Fall is here!

Time to Winterize and Store your Jet-Ski and Jet-Boat!

 YES, ONE NIGHT IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES MATTERS!

YES, YOU NEED TO FOG THE CARBS AND PUT IN FUEL STABILIZER EVEN IF IT'S KEPT IN HEATED GARAGE!

Why Should I Winterize? 

Winterizing will prevent hundreds of dollars in engine damage and premature wear caused by freezing water, corrosion, rust, and degraded fuel. Complete engine rebuilds can cost more than the watercraft's value when it is in full working condition. Engine jobs can also tragically waste valuable riding time during the riding season while repairs are being performed. Therefore, it is important to preserve your engine in the best working order at all times. Winterize so that you are ready to ride sooner with fewer repairs in the spring.

Water is your friend under your boat while riding, but it is not your friend if it gets in your engine or engine compartment and remains there over the winter. Not only should the outside of the ski be cleaned, dried and waxed, but the inside should be vacuumed or air-blasted so no water remains in the hull or on the engine. All external metal surfaces should be lubed with emulsifying spray lube. (WD-40 should not be used because it is petroleum-based which separates in water and attracts dirt.)

During winterization, the fuel tank should be filled and topped off with the proper amount of fuel stabilizer to prevent the fuel from going bad, to remove excess water in the tank, and to prevent condensation over the storage period. The stabilizer should be run through your engine to prevent the fuel from becoming thick and clogging your carburetors, and to drain any excess water from your engine.

(If you ride in salt water, the watercraft's cooling system should be flushed with Salt-Away to prevent internal engine corrosion, and the interior should be sprayed with rust inhibitor.)

Fogging oil should be run through your boat's carburetors and spark plug cylinders to prevent rust and corrosion. Lubricating all the metal, cabling, and steering system will also prevent these problems.

The best time to change your watercraft's pump oil is during the winterization process so that old sitting oil does not ruin your pump bearings.

If you are storing your watercraft in a location where temperatures will drop below freezing, antifreeze should be added to the cooling system to prevent engine components from freezing, and correspondingly expanding and contracting, causing breakage. However, antifreeze should not be allowed to enter the cylinders.

During the winterization process, notes can be taken regarding any repairs that may be necessary before your spring season begins again. Potentially, those repairs can be performed during the winter so that riding time is not lost.

While Storing Your Watercraft 

Your watercraft's battery should never be left in place during the winter. Doing so will leave you with a drained and unusable battery by spring. The battery should be removed and placed on a trickle charger. The battery should not be stored on the cement, which can cause battery drainage.

When storing your ski, tape should be placed over the exhaust port to prevent animals or insects from nesting inside. The ski should also be covered, and a wedge should be left in the seat latch to allow air flow through the engine compartment.

Winterizing with Pittsburgh Watercraft

For $80, plus the cost of shop materials and fuel stabilizer, we will: 

	Fog the Intake System and Cylinders
	Add Rust Preventative to the Flame Arrestor
	Flush Cooling System with Salt Away, if applicable
	Spray Internal Components with Rust Preventative, if applicable
	Lubricate the Jet Pump
	Lubricate Internal Metal Components, Cabling, and Steering System
	Check the Spark Plugs and Replace them, if needed (part charge would apply)
	Drain the Water Trap/Separator
	Add Fuel Stabilizer to the Gas Tank
	Add Antifreeze, if applicable
	Disconnect & Remove the Battery
	Empty the Bilge
	Visually Inspect the Engine Components for Problems

* This price is per engine, so if your jet-boat has two engines, the cost would be $160, plus 2 shop materials and fuel stabilizers, to winterize. 

To change the pump oil, which should be done annually on certain SeaDoo watercraft, we charge $80 plus the cost of pump oil for jet-skis and jet-boats.

Winterization & Storage Deal With Pittsburgh Watercraft

Jet-Skis $250/Jet-Boats $350 

Includes:

	Winterization As Described Above
	Battery Maintenance With Trickle Charge Through Winter
	Outdoor Storage October 1 - May 1
	De-Winterization in the Spring

If you winterize with us, we will de-winterize your boat for free. We recommend making your de-winterization appointment in March, so you can be sure to be ready to ride when the first beautiful day of Spring arrives!

De-Winterization With Pittsburgh Watercraft

$80 Jet-Skis & Jet-Boats 

  OR FREE if you winterized with Pittsburgh Watercraft!

Includes:

	Reattach Battery and Top Off Battery Acid as needed
	Inspect Hoses, Cables, & Electrical Connections for Cracking, and Reattach them as needed
	Inspect Spark Plugs
	Compression Test
	Check that the Boat is Running Smoothly