Our last Carefree Boat Club training blog covered U.S. Aids to Navigation Systems (ATONS). As a follow up this week’s #TrainingThursday will cover Winterizing Your Boat. In this post, you’ll learn about the different parts of a boat and the best way to preserve them throughout a blistery winter (something Carefree Boat Club does every year depending on location.)
Winterizing a boat can be a very expensive cost to incur in addition to the cost of a boat, down payment, taxes, maintenance, slip fees, financing, insurance, repair/damages and not to mention depreciation.
When you join Carefree Boat Club, we incur these costs and do the hard work for you! If you are a current boat owner, we want to at the very least help you tackle the hassle!
Our dock staff inspect boats weekly using a 50 point checklist of safety equipment, hull condition, electronics, and general mechanical items. We also understand winterizing a boat can be a very tedious process for boat owners. To make it easier, Carefree Boat Club has provided boat owners a Winterizing Checklist.
Download the PDF here: [Winterizing Your Boat Checklist]
Winterizing Checklist
ENGINE ROOM
Engine(s)
- Fill fuel tanks and add stabilizer to gasoline
- Change oil and filter
- Change fuel filters/separators in engine
- Check coolant level in freshwater-cooling system and add coolant if necessary
- Run antifreeze through raw-water-cooling system
- Make sure water strainers are filled with antifreeze
- Fog cylinders in gasoline engines
- Top up battery electrolyte level and put batteries on marine charger
Installed Generator
- Change oil and filter
- Change fuel filters/separators
- Check coolant level in freshwater-cooling system and add coolant if necessary
- Run antifreeze through raw-water-cooling system
- Make sure water strainers are filled with antifreeze
Other systems
- Flush and fill air conditioning system with antifreeze
- Run antifreeze through watermaker and pickle as per owner’s manual.
OUTBOARDS
- Fill installed fuel tanks and add stabilizer
- Turn off fuel supply and fog while running
- Drain gear case and add fresh lubricant
- Flush engine with muffs and fresh water
- Store unit in lowest position
- Inspect/replace anodes
- Empty fuel from portable tanks into car tank and take them home for storage
OUTDRIVES
- If water intake is in lower unit, flush and run antifreeze through using muffs
- Drain gear oil and add fresh lubricant
- Inspect/replace anodes
BELOWDECKS
- Pump out holding tank and add antifreeze to head
- Drain water heater and bypass it
- Drain freshwater system and run antifreeze through it
- Run antifreeze through refrigeration, deck washdown pump, etc., per owner’s manual
- Drain shower sump and other places where water pools
- Remove food
- Open lockers to air
- Take home cushions or store on their sides
- Take home portable electronics
- Close propane valves and take home portable canisters
- Verify bilge pump and switch operate properly
- Clean and dry bilges
- Secure all ports and hatches
- Turn off all circuit breakers
IN THE WATER
- Close all seacocks except for cockpit drains
- Plug exhaust ports
- Check docklines and chafe guards – center boat in slip
- Add or adjust fenders for proper placement
BEFORE YOU GO
- Tie off tiller/steering wheel
- Cover/shrink wrap boat
- Lock cabin and leave spare key with marina manager
Tune in to our next training blog on Anchoring!
(Images and lessons sourced from www.BoatUS.com/insurance)
For more information stay tuned to future posts and articles from Carefree Boat Club, or visit our social pages below!
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