BOAT WINTERIZING CHECKLIST WE USE ON OUR BOAT
Feb 08, 2019
If you live somewhere where you pull your boat in the fall and store it over the winter months, this article is for you.
We live in the Northeastern United States in Vermont and store our boat on the hard from late September through mid-May.
Here are the steps that we follow for Winterizing our boat, S/V "Second Wind," formatted as a useful checklist.
This list will help you develop your personalized checklist for your boat, depending on your equipment.
WINTERIZING CHECKLIST:
Pump out the head storage tank
Remove dinghy Davits
Remove the anchor and rode from the anchor locker.
Remove the dodger and bimini canvas and any frame structure as needed.
Winterize Engine with engine-compatible antifreeze:
- Remove the water intake hose from the water impeller or the freshwater strainer.
- Attach a clear hose to the engine fitting
- Put the end of the hose in a Gallon of engine antifreeze and start the engine. (-100 F)
- Ensure antifreeze comes out the engine exhaust thru-hull fitting
- Shut down the engine
- Empty engine freshwater strainer, add antifreeze, and flush antifreeze through the hoses
- Check/Add regular antifreeze to the engine
Hot water tank:
- Flush out the tank: Connect a freshwater hose to the Pressure Relief Valve and connect a hose to the bottom fitting to flush
- Cap the top fitting if nothing connect (no hot water lines)
- Drain water from the tank:
- Attach 5/8" ID hose (attach to bottom fitting before removing top fitting)
- Use a shut-off valve on the drain line.
- Drain tank into lower storage compartment using a bucket and dump as needed
- Install hot water tank bypass fitting - connects input and output lines on hot water tank together (this saves a lot of antifreeze)
Flush/Pump freshwater antifreeze thru:
- Clean water pump filter first
- Freshwater lines using water pressure pump. Open all faucets and check both the hot and cold sides.
- Icebox/cooler drain hand pump.
- Head and both lines on anti-siphon fitting
- Arid Bilge Vacuum until the antifreeze comes out the thru-hull fitting
- Turn off automatic bilge pump switch then add antifreeze until it comes out thru-hull fitting
- Manual bilge pump until the antifreeze comes out the thru-hull fitting
- Shower sump pump
Remove various items from the boat:
- Brass clock
- Compass - put plastic over the opening.
- Solar panel
- Sails
- Cushions
- Boat grill, cover & tools
- Safety Equipment:
- PFDs / Lifejackets
- Throwable(s)
- Flares
- Life sling/horseshoe throwable
- Fire extinguishers
- Handheld VHF
- Binoculars
Set up winter cover frame:
- Start assembling the frame at the bow.
- Bring up the front cover canvas section before the stern section frame is up.
- Finish stern section frame, bring up stern section cover.
- Install the bow cover section and then the stern cover section
- Tie boom to winter cover frame using sail ties or other short lines
Fuel tank:
- Add diesel/gas stabilizer to the fuel tank - follow the instructions on the bottle.
- Fill the fuel tank - use a siphon hose or battery-operated pump.
Batteries:
- Charge batteries
- Disconnect batteries
- Remove batteries and bring them home.
- Turn off the solar switch/remove the solar panels
- Break down solar frame/store inside the cabin
Ensure all thru-hulls are in the open position
Set up Damp-Rid devices throughout the boat to prevent mold and remove moisture
Below are some pictures showing some of the above steps:
You may have other work items for your boat, depending on the different systems and electronics that you have. This list should give you a good starting point for winterizing your boat.
Please comment on this blog below if you have other things that you do to your boat for winter storage, or you can shoot me an email at Steve@seadogboatingsolutions.com
