Winterizing and de-winterizing your boat are both very important steps, and these are necessary to ensure that your boat is ready during the warm weather months to provide all the enjoyment that you’ve come to expect from this wonderful hobby. The winterizing process involves steps which will protect your engine, potable water systems, and other systems which might be damaged by freezing temperatures. The de-winterizing process will involve a number of steps that will prepare your boat for operations on the water, so that you and your family and friends can take advantage of the available pleasures provided by local rivers, lakes, and oceans.
Winterizing Your Boat
Regardless of where you live in this country, winterizing steps will be necessary through the cooler or colder months of the year. Even the southern states are subject to occasional freezes, and that can cause major damage to some of the systems on your boat. One of the important steps you should always take when winterizing your boat is fogging the engine. Fogging oil is highly resistant to any kind of corrosion which might impact inboard or outboard engines being stored for an extended length of time.
You should also change the oil during the winterizing process, because when old oil is left in your crank case, it can form acids which will cause corrosion on the components of your engine, thereby shortening its life. Next, you should fill the engine block with antifreeze to prevent water from freezing and possibly cracking your engine block. The fuel tank should be topped off, and stabilizer should be added to the fuel so that it doesn’t break down and separate.
Now you should drain the freshwater tank and all the water lines, and then install antifreeze in them to protect them. The same should be done for your sanitation system, so that no harm comes to it. Finally, you should take whatever steps are necessary to prevent the buildup of mold or mildew on your boat, for instance by keeping the boat ventilated, and protecting it against the accumulation of moisture.
De-winterizing Your Boat
Before you fire up your boat for the first time in spring, you should check your engine oil, replace the oil filter, and change out the gear lube. Then test your battery to make sure it’s filled with water, and that it shows a good reading on a battery tester. If there’s any corrosion on the terminals, have this removed before installing it in its normal position.
The fuel lines and hoses of your boat might very well have been impacted by the cold winter weather, so you should start by conducting a thorough visual review of all the hoses and fuel lines. Make sure your fuel filter is clear before refilling your cooling system and topping off your gas tank. Next you should remove your distributor cap and make sure that there is no corrosion there, then check the spark plugs to make sure they’re snugly in place.
If you placed a plastic bag over your carburetor during the winterization process, make sure this is removed. One of the last things you need to check before heading out to your favorite body of water is all the belts on your boat. If you notice any signs of cracking, or if you feel looseness on any of the belts, this is a an indication that they may be worn and require replacement. Also check for signs of black soot around the pulleys, because this could also be a sign that replacement is necessary.
Now you’re finally ready to start the engine, and once you do so, do a walk-around to make sure you don’t see leaks, and check your gauges to make sure they’re all functioning properly. Lastly, check the blower and the bilge pump to make sure they’re both operating properly, and then it’s time to start making plans for your next seagoing adventure.