Back to Basics: Winter Prep for your Boat and Boards

No matter where you live sooner or later your have to put the boat and your gear away for the winter. Now for some of you that amount of storage time is shorter than other and yes we are all jealous of you, but come March we will be back on the water and over it.

Until then it’s important you take the proper steps in winterizing your boat and your gear that way you don’t end up with mold on your deck or end up with a waterlogged surfboard.

Taking Care of the Boat

We all know it’s important to winterize your boat in order to increase its longevity and cut down on maintenance costs as well as keeping it clean and safe to ride in or behind. Follow these 5 steps to help prepare your boat for the winter.

A Good Cleaning: Inside and out; upholstery, deck, glass etc. think of this as doing your spring cleaning 6 months early. Make sure you vacuum it out, scrub the deck, wash the windows, upholstery and even wax the hull if you want. Try and use marine specific cleaners if possible, many are designed not to leave a residue and help resist moisture during the cold winter months.

A thorough cleaning will make it a lot easier come spring time.

The Engine: For this you will need antifreeze, fogging oil, fuel stabilizer, lubricants and a tool to flush your motor First add a fuel stabilizer, and top off the tank. Then winterize the block with antifreeze, make sure it’s non-toxic so you don’t contaminate the lake come spring time. You could also change the oil, but if not, then at least add some crankcase stabilizer to hold it over til spring. Next, fog the carbs and turn the engine off. If you have an I/O then you will need to drain and replace the lubricant in the lower unit. Watch for milkyness in the fluid and metal shavings as either of these could indicate a larger issue that requires additional service. When it comes to winterizing your engine a lot of boat owners pay to have a professional do it, but this can be easily handled if you know what you are doing. Refer to any number of online videos on the topic.

Fresh Water Systems: Winterizing your fresh water systems is really for ocean going vessels but sometimes applies to larger freshwater boats with a lavatory or fresh water tank. Either way it’s simple, just drain your water tank and fill it with antifreeze and then run all water systems until the antifreeze comes out. Then shut down all pumps and seal the water tank.

Cabin and Interior: The biggest issue we are fighting off here is the growth of mold, mildew and nasty odors. After a good cleaning and you’ve removed all clothing, boards, ropes, etc. you should open all the hatches and prop up or remove all interior cushions. Setting up the interior of the boat for optimal ventilation is key here. You then need to place moisture absorbers or dehumidifiers in all main areas of the boat, the bow, cabin, etc. These will control odor and mildew. You should then pump out the bilge and flush the lines with antifreeze. Next, and this is a biggie, remove and store the battery. It should be topped off with water and fully charged before storing and should be stored on wood and never concrete. If possible connect it to a battery maintainer over the winter and you should have no worries come spring time. It’s important to keep the air dry and moving while the boat is covered and stored for the winter.

Inspect and Cover: Pretty simple here; inspect the boat for any major damage that may need repair and cover it up to protect it from the elements. We all know that boats that are properly covered will stay drier and are less likely to develop stress cracks and gelcoat crazing from the thawing and freezing of water on the surfaces. Covering and storing your boat in a temperature controlled environment is optimal but not always an option. You may also want to consider getting your boat wrapped for the winter, which will provide a level of protection from the elements like nothing else. The cost is reasonable and your local shop or marina can point you in the right direction for getting it done. Or learn how to shrink wrap it yourself.

         

Refit and Modifications: While your boat is out of the water is the best time to make any equipment upgrades, refits or modifications. It’s much easier to install underwater LED’s and a new prop when the boat is out of the water and dry.

Taking Care of Your Stick

Properly storing your boards is very important and often overlooked. Yes you can just throw them on the rack and forget about it until the spring but its sure upsetting when you pull it down to go ride and your traction pad is falling off and water is dripping out of that hole you forgot to fix. Proper board care depends on the type of board you ride and is more intense if you ride a composite board since they are more easily damaged.

Clean and Repair: Pretty straight forward here. You should clean and dry your board and give it a thorough inspection at the end of the season. If you wax your board, make sure to remove all wax and any debris, like sand, that may be stuck to it. During inspection if you find any damage you need to repair it immediately to prevent any water getting into the core and causing further damage like delamination or getting water logged, especially if you ride a composite board. If you do need to make repairs, you can find resources and videos on the web or just take it to your local shop. Make sure and address any other noticeable issues, like regluing or replacing damage or loose traction pads, epoxy fin dings, etc.

Storage: When storing your board for the season you want it to be stable and safe so don’t just lean it up against the wall and hope for the best. You need to build or buy a proper board rack to keep your investment safe, secure and away from all the potential dings and drops. The guys at Rackanize.com make some very legit racks that can be used for a variety of gear. If you can’t get your board up on a rack then you should invest in a padded board bag or board sock. This will at least keep it clean and protect from minor damage if it gets knocked over or falls off the workbench or wherever. 

We all know that boards can be expensive, so follow these easy steps to help extend the life and performance of your board.