Tips For Winterizing a Boat

Now that summer is gone and the temperatures are dropping, most boat owners are putting their boats into storage until spring. Before you do that, though, it’s important to take the time to winterize your boat first. Proper winterization will ensure that your boat is in good shape come springtime, so you won’t have to worry about having it repaired before you can use it.

Clean It Up

Remove all trash, food, equipment, and personal items from your boat. You don’t want to leave anything on board that could attract pests or cause condensation to form, like wet towels and fishing gear. Sweep the deck, wipe down the consoles, and clean your seats. If your vinyl has mold or mildew, you’ll need a gentle scrubbing brush with soap and water or a Magic Eraser to clean it. Hose down the boat’s exterior and check over it for signs of rust or corrosion that need to be addressed.

Add Stabilizers

Changing your engine oil and replenishing your gas tank with fresh fuel is a wise move. Add a fuel stabilizer to your tank of gasoline so that it doesn’t undergo water separation during storage which can cause rust to form. Applying fogging oil to the engine cylinders can also cut down on corrosion.

Remove Battery

To avoid your battery draining while your boat is in storage, you should remove it and place it in a warm, dry area on a trickle charger. The charger will keep your battery juiced up over the winter. Check on it every so often.

Find Secure Boat Storage

Protect your boat with a snug-fitting, water-resistant cover once it’s clean and dry. It’s a good idea to keep your boat indoors during winter, in a garage, shed, or rentable winter boat storage facility. If you must keep your boat outdoors, try to store it covered underneath a carport to shield it from the weather.

When you’re looking to buy a new or used boat, visit one of our dealership locations in Calgary or Edmonton, AB, or Saskatoon, SK, to see what we’ve got in stock. SWS Marine Group is proud to serve our customers throughout the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan.