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The Cold, Hard Facts About Winterizing Your Boat
by Flori Bootley
http://www.flboats.com

People who own boats also have to worry about what will
happen to their motorized boats during the winter months,
while the vast majority of us only have to worry about
winterizing our cars, trucks and lawn mowers. But for the
lucky boatowners, just because they took their boats out of
the water doesn't mean they can forget about them. There is
still lots to do to prepare a boat for winter.

Some boats are even too large to be removed from the water
during the winter months, or the owner doesn't have a dry
storage for it and leaves it in the water. In this case the
boat owner must make sure to check on it frequently and
be careful about an ice build-up around the boat. You don't
want to let this happen because it can damage the boat. A
de-icer should be used to prevent this icing.

If you do store your boat out of the water for the winter,
you have to check the fuel tank. Do not leave it empty
during cold weather, because condensation builds up within
the gas tank and will cause internal rusting. Fill the tank
up and add a stabilizer. This will protect the engine from
condensation. Change the filter and water separator to add
further protection.

Cars and trucks aren~t the only vehicles that require water
flushes and antifreeze. Boats, too, should be rinsed and
safeguarded with a non-toxic antifreeze before being stored
away in the winter time. Forgetting to prepare it in this
way will produce the same effect as it would if you were
to neglect to do the same for your car.

Don't just worry about the gas tank in your boat. You have
to have a good engine preparation schedule to make sure
your boat will weather the winter months without problems.
Flush the engine system with fresh water, grease the system
and top it off with a fresh filter and clean oil. Your boat
will now be totally ready for winter storage, and you will
have a boat that~s turn-key ready when winter is over and
you want to take a spring boat ride.

It's a lot easier to inspect the boat and find out what
needs to be repaired when the boat is not in use. The off
season is the best time for this to avoid surprises when
you're underway. Get out a scrub bucket for a thorough
interior cleaning job. To prevent mold and mildew from
growing, put a dehumidifier in the boat over the winter.

A boat is a big investment, and the responsibility for its
care commands a great investment of your time and
attention, as well. Don~t take shortcuts or count on luck
to keep your boat safe and incident-free during the coldest
months of the year. Only through careful planning and
proper winterization will you be assured of continued
enjoyment when boating season comes along once again.

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