When the warm summer months arrive and the ice begins to melt off the lakes in northern climates, thousands of individuals and families take to the waters in private watercraft. What ensues is a long summer of family boat rides, inner-tubing, and water skiing that provides relaxation, family time, and entertainment. As the warm summer months draw to an end though, the boats must eventually leave the water and find a dry place to rest and await the day when warm weather returns. First time boat owners may find this process difficult to wrap their head around, so here are a few easy tips for preparing and storing your boat this winter.
After you've used your boat for the final time, the winterizing process should begin immediately. It is worth noting that these steps can be performed by a professional, but if you are an amateur handyman there is no reason you can't perform these steps yourself. Winterizing should include the following steps:
- Clean
- Drain
- Fill
Once you are done with your boat for the season, give it a good cleaning before preparing to store it over the winter. This includes a general cleaning of all the surfaces, seats, and cabinets, as well as applying rust inhibitors on any metal hardware, steering cables, and control cables. In most cases it is a good idea to leave cabinets and bins on board the boat open to avoid moisture collecting. Leaving "no damp" materials in confined spaces will also help combat moisture.
One of the biggest winterizing steps is to drain. All of the following systems on your boat should be drained to avoid freezing and destruction during winter:
- Engine block and manifolds
- Water pumps and coolers
- Gear case
- Porta-Potty
- Fresh water system
In many cases it is important to take the extra step of adding lubricant to your gear case before storing it for the winter. It is also a good idea to spray antifreeze into your Porta-potty and fresh water systems to provide added protection.
The next winterizing step is to "fill". Many of the systems that you drained in the previous step now need to have antifreeze and other protective additives pumped into them. This step helps protect not only the systems during the idle winter months, but also helps protect fuel lines and other connective pipes.
Now that your boat has been winterized, it is time to decide where you wish to store your boat. There are three main storage options for your boat. They include the following:
- Backyard storage
- Boat yard storage
- Indoor storage
The most cost effective option to many is to store their boat in their own backyard. This can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Those with a trailer for their boat tend to simply back the trailer and boat into their backyard and call it a day. Others without their own trailer will prop their boat up on cinder blocks and boards. Regardless of the method, purchasing a proper cover is a must so that the elements are kept off your boat.
Many marinas offer boat yard storage. For a variable price, the marina or boatyard will store your watercraft outdoors with a protective cover for the winter. Boatyards charge by the foot, so get quotes from several boatyards and marinas before deciding where to store your boat.
Finally, there is the option of indoor storage. There are many methods offered, heated or not, climate controlled or not. Indoor storage has the benefit of protecting your boat from 100% of the winter elements, but access to your boat is determined by the storage company.
In the end, you can do all the work yourself by winterizing and storing in your backyard, or you can hire professionals to winterize your boat and store it at an indoor facility. The method you choose should match the value of your boat. It would be a shame to spend a fortune on a boat only to do an amateur winterizing job on it and store it in your backyard.
A Jay is a freelance writer who works with a variety of companies such as Harris Flotebote, a pontoon manufacturing company based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
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