A Beginner's Guide to Preparing Your Boat for Winter

Tony Mers • September 18, 2023
A Beginner’s Guide to Preparing Your Boat for Winter

The water is the best place to be during warm months. Cruising on your boat is a great way to enjoy the beautiful spring and summer weather. However, the seasons will eventually change. As cold weather creeps in, you’ll have to prepare your boat for winter and take a break until warm weather returns. This beginner’s guide can help new boat owners with that process.

Clean the Exterior of Your Boat

The first step to preparing your boat for months of disuse during the winter is to clean it. If you don’t clean it, then dirt and salt could damage your boat while it’s in storage.

Add a power washing hose attachment or hire a professional power washer to clean the exterior of your boat. Power washing will eliminate stubborn stains. You can use rags or towels to apply a boat cleaning solution or wax after the power washing. Check for dents or cracks on the hull while you do so. Perform any necessary repairs before storing your watercraft to ensure its safety in the off-season.

Winterize the Engine

Preparing the interior systems of your boat is just as important as cleaning the exterior. If you don’t, moisture could permeate the tank or acid could corrode the engine.

Fill the fuel tank and add a fuel stabilizer to prevent moisture from permeating the tank. Change the oil and any filters. Flush the cooling system with fresh water and the engine with anti-freeze so everything is clean.

Drain the Water System

You should also winterize the water systems. Drain the water so it doesn’t freeze during the winter. If the water system includes multiple faucets, let them run until the tank is empty. Close the faucets, except for the cold and hot water faucets furthest from the tank. Pour anti-freeze into the tank. Finally, turn on the water system so the anti-freeze runs through it. Turn it off once the anti-freeze comes out of the furthest faucets.

Move Your Boat to a Secure Location

After your boat is clean and winterized inside and out, you need to move it to a secure location. While some people leave their boats in the water with protective coverings and bubbling systems, this could lead to potential damage.

The safest storage option for your boat is in an enclosed space on dry land. You can build a shelter on your property for your boat or rent a secure storage location. Hire professionals to transport your boat to either location so you know it’s safe every step of the way.

Our beginner’s guide to preparing your boat for winter takes you through the important exterior and interior steps for winterization. If you need boat hauling services to complete these steps, One Call Logistics can help. Our transportation professionals are efficient and trustworthy, so contact us today!

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