Though winter is full of the holly jolly fun of the holidays, for our friends up North, it also brings something a little less cheery—ice-cold temperatures. Sure, you can bundle up, crank up the heater and throw some logs in the fireplace, but what about your boat and dock? If you hope to keep your vessel afloat come spring, there are a few key things you need to do. Luckily, winterizing your boat and dock is simple with this handy checklist.
Winterizing Your Boat and Dock Before the Big Freeze
- Keep it Clean: Many boaters don’t take their boats out as often in the winter months, especially during the coldest months of the season. Before you take your boating break, be sure to clear your ship of any food on board, deep cleaning all lockers, storage areas and refrigerators or freezers you may not touch on the average trip.
- Check the Essentials: Fire extinguishers, life jackets, mooring gear and other important facets should be checked and replaced, if necessary, before your next outing. A professional tune-up and maintenance check is also never a bad idea.
- Think Tanks: During the cold winter months, it is vital that you fill your gas tank to about 95% capacity and add stabilizer to the tank. If you don’t, there is a major risk that the ethanol in your gasoline will absorb enough moisture in the cold to separate from the fuel, which can be deadly to your engine.
In addition, consider disinfecting holding tanks, then running antifreeze through them.
- Clean and Inspect Your Dock: Just like your boat, a seasonal inspection is vital to making sure your dock is ready to handle what winter has in store. Look, especially, for structural damage or weaknesses, as well as any debris that may keep your dock from rising and lowering as it’s supposed to.
Now is also the time to clean your deck, removing mold and grime and ensuring that it is properly repelling water.
Though cold waters don’t keep everyone from getting in their boating fix, for those who prefer spring and summer cruising, it is important to prep for a little aquatic hibernation by winterizing your boat and dock. Other than the above steps, simply keeping tabs on the weather, asking a neighbor to keep an eye out for you, or even scheduling a mid-winter checkup could go a long way towards keeping your ship safe until the sun can warm those waters again.
Us Floridians wish you luck.
