After a summer of fun, your boat is ready for a long winter’s nap. The last thing you want is to come back in the spring to find cracked fuel lines or broken components. Get your boat ready for cold conditions with these simple steps.
- Drain all the water from your boat’s systems. Key areas to concentrate oninclude the engine, drainage systems, plumbing systems and fuel lines. Any remaining water might freeze and expand, causing damages, so this is one of the most important steps.
- Add antifreeze solutions to any remaining fluid systems, if applicable. Fuel systems, coolant systems and batteries are all susceptible to freezing and subsequent cracking, so using additives to prevent major icing can save a lot of trouble.
- Clean the boat and ensure there are no food sources for pests. Keeping bugs and small rodents out of your boat at the beginning of hibernation season can prevent additional damages once warm weather arrives.
- Change any filters or separators to ensure optimal cleanliness. Even though you’re not running your boat in the winter, these filters still work to keep any remaining fuel safe for use.
- Make sure to check for any necessary repairs. Although you might consider installing new boat maintenance accessoriesor getting the oil changed in the spring, it’s always better to know in advance that you’ll be doing this to help avoid unpleasant surprises.
- Close any compartments and waterproof the boat as much as possible. Although boats are designed to handle a lot of water, you don’t want moisture building up inside your boat when you’re not there to drain it and keep mold or ice from building up, so coverings can become key.
Essentially, keeping your boat dry and clean during its off-season will keep it running better longer. Good winterization makes for a more seamless restart once the weather is once again warm enough for boating season.
