Winterizing

Failure to winterize can cause your boat to suffer significant damage such as cracks that cause leaks, corrosion, frozen pipes, interior damage, and fuel degradation.

The first thing to do is to fill the gas tank to prevent condensation, oxidation, and subsequent spoilage, and add enough stable to condition the fuel for storage. After the fuel is topped off, hook up your water supply hose to your "ears" and attach them to the lower unit. The "ears" are the same ones you use to flush and run your outboard with. Use these to prevent damage to your engine, while warming it up. While warming the engine, change the oil to allow impurities to drain. Your owner’s manual will show the location of where to pump out your oil. Most are through the dipstick pipe, but some boats have a special pipe just for this. You need to make sure the hose runs down the pipe well into the engine sump pan.

Make sure the oil filter has a check valve in it to protect your engine from oil draining back through the filter. Most inboards require 30-weight oil; you can use an alternative multi-grade, but make sure to look in the manual for the right oil for your engine.

Oil tends to settle on the bottom of the engine block so consider fogging the carburetor while the engine is running for 20-30 seconds or until it begins to smoke. Fogging oil should be sprayed into the carburetor to reduce condensation and prevent rust from building up in internal parts of the engine. Once the engine is fogged, detach the fuel line and run the engine until all of the gas is burned. Lower the motor so all of the water drains from it, then turn it over a few times to blow out what water remains in the cooling system.

If your engine uses coolant, drain the existing fluid from the engine block and replace with non-toxic, propylene glycol base antifreeze, which is better for the environment and for your engine. You want to avoid any antifreeze that contains ethylene glycol base, which is known to release toxins into to the water.

Storing your boat ashore if you could afford it is an important process towards winterizing your boat. Storage ashore is better than storing in the water, in the long run your boat will be protected from developing blisters around the hull caused by water soaking into the laminate below the waterline. Power wash the outside of your boat and after you have clear all stains and sea build-up, make sure to look around the boat for places that need to be sealed, painted and varnished. This will protect your boat all winter long until the next season.

Regardless if you can take your boat out of the water or not, the best thing to do is to cover it. By covering a boat, you will protect the waterline from the wind, snow, and ice that can cause corrosion. Boat experts recommend going to your boat dealer and getting what is called mold and mildew bags, and put them in your boat. This will solve any problem of smell and extra cleaning in the spring. Make sure your cover is not torn, in good shape, and that it has a snug fit.