Winterize My Boat Myself || It is imperative to safeguard your boat through winterizing if you reside in an area that has freezing temperatures in the Winter. It is paramount to winterize a boat in cold temperatures to protect it from damage caused by freezing temperatures and ice. When water freezes, it expands, which can cause damage to the engine, and other components of the boat.

Can I winterize my boat myself?

The simple answer is yes. You can winterize your boat yourself. The simplest form of winterizing is to remove any water from the boat and replace it with proper amount of antifreeze to protect it from the coldest temperatures possible.

Step 1: Engine Oil Replacement

You must replace engine oil (old) because acids and moisture with it may corrode other components of the engine. To remove unclean oil, you have to flush the old oil more quickly by warming up the engine when submerging it in water. Then as per your manufacturers’ instruction, use filters and premium oils before storing an outboard engine for the extreme cold season.

Step 2: Draining and Flushing Cool Water

You should remove and flush the water from your boat’s motor to avoid freezing. For inboard engines, there are two distinct procedures: flushing the engine with water using water muffs, and then repeating this procedure until your boat engine achieves normal operating temperature. You can take the water pump hose off to drain the leftover water.

Similar to inboard engines, you must ensure that all drain holes are open before starting the engine and flushing the cooling system with fresh water for a few minutes. Additionally, winterizing the gasoline tank will aid in a smooth start if you feel that you do not regularly flush your engine.

Step 3: Fuel Stabilization

Within 60 days, fuel can degrade to eradicate varnish and gum from the engines which reduce the performance of the engines. You can deal with this issue by using a fuel stabilizer to stop it from degrading. Then you may feel your engine tank with fresh fuel and run your boat engine for some time.

Step 4: Protecting components of the internal engine

You must drain out engine oil while being stored. Especially, during the winter time, this exposes internal parts of the engine which results in metal-to-metal contamination and corrosion. You also can use fogging oil spray to remove these types of problems and this type of product is only designed for the internal portion of the engines and protects the internal portion with an anti-corrosive layer.

Step 5: Gear Oil Replacement

You must remove gear oil from the lower unit and replace it with a new one. But you have to make sure that before replacing the gear oil, you have to check dampness. Most importantly, if you observe that your boat suffers from any kind of water leakage or lumpy oil, then you have to understand that your boat is suffering from moisture contamination and this needs to apply new seals.

Step 6: Lubricating and Greasing

First, locate the grease fittings on your engine, then use high-quality marine lubrication that helps your boat from corrosion, rust and oxidation. Before starting this, keep in mind that no overlooking does not occur from any crucial part for first lubrication to winter storage.

Step 7: Valuables Removing

During winter time, traffic at boatyards is low and takes away all the valuables involving high-end electronics. If your boat is not in water, then it is your responsibility to get it insured.

Step 8: Cleaning, Waxing and Covering the Boat

The next step to winterize your boat is to cover your boat after cleaning and waxing. You must make sure that you store your boat in dry places although it is a little expensive for you and covers your boat with a durable cover.

In addition, you can avoid depleting the engine water system by using heated storage solutions, but because they are expensive, not all boat owners will be able to afford them. But from a different angle, it might also be said that doing so can save you money up until a severe ice storm hits and causes power outages.

The antifreeze used to winterize freshwater and engine systems differ from the coolant used in your engine’s heat exchanger. Since the coolant’s primary ingredient, ethylene glycol, is extremely toxic, winterizing antifreeze needs to be harmless because it enters drinking water systems and has the potential to spill.

To keep your engine and plumbing systems safe at the coldest temperatures your boat may experience, the antifreeze you use in those systems must also contain the required freeze protection. Read More>>>