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Winterizing Your Boat
by Flori Bootley
http://www.flboats.com
When cold weather sets in, people are often scurrying to
winterize their cars, trucks and other motor vehicles.
What happens, then, to motorized watercraft during the
winter months? Placing them in storage isn~t enough.
They, just like your other forms of motorized
transportation, need to be prepared for the bitter cold and
icy winds.
Some boats are even too large to be removed from the water
during the winter months, or the owner doesn't have a dry
storage for it and leaves it in the water. In this case the
boat owner must make sure to check on it frequently and
be careful about an ice build-up around the boat. You don't
want to let this happen because it can damage the boat. A
de-icer should be used to prevent this icing.
Check the fuel tank if you store your boat out of the water
for the winter. During cold weather, do not leave it empty
because condensation builds up within the gas tank and
causes internal rusting. Add a stabilizer to the fuel and
fill the tank up. This will protect the engine from
condensation. You can add further protection by changing
the filter and water separator.
Boats need the same protection with a non-toxic
antifreeze and a good flush-out as cars do during the
winter months. Just as you add antifreeze to your cars and
trucks, you'll have to do the same for your boat. You will
end up with expensive problems in the spring, if you forget
this step for your boats, just as you would with your car.
Better to protect your engine system from freezing.
Don't just worry about the gas tank in your boat. You have
to have a good engine preparation schedule to make sure
your boat will weather the winter months without problems.
Flush the engine system with fresh water, grease the system
and top it off with a fresh filter and clean oil. Your boat
will now be totally ready for winter storage, and you will
have a boat that~s turn-key ready when winter is over and
you want to take a spring boat ride.
It's a lot easier to inspect the boat and find out what
needs to be repaired when the boat is not in use. The off
season is the best time for this to avoid surprises when
you're underway. Get out a scrub bucket for a thorough
interior cleaning job. To prevent mold and mildew from
growing, put a dehumidifier in the boat over the winter.
Once you've made a big investment like a boat, you want to
make sure you take care of that investment. Invest more of
your time and attention to the boat over the winter months,
and you will be enjoying your investment during the boating
season. However, if you neglect your boat over the winter,
and just count on dumb luck to keep your boat safe during
these cold months, you are asking for trouble.
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