Winterizing Your Boat The Right Way

The different seasons bring a number of different challenges for boat owners, but one of the biggest challenges is properly winterizing your boat. It is important to keep in mind that there is a right way to do it and a way that could land you in a lot of maintenance trouble. That’s why we’ve provided tips to help you get the job done. If you're in the market for boats, you can find some great options at JR Motors. Our dealership is located in Lake Havasu City and Parker, Arizona, and we also serve those in Blythe.

Replace The Oil in Your Boat's Engine

Replace your boat's engine oil. The acids and moisture in old engine oil will pit bearings and other parts of your engine while you are storing away your boat. Just be sure to first drain the old oil out of your boat's engine. Warm up the engine while your boat is in the water, which will make draining the old oil easier.

Use only high-quality oil and oil filters. We recommend that you follow the suggestions in your owner’s manual. 

Add Fuel Stabilizer

Add a high-quality marine fuel stabilizer to stop the fuel from deteriorating. Fill the fuel tank with fresh fuel to prevent water condensation, which can lead to corrosion. Run the engine for several minutes to move the treated gas throughout the fuel system.

Use A Fogging Oil and Replace The Gear Oil

You can protect the internal engine components of boats with a fogging oil. This penetrates deep into the engine and gives engine parts a layer of an anti-corrosive compound. Drain old gear oil from the lower unit and swap it out with fresh oil. Check for moisture when you are replacing the gear oil. Water coming out first or lumpy or milky oil indicates moisture contamination, which means your boat will likely require new seals before next season.

Lubricate Your Engine

Find the engine's grease fittings. Add a good marine lubricant to prevent rust, oxidation, and corrosion. Check your owner's manual to make sure you are greasing all of the important areas prior to winter storage.

Retrieve Any Valuables

Break-ins on boats during winter are common since boatyards don't get much traffic in the winter. Retrieve all of your valuables from the boat. You should also insure your boat in the event something does happen.

Wash and Wax, Then Cover

Wash the boat and wax it before putting it away. Dry storage is best, but you can also make do by covering your boat with a durable cover. 

Now you should be completely ready to store your boat! For more information, or to check out boats for sale near you, stop by JR Motors. We are based in Lake Havasu City and Parker, Arizona. We also serve Blythe, Arizona.