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As the weather cools off, it’s common for boaters to take their vessels out of the water and put them into storage. But before you stow your boat away for the winter season, it’s important to tune up your watercraft to protect it against the elements. To ensure your vessel is still in good shape for the spring and summer seasons, here are a few boat service and maintenance steps to follow for proper winterization.  

7 Essential Boat Service & Maintenance Tips to Prepare Your Vessel for Winter

1. Deep Clean the Vessel

Scrub down the interior and exterior of your boat to remove any lingering dirt. When you’re finished, wax the exterior. This deep cleaning will protect against corrosion that could wear away at the frame during the off-season.

2. Change the Oil

At the end of the year, your motor oil may contain contaminants that will cause engine corrosion during the winter. To avoid problems, flush out old oil, change the filter, and add new high-quality oil.

3. Add New Antifreeze

Flush out the coolant system and add the appropriate antifreeze mixture. This will help keep engine parts from freezing in the face of the winter cold.

4. Spray the Engine With Fogging Oil  

boat service and maintenanceFollowing steps outlined by your craft’s instruction manual, turn the engine over and spray it with fogging oil. Fogging oil protects vital engine components against damage caused by cold temperatures.

5. Disconnect the Battery & Drive Belts

When left connected over the winter season, your boat’s battery may drain or corrode, making it difficult to power up the vessel when spring arrives. To prevent problems, simply disconnect and remove the battery. Similarly, keeping drive belts engaged may place too much unnecessary tension on the parts. To keep the belts from cracking under this pressure, loosen or remove them.

6. Fill Up the Fuel Tank  

Empty fuel tanks are subject to condensation as temperatures change. This condensation may end up causing destructive corrosion within the fuel tank. For this reason, filling your gas tank is an essential boat service and maintenance step to follow before storing the vessel away.

7. Cover Up

To protect your boat against winter weather and invasive pests, cover it with a tight, waterproof barrier. If your vessel has any exposed exhaust ports, be sure to seal them as well.

 

When you want to give your boat the best preparation for winter storage, turn to the specialists at Pickensville Marine & Sports Shop. Providing expert boat service and maintenance in Pickensville, AL, for over three decades, these trusted mechanics will provide end-to-end care to fully winterize your craft for the off-season. If repairs are needed, this shop is equipped with a wide selection of high-quality boat parts that can restore your vessel to a dependable condition. To learn more about these services—and the used and new boats they sell at competitive rates—visit this marine shop online. For questions, call (205) 373-6372.

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