Well, the time is here, summer is over and the cold temps are among us. If you live in a cold climate, like Nebraska, it is probably time to winterize your boat. We're here with your guide on how to winterize your boat yourself!
Here is a list of things you will need to winterize your boat yourself:
Antifreeze
Fogging oil
Motor oil
Lube
Oil pump
Fuel Stabilizer
Oil filter
We always recommend looking over your boat's manufacturer's guide before you begin any sort of work on your boat yourself!
Flush and Drain Water Lines
The first step you will want to take in winterizing your boat is flushing and draining the water lines. When the temps drop outside, things will freeze and expand and can damage parts on your boat. You will want to drain the water from the engine cooling system, if you have a plumbing system and any other part in your boat that may contain water.
Replace Engine Oil and Fluids
Depending on your boat, you may or may not have to replace engine oils and fluids. You can usually find this information in your boat's manual. You'll likely need to change fluids and filters in your boat like the oil, coolant, steering fluid, and transmission fluid.
Take a look at your fluid lines and ensure none of them need to be replaced.
Next you'll want to grease any moving parts on your boat.
Add a Fuel Stabilizer
Overtime fuel sitting in your boat can be hard on your engine. Before the winter, you'll want to top off your fuel and then add a fuel stabilizer.
Add a Fogging Spray to Protect Your Engine
When your boat is in storage, engine oil will drain away which is not good for the engine. To protect your engine you can add a fogging spray to protect these engine parts.
Check What You Left In Your Boat
Are there any valuables left in your boat? Maybe a wakeboard, a radio, etc - these are things you may want to remove for the winter and keep in a safe spot.
Clean Your Boat
You don't want your boat to sit dirty all winter! We suggest giving your boat a really good clean on the inside and the outside before you store it for the winter months.
Safe Storage
Finally, it's time to store your boat! Ensure you store your boat somewhere you feel it will be safe for the winter months.
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