Winterizing

The biggest winter risk is freeze damage. Water left in an engine block, cooling system, or plumbing expands as it freezes and can crack expensive components. Non-toxic marine antifreeze, run through the raw-water and fresh-water systems to the right concentration for your climate, is the core of any layup. Follow your engine maker’s procedure — the steps differ for raw-water-cooled versus closed-cooling engines, and for outboards versus inboards and sterndrives.

Protect the engine internals too. Fogging oil sprayed into the cylinders coats internal surfaces so they don’t corrode over months of sitting, and fresh oil and filters (changed before storage) get acids and moisture out of the crankcase. Stabilize the fuel to prevent gum and phase separation, and handle the battery — charged and stored properly — so it survives the cold.

Finally, keep water and critters out. A good cover or professionally applied shrink wrap, with proper ventilation to prevent mildew, protects the boat from weather and debris. A little support structure under the cover keeps it from pooling water and sagging. Done right, winterizing is a few hours that saves a spring full of repairs.