DIY Boat Winterization

Now that fall is upon us, it’s time to think about putting away our boats for the season. It’s unfortunate, but freezing temperatures and winter storms make it difficult to continue boating. Before you store your boat, however, you’ll need to winterize it to prevent damage from occurring over the winter months.

Hampton Watercraft & Marine, with locations in Hampton Bays and Eastport, NY, is proud to be your Long Island boat dealer. We’ve gathered up some information on how to properly winterize your boat so you can safely store it over the winter season.

Clean and Inspect

First, it’s important to take stock of your boat’s current condition. Address any repairs that you may need now, rather than waiting until spring. You don’t want any damage to get worse because you put it off for months at a time, particularly if it’s corrosion-related.

Remove all non-essential items from your boat, like personal possessions, clothing, wetsuits, watersports equipment, fishing gear and towels. Then go through and clean everything, from sweeping and mopping the deck to wiping down cushions and removing any traces of mold or mildew. You’ll also want to give the exterior a good rinse and scrub, and apply a protective wax to it. Make sure to remove any trash or traces of food from your craft to prevent pest infestation.

Engine Maintenance

Cold temperatures can do a lot of damage to an engine that hasn’t been attended to. While each type of engine (sterndrive, inboard or outboard) may have its own special needs, we have some broad suggestions on things you can do to winterize the engine.

Run fogging oil through the engine in order to prevent corrosion during storage.

Fill the engine block with antifreeze, like a propylene glycol solution that’s non-toxic and capable of preventing any residual water from freezing up and ruining your engine components.

Drain the fuel from your fuel tank and fill it with fresh gasoline that has no ethanol in it. A full tank of gas prevents condensation from forming in the empty space. Add a fuel stabilizer to prevent the gasoline from turning gummy in freezing temperatures.

Finally, change out the oil in your engine and replace it with clean oil. Leaving old oil in your engine can lead to acid formation, which will shorten your engine’s life significantly.

Livewell Winterization

If you have a fishing boat, then it’s important to winterize the livewell, too. Livewells are prone to freeze due to their water content, so they need to be emptied completely. Once you’ve drained as much water as you can, pump antifreeze through the livewell to prevent any remaining moisture from freezing and causing damage during storage.

Invest in a Cover

Whether you store your boat indoors or at a marina or on a trailer, you’ll need to have a well-fitting cover for it. A cover protects your boat from weather damage from sun, rain, snow and wind. It also prevents pests like birds, otters and rodents from invading your craft if it’s at a marina. If your boat is stored outside, then a cover keeps it clean and free of debris like dead leaves and dust. Find a snug cover designed for your particular boat that is made of a sturdy and water-resistant material for best results, and if you’ve washed your boat, make sure it’s completely dry before covering it up.

We hope our guide helps you to winterize your boat so that it remains in good condition all winter long. Visit one of our Long Island dealerships to check out our full stock of new and used boats for sale. We also offer winter storage options and marina facilities so you can safely store your boat until spring. Hampton Watercraft & Marine proudly serves Eastport, Hampton Bays and the rest of Eastern Long Island, New York.