How To Store Your Boat For The Winter

We all enjoy the fantastic boat rides during the summer, don’t we? But what do we do to our boats when the winter kicks in? Unlike a car, a boat is more sensitive since it has more of its parts exposed. Most of these parts will rust and corrode when left unattended for an extended period. The weather, significantly during winter, will further worsen the damage on your lone boat. Wear on your boat will cost you several bucks for repairs when you want to use the boat.

Where can you store your boat?

There are several places you can store your boat and be assured that you will get it safe and perfect for use when the winter comes to an end. These places include:

• At your home- consider buying a trailer to store your boat either in your yard or driveway.
• In a storage facility—most cities near water bodies have storage facilities that they rent out to boat owners until the next summer or when they can use the boats conveniently.
• At boatyards- these are indoor storage facilities for boats mostly in racks or stories to store as many as possible.

How To Prepare Your Boat For Storage

For your boat to be entirely fair, the next time you need it, is there are several things you should do. It is advisable not to leave a boat in the water because of the winter conditions. It might end up sinking if you are not monitoring it closely.

1. Do a checkup and clean
Check your boat from the engine to the body identifying any cracks or dents. Remove all the debris that could be on the boat. Drain the boat water tanks, head. Sea socks and bilge. There is a need to lubricate the moving parts so that they do not rust, wash the body with soap and water and once dry, apply some wax on it.

2. Engine care
winterize the engine by draining it and flushing it with water. The flushing will help get rid of the old oil. Fill up the engine tank with fuel mixed up with stabilizers. Keep the engine running for a few minutes so that the stabilizer gets to all the fuel lines.

3. Unplug the battery
The battery should be removed, its nodes cleaned and stored in a warm and dry place. Anything else that is not part of the boat should be removed and stored in a safe place. These items include life jackets and fire extinguishers.

4. Take care of the exhaust
Motorboats have bigger exhaust pipes that may serve as an entrance for bugs and pests if not sealed. They should, therefore, be sealed tightly.

5. Cover your boat
You must have a boat cover that can stand harsh weather for the protection of your boat. Place tilted to encourage drainage and remove snow build up once in a while.
By doing this, your boat should be up and correctly working when summer comes.