Winterizing Your Boat

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It's important to prepare your boat for winter hibernation to prevent it from developing corrosion, cracked blocks, and a host of other potential troubles. Winterizing is much more cost-effective than having to take the boat for repairs in the peak season or in the spring after the winter is over.

Protecting the Hull

Winterizing your boat is not just about adding fuel stabilizer and antifreeze or draining the engine. If your boat is made of fiberglass, ice accumulation on the body can split open window tracks and hatches, resulting in leaks. Therefore, if you are going to store your boat outside, you need adequate boat cover.

If the hull has developed gel coat blisters in certain areas, you need to puncture, dry, and drain the blister and patch it with epoxy. Barnacles at the bottom of the boat should be scraped and sandpapered. Pressure washing can help to remove sea scum and dirt. You may wax the surface with a reliable product such as 3M’s Marine Ultra Performance Paste Wax. It can act as an acrylic shield over the hull to stop dirt from penetrating.

Protecting the Interiors

Winter air is typically dry or humid, and if the interiors are made of vinyl, it can spoil them during the storage period. Vinyl protectants and cleaners in the form of spray or gel can protect the vinyl from drying and cracking. Mold and mildew can develop with moisture. This can be prevented if you properly vent the boat cover and use a breathable cover material to ensure regular airflow to minimize trapped moisture.

Choose the Right Boat Cover

The cover should protect the waterline properly. If you opt for a relatively cheaper polytarp cover, you must use it with a frame in order to distribute the accumulated snow more evenly. This will prevent any weak areas of the boat from becoming damaged under the weight of the snow. Polyvinyl covers are more useful because of their water repellent properties and their resistance to stains and mildew. The cover must be tied or taped securely to ensure that wind does not get underneath it, which may shred the cover.

Engine Winterizing

The most common risks to your boat engine during winters include freezing, fuel degradation, and corrosion. Check for any loose connections, wires or clamps in the engine. Replace any hoses that may show cracks and adjust the belt tension if it is slacking. Any paint nicks must be touched up to prevent corrosion, and oil and the filter must be changed prior to storing the boat.

It is important to flush the engine with fresh water in an idle state, and store it in a vertical position to ensure that all the water drains out completely. If even a tiny amount of water is left inside the engine, it can freeze and cause serious damage. Stern drives and inboards need refilling with antifreeze solution such as propylene glycol. This will prevent the formation of tiny ice pockets which could crack the block.

Final Steps

Add fuel stabilizer to the fuel tank and allow the engine in idle state for a few minutes to distribute the stabilizer evenly. Remove the flame arrestor of the engine and spray fogging oil into the carburetor with the engine in running condition. This will help prevent rust and corrosion in the engine internals. Once the engine is stopped, take out the spark plugs and spray some fogging oil into the cylinders. These precautions will prevent engine damage during the storage period.