Winterize Your Boat Checklist with The Help of Seaspension
It’s important to winterize your boat even if you aren’t sure whether your area will encounter freezing weather. That way you’ll have your seacraft in optimal condition for awesome trips and excursions in the spring and summer. Here’s a checklist of things you can do to winterize your boat.
Winterize Your Boat Checklist
Check Inboard/Outboard Engines
Boats come with either an inboard or outboard engine, depending on their specific purpose and manufacturer. You should handle these with some of the preventative maintenance you would do on your car, especially by replacing the oil and oil filters. It’s also important to flush the engine with fresh water, circulate antifreeze through the manifold, spray the cylinders with fogging oil, and wipe things down with WD-40. Finally, make sure all the parts have lubrication with water-resistant grease.
Prepare the Stern Drive or Lower Unit
It’s common for the stern drive to accumulate lots of algae and barnacles throughout the year, so clear away all of it. Then drain the gear case and look around for moisture. That’s where it’s important to inspect for leaking seals and to ensure adequate fluid levels. If you aren’t sure how to do this, you can either take your boat to a mechanic or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in the owner’s manual.
Refuel Your Boat
It’s always a wise idea to have your boat gassed and ready to go. Plus, it helps mitigate condensation in the fuel tank during the off-season. You can also add a fuel stabilizer and replace the fuel filters and water separators.
Drain Fresh Water Systems
Many modern boats have their own freshwater systems, which require seasonal cleaning as well. Since it’s “fresh” water, you’ll want to drain it and run a non-toxic antifreeze through the various faucets, water heaters, and fixtures.
Protect & Secure Interior Equipment
There’s probably a lot of expensive gear on your boat. Take some time to remove or secure any important electronics, safety equipment (flares and life vests), fishing gear, and so forth. Don’t forget to cover your boat with a tarp or shrink wrapping.
Consider placing Damp Rid or some other dehumidifying device through the cabin and engine room if possible. Reducing moisture from condensation prevents mold and minimizes corrosion.
Upgrade Your Boat with Seaspension!
You should take advantage of any downtime during the cooler season to fashion your boat with upgrades and amenities (they make a good early Christmas present). Our patrons give great reviews for our outstanding Parker Boat Accessories, namely our shock-absorbing seat pedestals that come in several sizes and varieties. We have boat seat bases in half a dozen models (i.e., standard solo posts, spider posts, swivel posts), so you’ll find something to fit your craft.
At Seaspension, we’ve got your back! One of the best moves you can make to help your boat run smoother is to install Seaspension before winterizing everything. The purpose of all our products is to help you reduce fatigue and enjoy a more comfortable ride.
Our previous clients tell us that getting our pedestal products was one of the best investments they’ve ever made. If you’d like to learn more about winterizing your boat or anything we offer, contact us at 727-216-9639.
It’s important to winterize your boat even if you aren’t sure whether your area will encounter freezing weather. That way you’ll have your seacraft in optimal condition for awesome trips and excursions in the spring and summer. Here’s a checklist of things you can do to winterize your boat.
Winterize Your Boat Checklist
Check Inboard/Outboard Engines
Boats come with either an inboard or outboard engine, depending on their specific purpose and manufacturer. You should handle these with some of the preventative maintenance you would do on your car, especially by replacing the oil and oil filters. It’s also important to flush the engine with fresh water, circulate antifreeze through the manifold, spray the cylinders with fogging oil, and wipe things down with WD-40. Finally, make sure all the parts have lubrication with water-resistant grease.
Prepare the Stern Drive or Lower Unit
It’s common for the stern drive to accumulate lots of algae and barnacles throughout the year, so clear away all of it. Then drain the gear case and look around for moisture. That’s where it’s important to inspect for leaking seals and to ensure adequate fluid levels. If you aren’t sure how to do this, you can either take your boat to a mechanic or follow the manufacturer’s recommendations in the owner’s manual.
Refuel Your Boat
It’s always a wise idea to have your boat gassed and ready to go. Plus, it helps mitigate condensation in the fuel tank during the off-season. You can also add a fuel stabilizer and replace the fuel filters and water separators.
Drain Fresh Water Systems
Many modern boats have their own freshwater systems, which require seasonal cleaning as well. Since it’s “fresh” water, you’ll want to drain it and run a non-toxic antifreeze through the various faucets, water heaters, and fixtures.
Protect & Secure Interior Equipment
There’s probably a lot of expensive gear on your boat. Take some time to remove or secure any important electronics, safety equipment (flares and life vests), fishing gear, and so forth. Don’t forget to cover your boat with a tarp or shrink wrapping.
Consider placing Damp Rid or some other dehumidifying device through the cabin and engine room if possible. Reducing moisture from condensation prevents mold and minimizes corrosion.
Upgrade Your Boat with Seaspension!
You should take advantage of any downtime during the cooler season to fashion your boat with upgrades and amenities (they make a good early Christmas present). Our patrons give great reviews for our outstanding Parker Boat Accessories, namely our shock-absorbing seat pedestals that come in several sizes and varieties. We have boat seat bases in half a dozen models (i.e., standard solo posts, spider posts, swivel posts), so you’ll find something to fit your craft.
At Seaspension, we’ve got your back! One of the best moves you can make to help your boat run smoother is to install Seaspension before winterizing everything. The purpose of all our products is to help you reduce fatigue and enjoy a more comfortable ride.
Our previous clients tell us that getting our pedestal products was one of the best investments they’ve ever made. If you’d like to learn more about winterizing your boat or anything we offer, contact us at 727-216-9639.
