Be Wise - Winterize!

No doubt, it's starting to get cold out. There's a good reason many animals hibernate during the winter. Preparing for long periods of inactivity and seeking protection against extreme climatic conditions are necessary steps for survival. It's no different when it comes to your boat and motor. Proper "winterization" is a must for protecting your craft and ensuring it's in ship-shape condition when spring rolls around. Although you should always consult the owner's manuals for winterization procedures for both your boat and your engine, here are some tips for safeguarding your valuable recreational asset during the "off season."

Fill 'Er Up
Be sure to fill your boat's fuel tank to capacity (allowing just a little bit of room for expansion) and add stabilizer prior to stowing it away for the winter. Failing to do so will allow air into the tank, which can condense on the sides as the temperature changes causing corrosion and clogging over time. Run the engine for 15 minutes (with a proper water supply attached for cooling) in order to move the stabilizer-treated fuel into all parts of the fuel system. Turn off all fuel valves and use duct tape to seal off any through-hull exhaust ports. This will also help prevent potentially harmful internal condensation. In addition to these steps, remember to replace your boat's fuel filter and water separator.

Protect Your Engine
Oil tends to settle on the bottom of the engine block when a boat is not being used, exposing the pistons and valves to air, humidity and other corrosive materials. To guard against this situation, remove the spark plugs and spray "fogging oil" inside the carburetor (unless your engine is fuel injected) and down the spark plug holes. Then replace the plugs without reconnecting the wires. This will provide a long-lasting protective coating for these essential engine parts.

It's also important to replace your engine's old oil with fresh oil. Dispose of any used oil at an authorized recycling center. The lower unit gear case lubricant on outboards and inboard/outdrive engines should also be flushed and changed. This will eliminate water from the system and provide better overall protection for key internal parts. Also replace oil filters on inboard and outdrive engines.

Use the Right Antifreeze
If your engine uses coolant, drain the existing fluid from the engine block and manifolds and replace with a non-toxic, propylene glycol base antifreeze. Despite pressure from the EPA and other environmental organizations, many antifreeze products still feature an ethylene glycol base, which is known to release toxins into the water. Not only is the propylene glycol variety better for the environment, most manufacturers say this type of antifreeze is better for your engine as well.

Remove Your Battery, Electronics and Safety DevicesIf you are planning on storing your boat out of the water, disconnect the battery and store it at home for easier maintenance and better protection against theft. Removing your battery is not recommended, however, if your boat will be remaining in the water during the winter period. Boats left in the water should have the battery on board and functioning so the bilge pump will continue to function if needed.

If you will be taking your battery off the boat, make sure it is fully charged prior to stowing it away. Be sure to maintain the charge throughout the storage period (to avoid freezing).
It's also wise to remove all of your sensitive and valuable marine electronics from the boat for the winter, and to store this equipment in a safe place at home. This will help prevent theft and possible damage caused by shifts in temperature and humidity. Winterization also presents a perfect opportunity to remove items like dock lines, floatation devices, flares and fire extinguishers from the boat for inspection and possible replacement.

Check Your Prop
Take this opportunity to check your boat's propeller. Your prop blades may have become bent or nicked over the course of the boating season, which can diminish overall performance. If this kind of damage has occurred, you should have the prop repaired or replaced during the winter. This way, you won't have to worry about these things come springtime.

Clean, Clean, Clean Your Boat
Before putting your boat to bed for the winter, be sure to give it a good cleaning inside and out. If you store your boat with dirt, scum, barnacles and the like on the exterior, these impurities will be even harder to remove in the spring. Once the exterior of your boat is sparkly clean, apply a quality polish to create a protective barrier against dirt and dust.

When cleaning the interior, don't forget the teak, vinyl and carpet. These are areas where dirt, combined with moisture can breed mildew, especially in the dark environment of a covered boat with little or no ventilation. To help keep your boat free of mildew, you may want to install a dehumidifier or use one of the odor/moisture absorbers offered by various manufacturers. Turn any cushions up on edge so that air can circulate around them, or better yet, remove them from the boat for storage in a climate controlled area.

Also remember to clean any bilges and drain any existing water. Remove all drain plugs and put them in a place where they'll be easy to find when you're ready to bring your boat out of winter hibernation. After cleaning any bilges, protect them with a coating of moisture displacing lubricant and a little antifreeze.

Get The Water Out
Any water remaining in your engine or components (excluding that which is properly treated with anti-freeze in closed cooling systems) when your boat is exposed to freezing temperatures can possibly freeze and damage valuable equipment, including the engine block itself. Therefore, it's important to not only drain all remaining water out of the engine, but also out of any attachments that may also have water flowing into them, such as heater and shower systems. Consult the owner's manuals for your engine and components to find out how to completely drain any water residing in them. This will most likely involve the removal of several drain plugs and/or hoses. This is also a good time to inspect your impeller. If it's in good shape, remove it and store it in an airtight bag. If it's damaged, pick up a new one over the winter. It's a good idea to place the drain plugs in a plastic bag as well and tie everything to your steering wheel. That way, you'll remember to put everything back together when you recommission your boat in the spring.

For boats with closed cooling systems, check the coolant levels and use an anti-freeze tester to check the strength of the mixture. If the coolant is low, use a mix of anti-freeze and distilled water, in accordance with the directions on the container for the anticipated temperatures, to fill it to the proper level. If the coolant is not strong enough to protect your engine for the lowest anticipated temperatures, it needs to be replaced with a proper mixture.

If your boat is equipped with a marine head, make sure you pump out the holding tank at an approved facility prior to winter storage. Add fresh water to the bowl and flush several times. Use a cleaner approved for your type of system and let the solution sit for a few minutes before adding more fresh water and pumping it out again. Follow this process by adding antifreeze (alcohol-based if this type of solution won't damage the system) and pump the coolant through the hoses, holding tank, Y-valve, macerator and discharge hose.

Put it on the Block
If you own a trailer boat, it's a good idea to put the boat and trailer up on a block for winter to take the pressure off the tires. You may even want to remove the trailer tires to help discourage theft and prevent weather damage while the boat is in long-term storage. Take the opportunity to inspect the trailer tires for wear and tear. Also grease the wheel bearings, replacing them if necessary.

Go Undercover
Whether you'll be storing your boat outside or inside a garage or structure, your craft should be covered. If it will be outdoors and exposed to elements, you'll need a storage cover to protect the interior of the boat from the harsh winter environment. Even if your boat will be kept in dry storage, a cover of some kind is recommended to guard the interior against dirt, dust, pests and bird droppings.

For outdoor storage, a quality 8- to 10-ounce cotton canvas boat cover is ideal. Make sure that the cover is properly sized and fitted for your particular boat model. It should also be supported so water will run off the cover and not accumulate in pockets.

If your boat will be kept in dry storage for the winter, the waterproof quality and strength of the cover will not be important factors. In this situation, the main concern is keeping dust and other particulate matter from gathering on your boat, so nearly any type of tarp or cover will get the job done. A fitted cover is preferred, however, because it will also keep mice, rats and other undesirables from seeking refuge in your boat and damaging the interior.

If conditions will be extreme, you may want to consider "shrink-wrapping" your boat instead of using a standard cover. Only a shrink-wrap cover provides 100 percent waterproof protection, is impossible to blow off and can withstand heavy loads of snow or rain. Shrink-wrapping your boat can be a do it yourself job, but it requires proper tools, materials and instructions. Complete shrink-wrap kits are available.