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The Cold, Hard Facts About Winterizing Your Boat
by Flori Bootley
http://www.flboats.com
People who own boats also have to worry about what will
happen to their motorized boats during the winter months,
while the vast majority of us only have to worry about
winterizing our cars, trucks and lawn mowers. But for the
lucky boatowners, just because they took their boats out of
the water doesn't mean they can forget about them. There is
still lots to do to prepare a boat for winter.
When a boat is even too large to be removed from the water
or the owner doesn't have a dry storage for it during the
winter months he has to leave it in the water. In this case
the boat owner must be careful about an ice build-up around
the boat and make sure to check on it frequently. An ice
buildup can damage the boat dramatically.Using a de-icer
all winter long should be used to prevent this icing.
Check the fuel tank if you store your boat out of the water
for the winter. During cold weather, do not leave it empty
because condensation builds up within the gas tank and
causes internal rusting. Add a stabilizer to the fuel and
fill the tank up. This will protect the engine from
condensation. You can add further protection by changing
the filter and water separator.
Boats need the same protection with a non-toxic
antifreeze and a good flush-out as cars do during the
winter months. Just as you add antifreeze to your cars and
trucks, you'll have to do the same for your boat. You will
end up with expensive problems in the spring, if you forget
this step for your boats, just as you would with your car.
Better to protect your engine system from freezing.
Engine preparation is just as important as the
consideration that you give to the gas tank. In order to
ensure that it will weather the winter months, flush the
system with fresh water (and grease, if necessary) and top
it off with a fresh filter and clean oil. This will not
only prepare it for winter storage, but will offer a boat
that~s ready to hit the water when the warm weather rolls
around.
It's a lot easier to inspect the boat and find out what
needs to be repaired when the boat is not in use. The off
season is the best time for this to avoid surprises when
you're underway. Get out a scrub bucket for a thorough
interior cleaning job. To prevent mold and mildew from
growing, put a dehumidifier in the boat over the winter.
Make sure to take care of that big investment in your boat.
Once you've made a big investment, you want to invest more
of your time and attention to the boat over the winter
months.However, if you neglect your boat over the winter,
and just count on dumb luck to keep your boat safe during
these cold months, you are asking for trouble. Take these
precautions to enjoy your investment during the boating
season.
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