Winterising Your Boat

Pilot boat in The Harbour of La Spezia

Australia really is the lucky country – it’s warm enough to keep boating all year round if you really want to.

While it may not actually freeze in winter, many boating enthusiasts tend to take winter off. Usually because the conditions aren’t ideal or they have other winter interests.

If you know it’s going to be a while before you’re likely to get back out on the water, winter can be an ideal time to organise some necessary boat maintenance as you winterise it for storage.

Below is a guide to help you keep your boat in good condition during the winter months and perhaps even save a bit of money.

Winter Boat Maintenance

• Give it a wash – Don’t come back to a dirty, mouldy boat come spring. Have a full detail at the start of winter. Clean everything from inside to out, including all equipment, then finish with a buff wax. While doing this have a good look on the hull for blisters or cracks and check the rest of the vessel for other signs of damage or wear and tear.

• Clear it out – Anything that can hold moisture should be removed – things like towels, rags, life vests and cushions as these are the first things to start going mouldy. If you have electronic items, it’s a good idea to remove and store these inside too. Finally, remove the bilge plug (if your boat has been lifted out of the water) so the boat can drain properly, but remember where you put the plug as you’ll need it when you want to go pack in the water.

• Do an engine check – This is a good time to do a full service of your boat engine. Do an oil and fluid change, clean it up and carry out any other maintenance suggested in the user manual. You should also remove the battery, either charging it periodically, or hooking it up to a trickle charger.

• Boat repairs – Go through and check the boat for damage, cracks, or wearing parts needing replacement. If you need any repairs’ done winter is the best time to do it, so think about whether you want to do an overhaul before the next boating season

• Boat covers – Whether you’re storing your boat in your back yard or even down at the marina, make sure you put any necessary covers to keep it dry. Moisture can set in if it’s left for a long period and the last thing you want on the first days of the boating season is to be dealing with mould.

• Inspect your boat – Even once you’ve done everything to prep and cover your boat for the winter months, at least check on it from time to time. Make sure there are no leaks in the covers, everything is draining, there’s no corrosion and no birds or animals have started making a home for themselves in there.

If you keep to this guide your boat should be in good condition, come the next boating season.

You’ll still have to perform all your usual spring checks before setting out for the first time, but this way you’ll have a whole lot less to deal with, getting you out on the water much faster.