How to De-Winterize Your Boat
Who can resist getting out on the water once the weather warms up? Boat owners everywhere feel those first warm days of spring and it’s impossible to not want to go outside. If you put your boat in storage over the winter, you’ll need to take a few steps to get it ready for your next outing. This brief guide will show you the necessary steps for de-winterizing your boat. If you have any questions or find something that needs to be fixed on your boat before you can hit the water, feel free to get in touch with us.
Visual Inspection
When you first pull your boat out of storage, you’ll need to give it an extensive visual inspection. Open up all the hatches (and the motor bay, if it has an onboard motor) and remove any covers. Look for mold or mildew anywhere stray water might have landed, like among the seat cushions or near canvas coverings. Check any carpeted areas for mold and mildew, and then look around the hull, the console, and everywhere else. Pay close attention to signs that pests might have moved in, and look for any damage they could have done.
Pay special attention to the hull. There shouldn’t be any new damage to your hull unless something crashed into your boat while it was being stored. But now that it’s out of the water, this is a good time to look for any minute cracks or welds that might be weakening. Give the entire thing a close inspection. If you see anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to call our service center.
Engine
Next, you’ll need to get your engine running. If you have an outboard engine, take off its cover and look at everything. Check the coolant levels and the oil levels, making sure that the fluids are in good condition. Look around for any signs of leaks around the gaskets and engine heads. If you have an inboard engine, open the engine bay and look around. You can pull out a spark plug and check to see what kind of condition it’s in. This is a good time to perform any minor engine repairs, such as spark plug replacement, that you’ll eventually need to perform anyway.
Boat Cover and Seats
If your boat has a canvas or vinyl cover, give it a good inspection. Look for any rips, tears, or possible signs of mold. Patch any holes or tears while they’re still small and insignificant so they don’t grow into big problems. Give your seats a close inspection, too. They might suffer from the same mold problems and consistent UV exposure can also lead to ripping.
If you just de-winterized your boat and have found some problems that need to be repaired, stop by Texas Malibu in Austin, TX. Our team of experienced technicians can get your boat back in shape in no time. We welcome all those in New Braunfels, so get in touch with us today.