Your Boat Needs Special Care For Winter Months
By Teresa Ambord
If you want your boat to perform well when spring rolls around, you’d be smart to do some winter maintenance now. Whether you do the maintenance yourself or you pay your marina or storage facility to do it, taking these steps could ensure safe, trouble-free boating when the weather warms up again.
Here are some areas to focus on:
- Fuel tanks: Fill the tanks and add stabilizer. Then run the engine for about 15 minutes to ensure the treated gas gets into the engine and the fuel lines. Otherwise, gasoline deteriorates into varnish and gum over the winter, and you’ll have a hard time starting your boat.
- Cooling system: Flush it out, using a kit available from a boat dealer (assuming you are doing it yourself). Remove block plugs and drain all the water from the inboard and inboard outdrive engines to clean out the build-up of sediment and rust flakes. Then pump in an environmentally safe antifreeze to ensure against ice pockets.
- Porta-potty: Drain the porta-potty and the fresh water system. Add freshwater antifreeze to both.
- Water supply lines: Pump antifreeze into these lines leading to faucets and showers.
- The engine: Drain the fluid from your engine block and manifolds. Fog the engine with oil to ward off rust. Fogging oil sticks to the cylinders and does not slide down the walls. Be sure to use this product (which is available in aerosol or in bulk) according to instructions. After the engine is cooled down, spray some into the cylinders and spark plug holes. While you’re at it, check and change the spark plugs as necessary.
- Belts and hoses: Inspect for wear.
- Steering: Check to see if the steering systems (including the outboard tiller steering friction fittings) need tightening.
- Oil: Change the oil and oil filter on inboard and inboard outdrive engines.
- Gear case lubricants: Change this lubricant on outboards and inboard/outdrive engines. It only takes a bit of trapped water that freezes to cause damage.
- Props: Check for nicks. Even small nicks can cause poor performance, but more importantly, damaged blades can cause vibration which in turn can damage other engine parts and the drive system. If yours is damaged, you may be able to get it repaired at a marine dealer for much less than the cost of a new one.
- Storage: Outboards should be stored in an upright position.
- Water pump impeller: According to the Ohio Board of Natural Resources, you may want to have this replaced every two to three years. If the rubber legs get stiff, water circulation is reduced. Or if the legs break off, coolant flow is completely eliminated.
- Moisture: Spray the electrical terminals and fuse panel with silicone, or some other lubricant that displaces moisture. Caution: make sure to choose a spray that is safe for electrical components.
- Inboard engines: Use carburetor cleaner to clean the backfire flame arrester on the inboard engines.
- Clean: Clean the entire boat inside and outside. Use a rust inhibitor on the metal hardware and on steering and control cables. Use a container of “No Damp” or some other mildew control product to make sure that when you return in the spring, the boat won’t smell musty. Cover the boat even if you store it indoors. Just be sure to allow for air circulation so that mildew doesn’t grow.
- Drain bilges: Drain water from the bilges and then leave the transom drain plug out. And just so you don’t forget that the plug is out next spring, leave yourself a note where you are sure to see it.
- Life jackets: Hang them where they can air out.
- Trailer: Check the tires and grease the wheel bearings to see if they require replacement. Check bulbs and electrical connections. Keep the plugs dry by wrapping them with electrical tape, and spray contacts with moisture displacing lubricant.
- Trailer storage: Put the trailer up and blocks. Remove the tires to prolong their life and discourage thieves.
- Owner’s manual: When all this is done, check your owner’s manual to see if there is anything else recommended for your particular boat.
