Winterizing

At the end of the season it is very important to winterize your boat. Winterizing your boat will ensure that your boat have a long life and many seasons to be enjoyed. 

Winterizing includes most of the following, though the exact list will depend on your boat and there may be additional tasks.


  • Draining everything that holds water, from plumbing lines and tanks to engine blocks and cooling systems.

  • Flushing everything out that comes in contact with salt water.

  • Adding non-toxic antifreeze to everything that held water including plumbing, toilets, fixtures, engines and bilges.

  • Changing oil in engines and fogging them with oil.

  • Draining gasoline tanks and/or treating with stabilizer

  • Filling diesel takes and treating with antimicrobial stabilizer

  • Disconnecting batteries and charging them (lead acid) or discharging them to 50% (LiFePO~4~).

  • Covering the boat or moving it indoors. 

    If You Don't Winterize Your Boat, Here's What Happens: Water freezes and expands and can damage anything it's trapped inside. Water may seep into unprotected spaces to do this. Acidic and corrosive wastes, salt and corrosion buildup can damage delicate parts in engines. Fuels break down or grow dirty. Mold and mildew take root, and you may come back to a boat in the spring that you can not use because of multiple system failures.