After the summer, you must store your boat, so it's sensitive, exposed parts don't erode during the winter. Proper boat storage will extend it’s longevity, while also keeping it tucked away until the snow melts. Below are a few tips to properly care for your boat before putting it up.

How to Store Your Boat During The Winter

1. Clean & Lubricate

Before you start preparing your boat for storage, drain all the water from the tanks, head pipes, and seacock and clean your boat. Open any locked drawers that could freeze, and grease all parts with freeze-resistant lubricant. Add antifreeze into the water tank and bilge.

2. Winterize the Engine

Flush the engine with fresh water to remove corrosion, dirt, and salt. Refill all coolant systems, and briefly warm the engine to loosen impurities, then replace all filters and oil. Store all drive belts to prevent them from snapping, and add a full tank of gas mixed with stabilizer.

3. Remove Specific Parts

Anything that you can remove, you should, including flares, fire extinguishers, and life jackets. Also, take out fabric or leather to prevent mildew and mold, and store all electronics inside with your boat battery. 

4. Cover & Store

Once you've finished removing parts, cleaning your boat, and winterizing your engine, it's time to store your boat. A commercial company is usually the best place for boat storage. Keep your boat indoors if possible to reduce weather damage.

5. Check Boat Often

Whether you're storing your boat in the garage with a tarp, or at a boat storage facility, turn on your craft every few weeks to ensure your engine is still running. Check other components of your boat to ensure they haven't frozen, and clean up any water that may have collected from melted ice and snow.

If you need a smart storing solution for your boat over the winter, rent a storage unit from All Seasons Storage today. For more than 40 years, they have provided spacious, fenced-in storage solutions in different sizes for customers in the Kalispell, MT, area. They also have indoor storage options and car and RV storage. Call (406) 755-2913 to ask about their pricing and sizes, or stop by their location on US Highway 2 and get an estimate.