Do you know how to winterize your boat?
As the winter season comes, whether you decide to use your boat or not, it’ll need extra care. Preparing a boat for winter is not as daunting as it seems with this guide. Follow the steps below and get your boat ready.
Here are seven steps on how to winterize a boat.
1. Prep the Engine First
The first step is for you to check the engine. Make sure to replace the engine oil when you put your boat in the storage of your preference. If you’re looking for secure and spacious storage options, check out Titan Storage.
2. Drain the Cool Water
Draining the water from the engine helps avoid damage during the winter. When left alone, the water expands and turns into ice.
Use water muffs if you have a sterndrive or inboard engines. Flush until you reach the proper temperature for operating the machine. Or you can attach a tool to the garden hose to the cooling system and take out the drain plugs.
If you use outboard engines, open the drain holes and start the engine. Flush with clean water as you clean the system and dislodge them later on.
3. Secure Fuel Stabilization
Remember to stabilize the fuel in your engine as it depreciates in the span of 60 days. Apply a fuel stabilizer to lengthen your engine’s life span.
4. Guard the Internal Engine Gears
One of your concerns when learning how to winterize a boat should be the internal engine gears.
Do you know what cylinder scuffing is? It happens when the engine oil drains while your boat is in storage. This makes the internal engine prone to corrosion.
You can use a fogging oil spray to protect your internal engine. This spray coats the internal engine, so it’s safe against corrosion.
5. Change the Gear Oil
Before you change the engine gear oil, check its humidity to ensure no moisture contamination. If there’s no water leak, you can change the previous gear oil and replace it with a new one.
6. Lubricate and Detach Valuables
Locate the engine’s grease fittings. Apply the proper lubricant for utmost corrosion protection. Always check the owner’s handbook before putting the grease in your boat so you won’t miss out on any parts.
If you want to avoid the extra cost of winterizing a boat, detach the expensive electronics. This is so, even if there’s an incident with the storage facility, your pricey parts are safe.
7. Clean and Cover
Once you finish the engine maintenance, clean, wax, then put a cover that fits your boat.
You can choose from poly tarp and polyvinyl covers. Though poly tarp covers are cheap, you still need to attach a frame to aid in distributing the snow’s weight.
Another option is to shrink wrap. The installation should be precise to avoid heavy snow and tarp dislodgement.
Work on How to Winterize a Boat Now
Now you know how to winterize a boat, and you can do it yourself! Follow this guide, and you’re sure to protect your boat through the winter.
If you want to learn more about boat storage types, please check our other guides here.
