Bene505 (aka, Brad),
Welcome to the wonderful world of boat yards! You wish they would do just what you want, how you want it, when you want it and that is just not the case in my experience (or yours from what I hear). They 'schedule' their work and you are lucky if they will haul you and put you back in on a day that you select. My experience is that smaller yards can actually handle some last minute requests but usually their 'resources are already allocated' and can't be spared for the 20 - 30 minute job you want to have done right away. Most boat yards are also not 'working' over the weekend unless they want to pay overtime to their help.
That is why all of these helpful people have chimed in with good advice to your question(s). MaineSail is about the most anal boat owner their is (
AFAIK) and his advice is golden if a bit of overkill. Winterizing an engine (be it diesel or gasoline) is not so difficult or time consuming but it is just one less item for you to have to pay for (at a high price) once you know how to do it yourself. As you like to say: "I don't mind spending money - I just do not like to waste it."
I would be happy to help you warm up your engine (while still in Mosquito Creek in Glen Cove) and change your oil (which should be done in the fall and spring) before they pull your boat. We would just need to get a Jabsco oil pump: http://www.defender.com/product.jsp?path=-1|311|296536|314179&id=122092
or the slightly less regarded Shur-flo model that I use to suck the oil out of the engine.
Once you participate in doing it you will never forget how to do it and you will save yourself a whole lot of worry, frustration and money. You will also have the oil pump to do it with come springtime.
Just a thought. I can be available this weekend if it is not too late. PM or email me if interested (you also have my phone #).
On the other hand, I have even drained my own engine oil without first warming the engine when the ambient temps. were fairly warm although I agree with all the preceding posts. You should also learn how to run your engine on the hard and set up cooling water for the heat exchanger on your boat as you may need to do this in the future and it does not hurt to learn a bit about your engines systems. Personally, I like to do what can be done in the water without having to take the more extreme measures of running the engine on the hard whenever possible.
This afternoon I just removed the carburator from our gas engine and took it apart and cleaned it and am still looking for my own slightly pregnant gas leak! At least your diesel is less than 10 years old whereas my Atomic 4 gas engine is 41 years old.
You know where to find me if you wish to.
My best,
CalebD