When it’s time to put your boat away from the winter, paying attention to a few details can ensure that you take her out in the spring fresh and ready to go. Winterizing your boat properly will protect not only the engine, but every part of it from damage and wear that a winter of disuse can inflict. Your boat owner’ manual is the best place for information on winterizing your boat, but here are some pointers on winterizing to make sure your boat gets through the winter well-protected.



Winterize the Engine

Get your engine ready to face the winter by making sure that it’s protected against the ravages of temperature changes and cold.

-Fill the engine with gas and add stabilizer to the tank. If you don’t, air in the tank can condense on the sides, promoting corrosion. Seal off your engine by turning off fuel valves, and duct-taping exhaust ports.

-Fog the engine with spray fogging oil to protect it from humidity and corrosion.

-Replace engine oil with fresh oil.

-Flush and change the lubricant in lower gear case.

-Drain and replace the antifreeze in your engine with propylene glycol antifreeze.

-Remove your battery and electronics and store them in a safe place – like at home.

Get Your Boat in Ship Shape

A long winter gives scum, dirt, mold, bacteria and other nasty things a whole lot of time to infest your boat. Before you put it away, get it sparkling clean both inside and out so that you don’t have to deal with a mess come spring.

-Give the outside of your boat a good cleaning. A pressure washer and a soap made for boat exteriors (Pressure Washer Vehicle and Boat Wash) will get the job done quickly and well.

-Add a protective layer between your boat and the elements by applying a good quality exterior boat wax polish.

-Clean the interior from stem to stern. Inside, don’t forget that mildew loves dark, damp places. Spray boat with a fabric protector to prevent (Shoe and Fabric Protector) damp from getting a hold on the upholstery and stand them on end so that air can circulate around them.

-Place a solid air freshener with odor absorber in each area of the boat to soak up staleness and odor. That way when you pull the boat off the blocks in the spring, your boat will smell fresh and clean rather than like last year’s gym socks.

Get The Water Out

-Clean the bilges and drain water. Don’t forget to give them a protective coat of wax or lubricant.

-Drain water from cooling systems, shower tanks and pipes – anything that has water in it. The last thing you want to deal with in the spring are cracked pipes or worse, a cracked engine block.

Put Your Boat Up and Undercover

-Save wear on the tires by putting your baby up on blocks for the winter. In fact, you may even want to pull the tires off the trailer entirely to make it harder for thieves.

-Cover your boat with a canvas boat cover, even if she’s wintering indoors. It will keep dust and dirt off and make it easier to get her sparkling and shipshape in the spring.

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