| It's getting cold outside and the days are | | | | |
| shortening. Yes, winter is coming and it's | | | | Flush the cooling system and protect with |
| time to protect your boat from the elements. | | | | anti-freeze. Every two to three years, the |
| | | | water pump impeller should be changed to keep |
| The safest place for your boat to be over the | | | | the cooling system running efficiently. |
| winter is out of the water. However, hauling | | | | |
| and storage can be rather costly. | | | | Clean out rust and sediment from both |
| Shrink-wrapping your boat is a cheaper option | | | | outboard and inboard engines by removing the |
| or, if your budget is very tight, you can use | | | | block plugs and letting the water drain away. |
| a tarpaulin or similar cover to keep nature | | | | Pump anti-freeze in to prevent ice damage. |
| out. Allow for some air circulation under the | | | | Spray the engine with an aerosol fogging oil |
| cover to prevent mildew. | | | | to prevent rust. When the engine is cool, |
| | | | remove the spark plugs and spray fogging oil |
| Storing Your Boat Out Of The Water | | | | into the cylinders through the spark plug |
| | | | holes. Replace any spark plugs that are worn |
| If you've chosen to store your boat out of | | | | out. |
| the water over winter, it's a great | | | | |
| opportunity to clean the barnacles, algae and | | | | Replace the oil filter and oil and make sure |
| other foul off the hull, propellers, shafts | | | | you dispose of the old oil responsibly. |
| and rudders etc. Open the seacocks, letting | | | | |
| them drain and drain the bilges leaving the | | | | If your engine is an outboard, store it in |
| drain plug out. Make sure you remember to put | | | | the upright position. |
| it back in before your boat goes back in the | | | | |
| water next season. | | | | To ensure your electrical terminals and fuse |
| | | | panel remain rust-free, spray them with a |
| Storage In The Water | | | | lubricant to displace moisture. Read the |
| | | | label to make sure the spray is safe for |
| For boats stored in the water over winter, | | | | electrical items. |
| the main problem is freezing of the water | | | | |
| around the boat. Water expands when it | | | | On inboard engines, clean out the backfire |
| freezes creating huge pressure on your boat's | | | | flame arrester with carburettor cleaner. |
| hull which can be very damaging. Keeping the | | | | |
| water around your boat in constant motion can | | | | Life jackets, seat cushions and any other |
| prevent it freezing. Bubbling and de-icing | | | | fabric items should be hung up or positioned |
| systems exist for this very purpose, so make | | | | so they can air out easily. |
| sure there's one available if the water is | | | | |
| likely to freeze. | | | | Flush out the holding tank by pumping it out, |
| | | | adding fresh water to the bowl and flushing a |
| Ensure all the seacocks are closed and none | | | | few times, then pump out again. Use a toilet |
| are leaking and make sure the bilge pumps, | | | | cleaning product, but refer to your owner's |
| float switches and battery are all in good | | | | handbook to make sure the product you use is |
| working order. | | | | safe for your system. |
| | | | |
| You should also check the boat at regular | | | | If your boat is to be stored on a trailer, |
| intervals to be sure it is safe and secure; | | | | remove the tyres and place the trailer on |
| the marina or Harbour Master may be able to | | | | blocks to preserve the tyre rubber and also |
| do this and report back to you. | | | | make your boat harder to steal. |
| | | | |
| Further Winterization Techniques | | | | It is certainly worth remembering that a |
| | | | little money spent winterizing your boat |
| Add stabilizer to the fuel in your fuel tanks | | | | could save you a small fortune later. Your |
| to prevent the fuel from degrading over | | | | insurance company may actually insist on a |
| winter. Then run the engine to let the | | | | certain level of boat winterization to keep |
| stabilizer get into the fuel system and | | | | you covered. In addition to these general |
| engine to protect them. Refer to the fuel | | | | instructions, it is wise to check your boat's |
| stabilizer instructions for the appropriate | | | | handbook for any winterization required that |
| quantity. | | | | is specific to your type of boat. |