How To Winterize Your Boat

By John Funk, October 29, 2021

There are so many exciting things about the winter season that we eagerly look forward to. From celebrating the holiday season with family and friends to going ice skating, skiing, and snowboarding in the mountains, there are a plethora of options to do fun and exciting things during this season.

Along with the happy moments, however, this season also brings certain sources of anxiety. The otherwise beautiful elements of this season can wreak havoc on boats, and if you own one, then it can cause anxiety. This can lead to sleepless nights, forcing you to think about the steps that need to be taken to protect your cherished possession.

It is the time of the year when you need to put your boat in hibernation mode, but the important question is whether your boat is prepared for hibernation. It is very important for you to winterize your boat before freezing temperatures set in. In order to find a solution to a problem, it is important to analyze the problem first. Let’s try to understand the impact of the winter season on boats before getting into the process of winterizing a boat.

What Can Happen to Your Boat if It Is Not Winterized?

Your boat is vulnerable to various kinds of damages during winter, some of which we will discuss below:

When water freezes and expands, it results in ice accumulation, which can split open hatches and window tracks, causing leaks.
There is a possibility for stress cracks to form at the hull. Stress cracks, along with gel coat blisters, indicate structural damage.
Water may seep into internal spaces and damage engine parts because of acidic wastes, salt, and corrosion buildup.
The battery’s lifespan can be badly affected, and lead-acid batteries will self-discharge over time.
Moisture can form in an unventilated boat and its presence can corrode electrical systems and electronic items that you have left on-board. Moisture can also lead to mold and mildew growth that can cause multiple system failures. When the boat is left unused for a long time, the rot of mildew can cause a bad smell.
Gasoline can degrade over time and unstable fuel can result in the formation of deposits and dirt in the engine. This will make it very difficult for you to start and run the engine once the winter season is over.
When bilge pumps are run in frozen water, the crushing forces from the water can damage the pump mechanism.

Owning a pontoon boat is something many take pride in, as these boats are great for a wide range of activities such as watersports, day cruising, and so on. Seeing your pontoon with damage after the winter season can be heartbreaking. A pontoon boat or any other boat can be easily safeguarded from damaging winter conditions by following the winterization process.

How To Winterize Your Boat for the Freezing Days Ahead

Winter might be a beautiful season; however, the winter months can be really dangerous for a boat. You may have a lot of questions in your mind: Is it necessary to winterize a boat? How to winterize a boat? How to winterize my pontoon boat? As a boat owner, it is very important for you to winterize your boat. The following are some of the important steps for winterizing a boat:

Drain water. This is a very important yet basic step. Drain water from tanks, plumbing lines, engine blocks, and cooling systems. If this is not done, then the heat exchangers and the engine block can crack and split open.
Use biocide-treated fuel. When the boat is left unused for a long time, it can result in clogged filters and injectors because of algae growth. A biocide-treated fuel minimizes the possibilities of bacterial growth, unlike empty or half-full tanks. Changing the oil in engines and treating gasoline tanks with stabilizers are some other effective measures.
Change your oil. Unchanged oil can lead to corrosion because of the presence of acidic contaminants and salt. Corrosive waste products, dirt, and a lack of motion in the engine – all these factors combined can shorten the life of your engine. Changing your oil, cleaning, and fogging engines ensure that efficiency and life remain unaffected.
Store your boat’s batteries in a warm place. Disconnect your boat’s batteries and store them in a place that is warm and dry. If this is not done, then the lifespan of the batteries can get affected, and purchasing new ones can be extremely expensive.
Use moisture-displacing lubricant. When water seeps into electrical and electronic systems, your wiring is prone to corrosion that can cause short circuits, blown fuses, and so on. Removing the electronic items and spraying the exposed electrical connections with a moisture displacing lubricant can prevent damages to a large extent.
Add antifreeze to winterize the boat motor. Using antifreeze is the answer to your question of how to winterize an inboard boat. Antifreeze can be added to your plumbing system if you have an inboard engine or a system that carries water. This process winterizes inboard boat engines. This can also be used in your bilge; however, it is not required to winterize outboard boat motors.
Use a winter boat cover. Covering your boat with a suitable winter cover will prevent mildew growth and excess condensation by keeping water, snow, and ice out.

The Benefits of Using a Winter Boat Cover

A boat cover is an important boat accessory to protect your investment, satisfaction, and happiness. Here are some of the benefits of using a boat cover that you can consider before purchasing one:

It prevents the accumulation of snow in the cockpit.
It prevents delamination and freeze damage by protecting the deck from pooling water.
It extends the lifespan of the boat by protecting the coach roof from disruptive elements and by protecting the gel coat on the deck.
It acts as a water repulsive agent and protects your boat from snow, ice, and other damaging weather conditions.
It deters rust, prevents mildew growth, and offers protection from mold damage.

Types of Winter Boat Covers

Plastic, Canvas, and Shrink Wrap covers are the three basic types of winter boat covers. Let’s look at the differences between them:

Plastic winter boat covers. The advantage of these boat covers is their affordability and availability. The drawback is that they come in standard sizes, and so they don’t provide a snug fit which makes your boat susceptible to damages caused by weather conditions and other disruptive elements.
Canvas winter boat covers. They offer both standard-sized and custom-fit canvas boat covers. Custom canvas boat covers are stronger than plastic ones and provide a perfect fit for your boat’s unique design. They also provide better waterproofing when compared to plastic boat covers.
Shrink-wrap winter boat covers. These covers provide a perfect fit and are specifically designed to shed water and heavy snow loads. These covers include brilliant waterproofing and moisture-resistant materials. A marine shrink wrap offers protection against all of the winter elements.

Protect Your Investment With an Elegantly Designed Seal Skin Boat Cover

Seal Skin offers top-quality semi-custom boat covers that can withstand harsh winter conditions and protect your investment through the cold months. Here is what you will be getting by investing in our boat covers.

The multi-layer technology of our boat covers ensures complete protection of your investment, even during harsh weather conditions. Our covers are highly durable and the outer layer provides excellent waterproofing and also repels moisture to prevent mildew development.
A Seal Skin cover ensures a perfect snug fit, protecting your boat from becoming a shelter for nesting birds and animals. It also maintains sufficient breathable gaps to prevent moisture formation.
Our products are long-lasting. Seal Skin covers are reinforcement sewn at all major wear points and are double-stitched at the seams.
Our products are available in different colors and sizes and you can choose based on your preference and need.

“Quality in a service or product is not what you put into it. It is what the customer gets out of it.”

Customer satisfaction is something that we put above everything else. This is why we offer a full 30-day return and exchange warranty with every purchase, and also offer a 10-year warranty for our covers. You can call us at 800-915-0038 during our office hours (Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST) if you have any questions about our products, exchange, or refund policies and we’ll gladly answer them for you.

As a boat owner, it is a big responsibility and a big challenge to safeguard your investment, especially during the winter season. Winterizing a boat is a crucial process to prevent it from serious damages that can be caused by the rough winter conditions. Seal Skin offers one of the best winter boat covers. So, give us a call today and we’ll help you find what you need.