When boating season ends, boaters should prepare to store their boats for the winter to avoid a nasty surprise when the next season arrives! Compared to being on the water, winterizing your boat can feel like a chore. You have a complicated (often long) checklist to follow, and one tiny misstep could lead to disaster!
But for all the ways winterizing your boat can feel like a slog, putting it off will only cause more damage. Thankfully, Custom Marine has the knowledge and experience to help. If you’re not up to the task, we’ll be happy to winterize your boat. To help fellow boat owners, we’ve crafted a winterization checklist that can ensure your boat is prepared for the winter. To schedule a service appointment with Custom Marine, please visit this form.
Getting Professional Help
To even begin the process, you’ll need to source the right supplies and double-check that everything matches what your owner’s manual suggests! But for boaters who might be despairing at such a difficult task, don’t worry.
Custom Marine is here to assist you in the winterization process. Our skilled technicians know how to handle all kinds of boats—leaving you to rest assured that your boat will be in top condition by the time the season returns. We’ll handle the complicated steps of gathering the best supplies to prepare your boat and ensure that any damages it might have sustained are patched up before they cause you problems.
And if you suspect your outboard engine is at the end of its life, we offer replacement engines to repower your boat. We’re a proud Yamaha outboard engine dealer, but that’s not all we offer—we also carry Evinrude, Mercury, and Suzuki! We’ve got everything you need to ensure your boat is ready for the waves.
What Does It Mean To Winterize Your Boat?
“Winterization” is a term used to describe cold weather engine care or the list of tasks a responsible boater needs to do before they store their boat for the winter. Winter, even mild winters such as the ones common in Georgia, can cause corrosion and damage from freezing that can result in severe problems for your boat’s outboard engine once it’s time to pull it from storage.
These damages can be costly and require extensive repair work that will delay your time on the water. By taking the time to examine your boat (or having a professional do it for you), you can ensure that your engine is in top condition while in storage so it can be in top condition when you pull it out for the season.
Winterization Checklist
While winterization can change depending on the kind of boat and outboard engine you have, there are some critical steps that almost all boaters should follow to ensure their boat is ready for off-season storage.
Clean Your Boat
It can seem like a simple step, but checking your boat for any possessions that could be stolen should be the first step in winterization. This is also the easiest step for you to do on your own! Simply check for any loose valuables that might have been left below seats or compartments and lock up anything that could be easily stolen over the winter.
Inspect Your Boat For Damages & Replace Worn Parts
Throughout the season, it’s possible your boat became worn or damaged from use. While you might not have had the time to examine your boat with care during the season, the off-season gives you the perfect opportunity to check for scuffs, chips, rust, or any other signs of physical damage that should be repaired.
While some of these may seem simply a matter of cosmetics, correcting these damages while they’re small can make the task far less daunting than it would be if you waited until it became unsightly. Proper upkeep can also save you in the event you plan to sell your boat and trade it in for a newer model!
Of course, not all damages will be easy to spot for the untrained eye. Having a professional examine your boat will allow you to rest assured that your boat is free of damage before it’s placed in storage.
Change Oil & Filter
Before you store your boat, it’s important to ensure that you replace the old, dirty oil that may linger within the engine with fresh oil and replace the old oil filter. Dirty oil can cause your engine to corrode and kill your boat’s overboard engine long before its time.
However, replacing your oil can be tricky and frustrating. You’ll need to investigate the best way to remove the oil. Many “easy” methods won’t altogether remove the contaminated, dirty oil. In most cases, your manufacturer should have a recommended method or a boat technician can handle it for you.
Once you’ve successfully removed the oil, you’ll want to replace it with the brand of engine motor oil that suits your boat. But be careful to ensure that it’s marine engine oil and not automotive oil. Automotive oil can damage your engine and may even void your warranty in the event you have one.
Stabilize Fuel
Fuel left within the engine of your boat over the offseason may begin to break down and gum up your engine, resulting in messy and costly damages. A fuel stabilizer should be added to any remaining fuel in your system to avoid such messes. Fuel stabilizer limits evaporation and repels water infiltration, preserving your fuel for the duration of the winter. The manufacturer should have instructions on ratios. Once you’ve adequately measured your ratios, you’ll want to run your engine to ensure the fuel stabilizer runs throughout the entire engine.
Fog the Engine
Another necessary step to avoid your engine corroding over the winter is applying fogging oil to each cylinder. Fogging adds a layer of protection against moisture that could damage your engine. The steps for fogging your engine change depending on the type of engine you have, but in most cases, your engine should be warm enough to spread the fogging oil best—best done while it’s running.
Flush the Motor With Antifreeze
Some boaters think the best way to avoid freezing damage is to drain the outboard engine completely. However, that leaves residual water in the engine that can ice up and damage it. Instead, using an antifreeze flush throughout your engine will not only prevent water from freezing up but also help reduce the chance of rust forming.
Check Your Battery
Sometimes, your battery’s life is just at its end. If your battery is dying, leaving it in your engine could cause damage. A dead battery will freeze in cold weather, leading to cracks and leaks. Even if your battery isn’t dead, it’s recommended that you remove it from your engine for the duration of the winter.
Lube up Parts
While these change from boat to boat and engine to engine, most boats could benefit from being covered with a suitable gear lube or marine grease.
Protect Against Corrosion
For boats that spent time in salt water (and even boats that remained in freshwater), a corrosion inhibitor applied to the surface of the boat can prevent rust from developing from leftover water and moisture in the air that might develop throughout storage.
Store the Engine Properly
Depending on how your boat is stored, it’s imperative to ensure your engine is stored vertically. Vertical storage allows any remaining water to drain out of the engine instead of remaining stagnant within the engine.