How Should You Prepare Your Boat Storage?
A boat offers endless hours of water entertainment during the summer months. However, during the winter months your boat probably doesn't get used much—if at all. While you certainly could just leave your boat in your driveway or garage, it's often better to take it to a boat storage facility. But before you do that, you must make sure your boat is ready to be stored.
So how should you prepare your boat for winter storage? Here are four tips:
1. Fill Up the Tank
It is a good idea to fill up your fuel tank before winter hits. Having a full tank might not sound important, but it can actually help reduce engine trouble. Just make sure you add a gas stabilizer to the tank as well. This combination will help reduce condensation and water from pooling in your gas tank, which will make it run a lot smoother in the spring. Just make sure you run …show more content…
Add Antifreeze
You should also take some time to flush out your coolant system. Additionally, make sure you top it off with antifreeze. This might be a simple step, but it will also help keep your engine in ship shape. If you don't know how to do this, do not attempt to do it yourself. Take your boat to a mechanic and have them do it for you.
3. Remove the Battery
Another helpful tip is to remove the battery before storing it. Since batteries are an electronic, they can become damaged during the winter. The cold temperatures can cause the battery to fail. So it is always a good idea to remove it before storing your boat. If you have any other electronics on board, such as a GPS system, you might want to consider removing them as well—for the same reason.
4. Deep Clean
Finally, make sure you give your boat a good cleaning. Dirt, grime, and salt water can all take its toll on your boat. So it is a good idea to clean it thoroughly before storage. Clean the outside with soap and water, but don't forget the interior. In addition, make sure any fabrics or carpeting is dry as well. You don't want to wind up with mold or
So how should you prepare your boat for winter storage? Here are four tips:
1. Fill Up the Tank
It is a good idea to fill up your fuel tank before winter hits. Having a full tank might not sound important, but it can actually help reduce engine trouble. Just make sure you add a gas stabilizer to the tank as well. This combination will help reduce condensation and water from pooling in your gas tank, which will make it run a lot smoother in the spring. Just make sure you run …show more content…
Add Antifreeze
You should also take some time to flush out your coolant system. Additionally, make sure you top it off with antifreeze. This might be a simple step, but it will also help keep your engine in ship shape. If you don't know how to do this, do not attempt to do it yourself. Take your boat to a mechanic and have them do it for you.
3. Remove the Battery
Another helpful tip is to remove the battery before storing it. Since batteries are an electronic, they can become damaged during the winter. The cold temperatures can cause the battery to fail. So it is always a good idea to remove it before storing your boat. If you have any other electronics on board, such as a GPS system, you might want to consider removing them as well—for the same reason.
4. Deep Clean
Finally, make sure you give your boat a good cleaning. Dirt, grime, and salt water can all take its toll on your boat. So it is a good idea to clean it thoroughly before storage. Clean the outside with soap and water, but don't forget the interior. In addition, make sure any fabrics or carpeting is dry as well. You don't want to wind up with mold or