Dry-docking your boat when the weather turns cold doesn’t mean that you can stop caring for it for a couple of months. If anything, during the bitter winter months it actually means that you have to do a tad more work on your boat maintenance. Even when you are not actively using your boat, you still have to think of ways to ensure that it will be in tiptop shape when you finally take it out of storage. Winterizing your boat engine is all about protecting it from the damage that may be caused by harsh weather conditions. You have to be vigilant about how you treat your boat’s engine, if you want it to work well during the spring boating season.

7 Simple Steps to Winterizing Your Boat Engine

Winterizing a boat engine need not be a complicated, drawn-out process. Here are seven tips for winterizing your boat engine:

1. De-Waterize the Boat

Get rid of all the water. Flush out the cooling system of your boat with the help of a flushing kit. You can purchase one from a boat supply store. This will help you clean out bits of rust, sediment, sand, and other debris that might have accumulated in the cooling system during the time the boat was in use. Pump some antifreeze afterwards to discourage icing in the line.

2. Winterize Your Boat Engine Fuel

Fill up the tanks with marine fuel. Then, add some fuel stabilizer. Run the engine long enough to get the treated gas into the engine and fuel line. This will ensure that the engine will start immediately even after your boat has been sitting in storage for a couple of months.

3. Protect the Paint

Use corrosion inhibitors where necessary. Touch up flaking, peeling or cracked paint and douse it with a good amount of anti-corrosion spray. Corrosion won’t take a break just because it’s freezing outside. So, you better pay attention to how your boat feels and looks like before you dry-dock it.

4. Use Fogging Oil for the Outboard Engine

Apply fogging oil on the outboard engine. Fogging will prevent corrosion from eating away at the metal parts of your boat while it is not in use. Fogging oil is especially formulated to stick to the cylinders instead of sliding down the walls.

5. Winterizing Your Boat Engine Oil and Filters

Replace the oil and oil filters as needed. Don’t wait for spring to roll around before you replace components that are already worn or malfunctioning. Your boat will definitely thank you for being kept in good condition even through the off-season.

6. Time for a Propeller Check

Check your propellers for nicks and other damage. The smallest dent can affect not only the props’ performance, but the entire engine and drive system as well. If the blades are damaged, it may encourage vibration in the engine when you next drive the boat out into the water.

7. Lubricate the Fuse Panel

Spray on a generous amount of moisture-displacing lubricant onto the fuse panel and electrical terminals. Thus, you will discourage moisture from accumulating no matter how cold the weather gets.

Conclusion

So, when the weather turns cold next time do yourself a favor by winterizing your boat engine properly before putting the vessel into storage. A little attention goes a long way into extending your boat’s usefulness and saving you from unnecessary repair costs.

Should you find detailing and winterizing your boat engine at home challenging, you can seek the help of trusted professional detailers who also have experience and offer boat detailing services. For example, a mobile DetailXPerts team is only an online booking request away from giving your boat a brilliant look and feel. So, why wait?

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