How to Winterize Your Boat

Summer has unfortunately come to a close, which means many boaters are leaving their beloved crafts trailered in the driveway until spring.

Don’t be one of those boaters! Your boat needs some TLC before you put it away and it needs to be securely stored to protect it from theft and weather damage. A boat that hasn’t been winterized properly will be a boat that needs a lot of costly repairs once the warm weather rolls around again.

Germaine Marine, with locations in Arizona and Utah, is your local boat dealer. Here are the steps you’ll want to take when you winterize your boat for the season.

1. Clean Out Your Boat

First, remove all your personal belongings and expensive items from the boat. This includes things like towels, swimsuits, skis and fishing gear, but it also means taking out binoculars, GPS units and even life jackets. Now is a great time to go through your safety gear and make sure it’s still in good condition, too.

Wipe down your console and sweep the floors of your boat. Check all your seats for signs of mold or mildew that need to be addressed now. If there was ever any food on your boat, ensure all of it has been removed and that any sticky spills or crumbs have been cleaned up to prevent pests.

2. Replace Engine Oil

The oil in your engine is likely to be old at this point and full of corrosive acids. Warm up your engine in the water to loosen up the dirty oil so that it can drain completely. Use a high-quality oil that’s recommended for your boat type and replace the oil filter at the same time. 

3. Flush & Drain Engine

There may be water in the engine that needs to be drained so that it doesn’t freeze and expand, causing serious damage. Flush your engine with clean water for a few minutes using water muffs to hook up a garden hose to your cooling system. Remove the drain plugs and take out the water pump hose to let the water completely drain.

4. Stabilize Fuel

The fuel in your gas tank can deteriorate significantly within two months, which causes build-up in your engine that can lead to a lessened engine life and poorer performance. Replace the current fuel with clean, fresh fuel and add a marine fuel stabilizer to it. Run your engine for a couple of minutes to circulate the treated gasoline through your engine. 

5. Lubricate & Grease Fittings

The grease fittings in your steering mechanism can definitely use a little lubrication. Apply a marine lubricant to protect these components from oxidation, corrosion and rust. Look in your owner’s manual to make sure there aren’t other fittings that need to be greased.

6. Wash & Wax

Give your boat a thorough scrubbing to remove algae and residue from the hull before storing. You’ll want to set aside a few hours for this process, which is somewhat similar to washing a car. If you want to really protect the hull, then apply a marine wax or polish to your boat’s exterior once it’s dry.

7. Cover & Store

If you don’t already have a cover for your boat, you need to purchase one. At the very least, even if you store your boat outdoors, a cover will help protect your boat from the elements, prevent pest infestation and reduce the risk of theft.

Finding a secure place to store your boat is also important. Of course, it’s also a matter of money; sometimes, the best option is simply to store your boat at home in the driveway, backyard or garage. Dry storage in a secure facility is the best option, but it can be spendy.

We hope this guide helps you to winterize your boat so that it will perform better in the springtime. Looking for a new boat? Visit one of our dealerships to check out our fine selection of new and used boats for sale. Germaine Marine serves the states of Utah and Arizona.