"It's time to prepare for winter."
Part 1 - The Boat
Author - John E. Brady, Hanover PA-USA
Copyright 2001
e-mail - jeb@jebswebsite.com
Whether we want to believe it or not, fishing is over for most of us. If you own a boat, giving up fishing for the year should be more than just not going out any more. There's work to done on your rig that will ensure it will get through the worst of winters, and be ready in the spring. Even if you don't fish, but own a boat, you should heed these tips as well.
Whether you own a big shiny fiberglass rig or a small aluminum jon boat, if you're planning on storing your boat outside you need to prepare it for winter.
Getting a boat ready for winter is more than just throwing a tarp over it. There are several things that must be done, and several things that should be done in order to get your rig through the winter properly.
There are a lot of myths and misconceptions around about how much or how little attention needs to be paid to a rig before winter sets in. Let me set the record straight. No amount of time is too much time. Any time spent now, will help your rig get through the winter, be ready for spring, and ensure it will run better, longer.
There's too much important information to contain it to one article, so I've decided to break it down into two. This first article will cover preparing a boat. The next will cover motor and trailer.
The sequence you follow, whether it's doing the motor first, or boat first is inconsequential. To each his own. The main objective here will be to cover all the bases. But this path will follow the process I've always believed.
First, pull the drain plug and raise the front end of the boat so that it's higher than the back. This will allow any water that's in the boat to drain out. Additionally it will allow any water that might enter during the winter to drain to the back, and out the drain hole. If left to accumulate and freeze it could cause serious damage such as cracking fiberglass, or loosening rivets.
Next take out all of your gear. Not just some, all of it. This may be a long tedious task, but there's good reason. First and foremost, It will avoid getting anything wet that shouldn't, and second, keep any critters from making their winter home in any stored materials. This is also a great opportunity to review all the individual items loaded over the past season, and eliminate things you don't really need. Make a list of the items that should be replaced. Check for frays in tow and anchor ropes, fire extinguishers gauges, expiration dates on flares, and life jackets for tears or worn areas. Use the winter months to replace these items as needed.
Take off all removable equipment. Trolling motors, fish finders, downriggers etc. and store them inside. Besides keeping them looking like new and from getting weathered, this will help the cover fit tighter without any of these items protruding out to get in the way.
Take out the battery or batteries. Check the water level and fill as needed. Wash them down with soapy water to clean them up and take off any acid that may be on the outside. Dry them with a dry cloth, then dispose of the cloth. Use a wire brush to clean off the terminals. Do the same with the battery cable connectors. Take the batteries indoors. Put a full charge in them, and either leave them on trickle charge, or disconnect the charger. There are different schools of thought as to which is best, so do what is most comfortable for you. If you disconnect the charger, check the batteries periodically and charge as needed.
Next, vacuum out the inside of the boat, including all compartments. If you have carpet, use a stiff bristle brush to help restore the nap. If the boat finish allows, put a coat of good quality wax on the hull, and inside panels. Apply a liberal coat of vinyl protector on the seats, and any rubber and plastic parts. Spray all light sockets and electrical connectors with an electrical spray to prevent corrosion.
All of this may seem like a lot of work. But taking care of your boat properly should be taken as serious as you vehicle. Next time, winterizing motor and trailer.
Remember..."They call it fishing, but the goal is catching!"