There’s a
good reason many animals hibernate during the winter. Preparing for
long periods of inactivity and seeking protection against extreme
climatic conditions are necessary steps for survival. Your boat and motor
are no different. Proper
“winterization” is essential for protecting your craft, and ensuring
that it’s in ship-shape condition when spring comes around again. Here are
some worthwhile tips for safeguarding your valuable recreational asset
during the “off season.”
Fill 'Er
Up
Start by filling your boat’s fuel tank to capacity (allowing just a
little bit of room for expansion) and add stabilizer, prior to
stowing it away for the winter. Failing to do so will allow air into
the tank, which can condense on the sides as the temperature changes
causing corrosion and clogging over time. Turn off all fuel valves,
and use duct tape to seal off any through-hull exhaust ports. This
will also help prevent potentially harmful internal condensation. In
addition to these steps, remember to replace your boat’s fuel filter
and water separator.
Protect
Your Engine Oil tends to settle on the bottom of the engine block when a
boat is not being used, exposing the pistons and valves to air,
humidity and other corrosive materials. To guard against this
situation, remove the spark plugs and spray ”fogging oil” inside the
carburetor and down the spark plug holes. Then replace the plugs
without reconnecting the wires. This will provide a long-lasting
protective coating for these essential engine parts.
It’s also
important to replace your engine’s old gear oil with fresh
oil. Dispose of any used oil at an authorized recycling center. The
lower unit gear case lubricant on outboards and inboard/outdrive
engines should also be flushed and changed. This will eliminate
water from the system and provide better overall protection for key
internal parts. Also replace oil filters on inboard and outdrive
engines.
Use the
Right AntiFreeze
If your engine uses coolant, drain the existing fluid from the
engine block and manifolds and replace with a non-toxic, propylene
glycol base antifreeze. Despite pressure from the EPA and other
environmental organizations, many antifreeze products still feature
an ethylene glycol base, which is known to release toxins into the
water. Not only is the propylene glycol variety better for the
environment, most manufacturers say this type of antifreeze is
better for your engine as well.
Remove
Your Battery, Electronics and Safety Devices If you are planning on storing your boat out of the water,
disconnect the battery and store it at home for easier
maintenance and better protection against theft. Removing your
battery is not recommended, however, if your boat will be remaining
in the water during the winter period. Boats left in the water should
have the battery onboard and functioning so the bilge pump will
continue to function if needed. If you will be taking your battery
off the boat, make sure it is fully charged prior to stowing it
away. Be sure to maintain the charge throughout the storage period
(to avoid freezing), and replenish the water level periodically. It’s
also wise to remove all of your sensitive and valuable marine
electronics from the boat for the winter, and to store this
equipment in a safe place at home. This will help prevent theft and
possible damage caused by shifts in temperature and
humidity. Winterization also presents a perfect opportunity to remove
items like dock lines, floatation devices, flares, fire
extinguishers from the boat for inspection and possible replacement.
Check
Your Prop
Take this opportunity to check your boat’s propeller and hub. Your
prop blades may have become bent or nicked over the course of the
boating season, which can diminish overall performance. The hub may
also be have sustained extensive wear and may even be close to being
stripped. If this kind of damage has occurred, you should replace the
propeller and make any necessary repairs during the winterization
process. This way, you won’t have to worry about these things come
springtime.
Clean,
Clean, Clean Your Boat Before putting your boat to
bed for the winter, be sure to give it a good cleaning inside and
out. If you store your boat with dirt, scum, barnacles and the like
on the exterior, these impurities will be even harder to remove in
the spring. Once the exterior of your boat is sparkly clean, apply a
quality polish to create a protective barrier against dirt and
dust. When cleaning the interior, don’t forget the teak, vinyl and
carpet. These are areas where dirt, combined with moisture can breed
mildew, especially in the dark environment of a covered boat with
little or no ventilation. To help keep your boat free of mildew, you
may want to install a dehumidifier or use one of the odor/moisture
“absorbers” offered by various manufacturers. Turn any cushions up on
edge so that air can circulate around them, or better yet, remove
them from the boat for storage in a climate controlled area. Also
remember to clean any bilges and drain any existing water. Remove
all drain plugs and put them in a place where they’ll be easy to
find when you’re ready to bring your boat out of winter
hibernation. Clean any bilges on your boat too, and protect them with
a coating of moisture displacing lubricant and a little antifreeze.
Empty
The Head
If your boat is equipped with a marine head, make sure you pump out
the holding tank at an approved facility prior to winter storage. Add
fresh water to the bowl and flush several times. Use a cleaner
approved for your type of system, and let the solution sit for a few
minutes before adding more fresh water and pumping it out
again. Follow this process by adding antifreeze (alcohol-based if
this type of solution won’t damage the system) and pump the coolant
through the hoses, holding tank, Y-valve, macerator and discharge
hose.
Put it
on the Block
If you own a trailer boat, it’s a good idea to put the boat and
trailer up on a block for winter to take the pressure off the
tires. You may even want to remove the trailer tires to help
discourage theft while the boat is in long-term storage. Take the
opportunity to inspect the trailer tires for wear and tear. Also
grease the wheel bearings, replacing them if necessary.
Go
Undercover
Whether you’ll be storing your boat outside, or inside a garage or
structure, your craft should be covered. If it will be outdoors and
exposed to elements, you’ll need a storage cover to protect the
interior of the boat from the harsh winter environment. Even if your
boat will be kept in dry storage, a cover of some kind is
recommended to guard the interior against dirt, dust, pests and bird
droppings. For outdoor storage, a quality 8- to 10-ounce cotton
canvas boat cover is ideal. Make sure that the cover properly sized
and fitted for your particular boat model. It should also be
supported so water will run off the cover and not accumulate in
pockets. If your boat will be kept in dry storage for the winter,
the waterproof quality and strength of the cover will not be
important factors. In this situation, the main concern is keeping
dust and other particulate matter from gathering on your boat, so
nearly any type of tarp or cover will get the job done. A fitted
cover is preferred however, because it will also keep mice, rats and
other undesirables from seeking refuge in your boat and damaging the
interior.
If
conditions will be extreme, you may want to consider
“shrink-wrapping” your boat instead of using a standard cover. Only
a shrink-wrap cover provides 100 percent waterproof protection, is
impossible to blow off, and can withstand heavy loads of snow or
rain. Shrink wrapping a boat can be a do-it-yourself job, but it
requires proper tools, materials and instructions. Complete
shrink-wrap kits are available through
BoatersWorld.com (Dr. Shrink
“Wrap-it-Up” Shrink-Wrap System).
Additional miscellaneous winterization tasks:
Inspect
steering systems, including tiller-steering friction fittings on
outboards, and tighten them if necessary.
Grease
all external fittings on stern drives.
Check bulbs
and electrical contacts on the plugs, as well as sockets where the
bulbs screw in. Use a moisture displacing lubricant to spray the
contact points, and wrap keep the plugs dry by wrapping them with
electrical tape.
