Winter can be a boring time for boat owners. When temperatures start to drop, recreational seafaring loses much of its charm and fun for many people. They put their boats into storage or leave them tied at a dock for the whole season. Well, at least regular maintenance is no longer necessary, right?
There is at least one more task one must do before bidding their boat goodbye for a while. One must prepare the ship for the chilling or freezing conditions it may face during this period. If you know nothing about winterizing a boat, read on to learn what it means and what you must do.
What is Winterizing?
Before we describe winterizing, we should share some fun facts about the peculiar qualities of water. Imagine filling an airtight tube with water. There is just enough to take up every millimeter of space within the tube, and there are no openings through which the liquid can escape.
Now, imagine leaving this tube in a freezer for a few hours. You might expect that when it freezes, the water will retain the shape of the tube. According to science, the results would surprise you. When water moves from liquid to a solid state, it expands. In this scenario, the tube would crack.
This can happen to various parts and equipment of your boat. The term “winterizing” covers all the different actions one can take to prevent that sort of damage. It entails anything from draining fluids out of engines to sealing stress cracks on the hull and potentially more. If you overlook anything, you risk seeing serious damage upon revisiting your vessel in spring.
A Message for Residents of Warm Areas
Perhaps winter is not so rough where you live. Perhaps you never need to shovel snow from driveways or worry about whether you can drive. As a result, you might believe that winterizing your boat is unnecessary. We assure you, though, that unless you live in an unambiguously tropical area, a little preparation would be wise.
Remember, the temperature only needs to drop below 32 degrees once for water to freeze. The whole season could be mild, but a single cold snap can be enough to damage your boat. Indeed, Florida and California lead the country in freeze-related boat insurance claims simply because residents in sunnier climes assume that winterizing is unnecessary.
Winterizing a boat is no one’s idea of a fun time. Depending on where your life is and how the season turns out, all your effort might not even be necessary. With that said, it is better to be safe than sorry. Take the time, perform it properly, and leave secure in the knowledge that your boat will be prepared for anything.
The Essentials of Winterizing a Boat
As we noted earlier, winterizing a boat encompasses a variety of tasks. Some are quite simple, while others are more complicated. All demand the attention, patience, and effort of boat owners. We will go over the more important actions here.
Draining the Engine
Your engine will likely not freeze in low temperatures. The oils and various fluids inside this apparatus are another stories. Should they turn to ice, you may find your boat stranded where it floats and your engine in need of repair or a full-on replacement. When people talk about winterizing, they often mean preventing this problem specifically.
Winterizing your engine may not be as simple as tipping it over and dumping the fluids into a container. You may need to insert something: antifreeze, in sufficient quantities. This chemical concoction protects engines in extreme temperatures. Yours likely already has some, and you just need to balance the amount of coolant in anticipation of winter weather.
If we seem rather vague here, it is only because different types of engines require different approaches. They can even differ in what types and amounts of antifreeze they need. Your engine’s instruction manual will show you how to give it the proper treatment.
Flushing Other Systems
The engine is likely not the only place on board with some sort of liquid running through it. You must identify anything else that may contain fluids and drain them as well. If not, it runs the risk of freezing and can put essential systems in critical condition.
The plumbing system is an obvious example. Any sinks and showers should be set to run until the fresh water tank and water heater run out. Then, antifreeze should course through the piping — turn the faucets on until only coolant comes out. The waste of water may feel shameful, but this process will save you money and heartache in winter.
Please note that any antifreeze you use for the plumbing system and others — besides the engine — is nontoxic. After all, you will be using these systems eventually. Whatever was in the pipes may make contact with your skin or even get in your mouth. If it is tasteless and body-safe, you will be just fine.
Covering the Boat
The most effective way of protecting your boat from the elements is getting it out of the water and storing it indoors. This method can be expensive, so many must make do with keeping it outdoors and covering it. You could use the cover that came with your vessel, or you could order a special one designed for weathering winters.
Securing the cover in an airtight way may seem like the best approach. Unfortunately, this may cause any moisture already inside the boat to stay trapped, which can cause plenty of problems. Make sure to add some gaps here and there where air can escape, but frost cannot enter.
You may be surprised to learn that shrink wrapping is also a viable solution. You cannot use the small cylinders that grocery stores provide for storing food. Contact a professional for heavy-duty material and expert assistance.
Winterize Your Vessel with Our Help
There is more to winterizing a boat than the three essential steps outlined above. We encourage readers to view this article as the start of one’s research, rather than the entirety of it. If you do it right, you will have nothing to worry about come spring. Then, you can get back in the water sooner.
Less Is Always More can help you in other ways. Our online store is packed with supplies for winterizing marine vessels. Check out our selection today before winter starts and see how we can help you prepare.
