Common Mistakes To Avoid When Winterizing Your Boat

Winterizing your boat properly is essential to keeping it in top condition through the colder months and ensuring it’s ready for a smooth start when spring arrives. Unfortunately, there are common pitfalls that can lead to costly repairs or maintenance issues if they’re overlooked. In this guide, we outline the key mistakes to avoid when winterizing your boat and our tips on how to prepare your boat correctly.

Skipping Fuel System Preparation

One of the most overlooked areas when preparing a boat is the fuel system. Failing to properly stabilise and protect your fuel can lead to condensation inside the tank, which may cause corrosion or clogging over time.
How to Avoid It: Fill your fuel tank to around 95% to leave space for expansion and prevent condensation build-up. Add a fuel stabiliser to prevent fuel degradation, which can help to keep your fuel system clear and ready for spring. Check our range of marine engine oils and fuel stabilisers.

Not Draining and Flushing Water Systems

Leaving water in any part of your boat’s system

is risky, as it can freeze and cause cracking. Freshwater and greywater tanks, plumbing systems, and engines are all at risk.
How to Avoid It: Drain all water from your systems, including the engine, plumbing, and live wells. Flush these systems with a marine-grade antifreeze designed to handle sub-zero temperatures safely. This prevents any residual water from freezing.

Overlooking the Battery

Boat batteries can be sensitive to colder temperatures. If left on the boat, they can drain, freeze, or suffer from reduced performance over time.
How to Avoid It: Disconnect and remove your boat battery and store it in a cool, dry place. To maintain your battery health, periodically recharge it during the off-season.

Failing to Protect the Engine

The engine is the heart of your vessel, and it needs careful preparation before winter storage. Leaving old oil in the engine can lead to corrosion, while failing to add protective oils could result in rust.
How to Avoid It: Flush the engine, drain the cooling system, change the oil and filter to remove impurities that can harm your engine over time. Additionally, you can apply a fogging oil into the carburettor or spark plug openings to create a protective coating on internal components. We’ve written a full guide on how to protect your boat engine in winter, detailing all the steps to follow to engine your engine doesn’t suffer from corrosion, rust or freezing damage.

Using the Wrong Type of Antifreeze

Using automotive antifreeze is a mistake often made by boat owner; this can damage certain parts of the boat and is not environmentally safe for water exposure.
How to Avoid It: Only use propylene glycol-based, non-toxic marine antifreeze to winterize your boat’s water systems. This type is specially formulated to protect boat engines and plumbing while being safe for the environment.

Forgetting to Clean and Inspect the Hull and Deck

It may be tempting to leave cleaning for the spring, but any dirt, mildew, or salt left on your boat over winter can become far more challenging to remove later and may even damage your boat’s surface.
How to Avoid It: Thoroughly clean the hull, deck, and any upholstery. Remove all personal items and any perishable goods to avoid attracting pests. Adding a mildew inhibitor can also help protect enclosed areas. Check out our full selection of boat cleaning products.

Neglecting to Lubricate Moving Parts

Components such as steering systems, control cables, and hinges are often overlooked in the winterizing process, but failing to lubricate them can lead to stiffness and potential corrosion.
How to Avoid It: Apply a marine-grade lubricant to all moving parts, including hinges, zippers, and the propeller shaft. Lubricating these areas will ensure they stay in good working order and are protected from moisture.

Using an Improper Storage Cover

Leaving your boat uncovered or using a poorly fitted cover can lead to moisture, debris build-up, and even pest infestations over the winter.
How to Avoid It: Invest in a high-quality, well-fitted boat cover that’s appropriate for winter use. A support system under the cover can help prevent snow or rain from pooling on top, protecting the boat and making removal easier in spring.

Ignoring Safety Equipment

Life jackets, fire extinguishers, and other safety equipment are often forgotten during winterizing. Damp conditions can cause mould and mildew on fabrics, and extinguishers can lose pressure over time.
How to Avoid It: Remove and inspect all safety equipment, including life jackets, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers. Store life jackets in a dry place to prevent mould, and ensure extinguishers are within their expiration date.
Taking time to winterize your boat properly will not only protect your investment but also make for a hassle-free launch next season. By avoiding these common mistakes and using the right equipment and boat winterizing products, you can keep your boat in excellent condition all year round.