Winterizing your boat is one of the most important things you can do to maintain a quality vessel that will keep running for years to come. Each year, after finishing your last cruise of the fall on Lake Coeur d’Alene, begin thinking about where you’d like to store your boat for the winter. It’s also a good time to begin thinking about any maintenance you’d like done over the winter months.
When preparing a boat for winter layup, your service company should take care of three main things before the boat is ready:
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Drain all water
All raw water and fluids should be drained from the engines, water systems, head, air conditioners or refrigerators. If water in these areas gets too cold, it could freeze and crack tanks. Even if you store your boat in a heated environment, algae can bloom in the tanks, which is a mess to clean up in the spring. Add a dehumidifier pack if needed.
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Add a stabilizer
All fuel systems should have a stabilizer added to them to prevent fuel phase separation.
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Drain carburetor fluid
If your engines are carbureted, drain the carburetor of fuel. This prevents ethanol sludge build up.
When getting ready to winterize your boat, talk with your professional boat shop about the best way to get your boat ready for winter storage.