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How to Winterize Your Boat

Oct. 27 2022 Seasonal By New England Watersports

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With winter on the horizon, many boat owners in New England are storing their boats until the temperatures warm up and it’s nice to boat again. However, careless owners may forget to perform vital maintenance tasks on their boats that help them stay in good shape over months in storage. Don’t be one of those owners! Use these tips to winterize your boat so that you aren’t spending hundreds of dollars on repairs in the springtime.

Wash Boat & Remove Items

You should take all personal items off your boat before anything else, including expensive electronics, towels or swimsuits, watersports equipment, fishing gear, and any food or trash left on board. You don’t want to make your boat vulnerable to theft or pest infestation, so removing everything that you can is a good strategy.

Next, you should thoroughly wash the boat’s exterior and clean the interior. Make sure to remove all debris from the hull and sweep the decks. Wipe down consoles and seats and treat any mildew, mold, or stains now.

Make Necessary Repairs

While you probably don’t want to spend a lot of time on maintenance when you aren’t going to use your boat, it’s a good idea to perform any needed repairs now, rather than waiting until the spring. Change the oil, swap out filters, check your engine, stabilize your gasoline, and fix anything else that you’ve been putting off.

Locate Secure Storage

Now that your boat is clean and fixed up, you should take care of it by keeping it securely covered and stored in a safe, dry place. If you have to keep your boat outside, make sure that your cover is very sturdy and snug and waterproof. Indoor storage is ideal, since it protects your boat from weather damage and theft or vandalism.

Come see us at our dealership in Naples, ME, to check out our fine selection of new and used boats for sale. We can even assist you with financing options on your purchase. Just talk to one of our sales team members to learn more. New England Water Sports is proud to serve our Maine customers around Long Lake and Sebago Lake.