De-Winterizing Your Boat

The cold winter months are nearly at an end, and spring is around the corner! With the thaw comes the return of many fun and sunny activities, including boating. If you stored your boat away for the winter, you probably went through some winterization steps to make sure it stayed in good shape for the duration. But how do you prepare it for use again?

Lucky for you, we here at Island Watersports have put together some easy tips for de-winterizing your boat! If you have any questions, or you’re looking for a new boat or boat parts, contact our store in Fenwick Island, Delaware. Our friendly and experienced staff will work with you to find whatever you need at the prices you want!

Engine Check

There are a number of things to attend to, but your first step should be to look over your engine. Cold weather can hit hard under the hood, and so can long periods of storage.

Belts

Most modern engines have a belt or two in them, and your boat is likely to have a few. Make sure these are in good shape by pressing gently on them with your hand. If there’s a lot of give, you may be looking at a replacement. Also check for any soot near the pulleys, which is another indicator that a belt might need replacing.

Tanks And Hoses

First things first - look for leaks. Hoses are often made of rubber, which can split and crack in the cold, so inspect all fluid hoses and tanks for cracks, damage, and generally anything that can cause a leak. This includes fuel lines and tanks, coolant systems, and oil. If you find damage that can cause leaking in a hose or line, replace it immediately. For damaged tanks, or if you don’t have the spare parts you need, contact our parts or service departments!

Fluids

Hopefully, you establish that there are no leaks, or are at least able to repair them quickly. Once you’ve done so, it’s time to check the fluids themselves. For winterization, you should have either stabilized your fuel or emptied the tank entirely. If you did neither of these, you’ll need to empty what’s there now. Fuel left alone for long periods of time can degrade, go stale, or even cause corrosion. After emptying bad fuel, double-check the fuel tank for damage. If you stabilized it, make sure it’s still in good condition, and if you simply emptied your tank, it’s time to fill it up!

Coolant is another fluid you should hopefully have emptied before storing your boat away, as it can freeze and cause damage to coolant lines and the tank. Make sure there’s no damage, then empty the strainer and fill your tank up. Your oil isn’t likely to freeze, but it can go bad, so make sure to either fill up or replace this as well.

Battery

Batteries are especially bad at dealing with cold weather. Ideally, you should have removed it from your boat entirely and hooked it up to a trickle charger to prevent it from losing charge and going fully dead. Whether you did or not, it’s time to test it out. Check the volts and amps with a battery tester and make sure it’s still capable of holding a charge. If it won’t charge at all, you’re going to need a replacement before you can boat anywhere. If it’s functioning, though, simply clean any corrosion from the terminals and hook it back in where it goes!

Interior And Exterior

Your boat’s mechanics aren’t the only concern when it comes to long storage or cold weather. Both the interior and exterior of your vessel run the risk of various damage that you should take care of before setting sail. 

Exterior Check

You’re going to want to make sure there’s no damage to the hull. While it may have been in pristine condition when you stored it, anything could have happened, from pests to bumps with other vehicles. Look for cracks, missing pieces, or gouges. If you find something concerning, make sure to check in with a maintenance expert.

Interior Cleaning And Prep

However carefully you protected your boat at the start of the winter, dirt, debris, and pests have a way of finding their way inside. Make sure there isn’t any standing liquid, build-up grime or dirt, or presents from various wild animals hiding onboard. These are more than unpleasant—undealt with, they can cause damage.

Finally, make sure you’ve got all your safety gear in place. It should have been removed and stored separately at the start of the winter, but once you start prepping your boat for the water again, you’ll want to make sure it’s all back aboard. That includes life vests, fire extinguishers, flares, first aid kits, and any other gear you require. Make sure anything with an expiration date is still fresh!

We hope these tips helped you get your boat back to the water as soon as possible! If you need more help, or if you’d like to browse the boat we have for sale, contact us at Island Watersports. We proudly serve the people of Ocean City and Salisbury, Maryland—let us serve you today!