
Big Jons with Scotty booms
Raymarine Hummingbird
20 Honda Kicker
TR1 Gold with iTroll Throttle Command
Fish Hawk X4
23 Ft. Sulvan Great lakes rigged
18 Ft centre consol Starcraft
Great lake Salmon Rigged
and a canoe

It also doesnt hurt to carry a booster pack or an extra long set of jumper cables should the cold weather expose a weak battery and I also carry an extra bilge with a few feet of hosing and alligator clips that I can throw down into the bilge area if needed.

_________________
Dan Elliot - A bad day on Quinte is better than a good day at work !!!
http://www.quintefishing.com