How to Store Your Craft During Winter

As the cold off-season months approach, boat owners must decide how they are going to store their craft. In addition to deciding where to store your boat, you also have to know how to properly winterize your boat.

When one lives in a severely cold climate, it is obvious that you must leave your boat out of the water during this time. The first option would be to keep the boat indoors where it is dry, or whether to gamble and store it outside.

Clearly if you use an outboard motor with your boat, you can store the motor indoors and the boat itself outdoors. This might be a fairly simple solution. However, if you are thinking about outdoor boat storage and your craft has an inboard engine, there are additional factors to consider with your decision.

It is perfectly safe to store your boat out of doors during the cold months, even if you experience low temperatures and significant snowfall. However, if temperatures tend to fall in the minus zero range for long periods, it may be difficult to avoid damage.

If the engine or other components become frozen, it could result in expensive reparation that must wait all the way until springtime. So those who live in extremely cold whether should really rule out this option.

When you store your craft outdoor then make sure that you check the manufacturer's suggestions when winterizing your boat. Also seek the advice of your dealer in case of any doubts. Use only those products for winterizing process which is approved by the manufacturer and if you use any other products your boat warranty may become void.

Engines may need to be drained or winterized with special oils and coolants. Any sensitive or expensive equipment that can be easily removed from the boat should be stored indoors in a secure location. You will need to cover the boat completely with a durable tarp. Do not buy cheap plastic tarps for this purpose. Go with heavy-duty canvas, and make sure it is large enough to completely cover the boat with coverage on all sides.

When warmer weather arrives, promptly uncover your boat and fully inspect it for any damage. Pay particular attention to any signs of rot or animal intrusion, and cracks due to the cold. Have any damage repaired as soon as possible, and certainly before putting the boat into the water.

If you follow the company's guidelines for winter storage and make sure it is covered in a quality tarp and constantly check for damages, you will have a beautiful boat in the spring.