Winterization of your boat is an essential maintenance step that you must follow to ensure that your boat remains safe and protected from the elements during the winter months. If you want to enjoy a glitch-free boat experience all through the year, winterization is vital.
However, there are several boat winterizing mistakes that boat owners often commit that can cause extensive damage to their prized vehicles. So, for all boat enthusiasts, we are going to discuss the common mistakes that you may unknowingly make and how to avoid them.
Commonly Seen Boat Winterizing Mistakes
The eight common mistakes people make while preparing the boat for winter are:
- Not cleaning the boat before storage
Cleaning the boat, which includes the engine and the body, thoroughly with fresh water ensures that there will be no traces of dirt, salt, and other contaminants that otherwise may harm the components by causing corrosion or blockages.
- Not draining water from the boat
Ensuring that there’s no water on the boat is crucial for the simple reason that if the drainage is not done properly, the water on the boat may freeze due to the dipping temperatures. As is common knowledge, when water freezes, it expands and, as a result, may damage the component where it is present, including the engine, ballast system, or the boat’s framework and body. It also prevents mold formation.
- Not prepping your engine
Once you clean the engine, prepping it for winter helps it to survive the harsh conditions without harm. The procedure includes the following:
- Replacing the engine oil
- Adding a marine fuel stabilizer to prevent fuel deterioration
- Using a fogging spray
- Greasing and lubricating to prevent rust and oxidation
- Not using anti-freeze fluid
Using safe, non-toxic marine engine anti-freeze fluid that contains propylene glycol on all the parts that contain water, such as the plumbing, engine, bilges, fixtures, and toilets, is important. Even after you drain water from your boat, any remaining traces can crack engine blocks, burst pipes, and damage plumbing lines. The anti-freeze ensures the prevention of such damage.
- Keeping the heater running
If you think leaving the heater running inside the boat will keep it warm and protected from the effects of the extreme cold outside, then you may be mistaken. Instead, there are many instances where boats have been gutted or suffered extensive damage due to fires from unattended heaters.
- Setting the jack stands incorrectly
The jack stands to bear the entire weight of the boat when in storage. So, care must be taken that they are secure and stable enough to avoid toppling your boat.
- Using the wrong cover
A make-do tarpaulin cover may not be adequate to protect the boat from severe winter conditions. Using shrink wrap may be the better option.
- Using D-I-Y where professional expertise is needed
If you feel you are ill-equipped to do the job, hiring a professional may be your best choice.
Get Comprehensive Boat Coverage with Pierce Insurance
To ensure that your boat is in optimum condition all year round, proper maintenance, including winterization, is a must. Similarly, for its all-year-round protection, having the right boat insurance must be your priority. For more information, contact our expert team today. At Pierce Insurance Group, we will help you get comprehensive coverage for all your aquatic ventures.