Freeing Up Space At Home

Preparing Your Boat For Winter Storage? Here's What You Need To Remember!

30 January 2018

Billie Gonzalez

While you won't be out on the water during the coldest months of the year, your boat will still need some special attention. A self storage unit or speciality boat storage facility is a great place to keep your boat safe until the weather heats up again -- but you can't just put the boat in the unit without preparing it properly. Here are a few key tips to remember as you prepare your boat for winter storage. 

Remove the Water From Your Boat

You need to remove all of the water from the boat before placing it in boat storage for the winter. You can do this by either draining all the drain cocks or by running antifreeze through your boat's engine. It's important to remove the water from your boat because you otherwise might have to deal with messy and costly frozen pipes during the winter.

Stabilize the Gas in Your Boat

Most people store their boats with a full tank of gas. When your gas tank is full, you don't have to worry as much about damaging moisture accumulating in the tank. However, you should make sure that you keep the fuel from separating by adding a gas stabilizer to the tank. Use the directions on the fuel stabilizer bottle regarding proportions to ensure that you don't over or under-fill the tank. 

Keep Your Battery Safe

During the coldest part of the winter, your boat's battery may be at risk for freezing and cracking. It's usually best to remove the battery from the boat. Wipe the battery off to ensure that it's clean, and use a baking soda/water mixture for gentle scrubbing if there is any corrosion buildup. Dry the battery using a soft cloth and then wrap it in a blanket for storage. 

Prepare Your Engine

Engine preparation can depend on the type of boat that you have. Many boats benefit from engine fogging -- the use of a specialized oil to make a type of protectant seal in the engine -- before winter storage. If your boat's manufacturer recommends engine fogging, be sure to strictly follow all instructions. You may need some help for this process, as fogging involves a close watch of the powered-on engine while constantly spraying oil. 

Preparing your boat for the winter in a self storage unit can be a time-consuming process -- but it's also very well worth it. By properly preparing your boat for boat storage, you can potentially save a lot of money in boat repairs next spring!

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