3 Reasons to Winterize a Boat

Many people listen to the winterize boat suggestions and let them go in one ear and out the other. Many boat owners do not want to go through the hassle of properly winterizing their boat and just let it slide. They do not want to put any extra money into the boat before it sits in the shed for the next six months. Unfortunately, those that do not realize the true importance of winterizing their boats could be in for a rude awakening when they try to use their boats the following spring. They could find a number of problems that could have easily been avoided by a proper winterizing. Here are a few reasons that you should winterize your boat before it gets too cold.

1. Avoid Engine Problems

The engine of the boat is the most critical piece of equipment. There are a number of steps that you need to take before cold weather comes in order to prevent your engine from further damage. While you think that it might save you some time and money to skip this step in the fall, it will end up costing you a lot more money after winter is over.

You should flush your engine with fresh water first. Many motors allow you to hook up a hose right to the engine for this crucial step. Make sure that the engine drains completely as any water left in there could freeze over the winter and cause huge problems. Then put a little fuel stabilizer in the gas tank and allow it to run throughout the system for a few minutes. You will also want to spray some fogging oil into the carburetor and cylinders. You should also replace any hoses that are questionable now before they freeze and cause bigger problems. 

2. Avoid Busy Season

When you fail to properly winterize your boat before it gets cold, you will undoubtedly cause some serious problems somewhere on the boat. Many people will even avoid costly repairs before winter because they know that the boat is just going to sit until spring. However, this is not the smartest strategy as boat mechanics are traditionally swamped during the spring and early summer when everyone gets going again. You may not be able to get a mechanic and if you do, they might charge you more. Address problems in the fall when mechanics are a little less busy. 

3. Other Potential Damages

While the engine is important, it is not the only area of the boat that can be damaged by winter's freezing temperatures. You need to pay attention to the rest of the boat as well. Check the hull of the boat for stress fractures and address them now. Cold weather can split those little cracks wide open. 

The interior of the boat needs to be addressed as well. Cold weather and vinyl interiors do not mesh well together. Make sure that you coat the vinyl interior with a vinyl cleaner and protector before winter comes.