Storing Your Boat for Winter

Fall is well underway, which means that many mariners are powering down and storing their boats in advance of the winter season. While it’s possible to go out on winter fishing trips, it gets pretty cold here in Wisconsin, so it may end up being more practical to wait until the weather warms up and the snow melts before you go on another marine adventure.

But you can’t just toss a tarp over your boat and walk away! Taking the time to properly winterize and store your boat will ensure that it doesn’t become damaged over the season or infested with pests. Power Sports Abrams is your local boat dealer, so we’ve prepared this guide to winterizing and safely storing your boat.

Clean & Empty Your Craft

First, you should totally empty out your boat of everything that doesn’t need to stay on it. This includes life jackets, towels, clothing, watersports equipment, fishing gear, food and expensive items like binoculars and GPS units. Clean up any crumbs or spills and clean out livewells and baitwells to remove tempting smells that might lure pests on board your craft. You should already be in the habit of rinsing your boat after a cruise, but you’ll want to rinse it again now and wash the exterior, then apply a protective marine wax.

While you’re cleaning, you can inspect your boat for any signs of damage that need repairing. Change out the oil and add fuel stabilizer to your gas tank. Look over hose connections and check for mold or mildew that might need to be addressed.

Figure Out Where To Store It

Your next task is to determine where you’re going to store your boat. You could trailer your craft in your driveway or backyard, but this leaves it vulnerable to the elements, to pests and even to theft. A locking garage or shed is a better option. You could also rent a storage unit, or you could investigate storage options at a marina or storage facility. In fact, we offer boat storage options here at Power Sports Abrams that you may want to look into. Finding a secure place to keep your boat ensures you don’t have to worry about it over the winter season.

Invest In a Cover

Regardless of whether you store your boat indoors or outdoors, it’s important to have a well-fitting cover for it. A snug cover will keep out dirt, debris, leaves and even pests. It reduces the risk of theft as well, and it will also keep your boat safe and dry in wet weather. Keeping your boat covered while it’s not in use will extend its life and save you money and time that you’d otherwise have to spend cleaning and repairing any damage done to the craft.

Flush the Cooling System

You should remove the coolant from your engine and replace it with antifreeze. Your owner’s manual likely has the information you need on how to do this. Coolant will keep the internal components of your engine from freezing, which would otherwise make for expensive repairs in the spring.

While this guide doesn’t cover everything you’ll need to do before you store a boat, it’s a good place to start! If you still have questions, our experienced staff will be happy to answer them. And if you still need a boat, come see us at our Abrams location to check out our full stock of new and used boats for sale. You can also check out boat storage options. Power Sports Abrams proudly serves the cities of Appleton and Green Bay, Wisconsin.