Basic Winter Boat Chores

· Maintenance takes twice as much time and money as expected - if you're lucky - but you spend ten times less on major repairs. . · Always buy the best marine finishes and caulks for extended wear. · Don't use household cleaners that have a high PH and may etch gel coats. · Seal and caulk teak decks early and late out of direct sun. · Spray all metal with moisture-displacing lubricants. . Even stainless steel discolors. · List open seacocks, filters and hoses, etc. from winter layup for spring closure. · Store paint cans upside down so the skin forms at the bottom of the paint.

Maintenance begins with a complete winter inspection with a yard expert or marine surveyor to list "seaworthiness" and "cosmetic" tasks. Subdivide the list into DIY and yard projects with approximate time and costs and schedule yard work before the spring rush.

Wiinter layup starts early. Dump additives like stabilizer in fuel tanks the last weekend of the season for a good mix: add a bocide to diesels. Drain the engine oil from a warm engine and add new oil. Turn the engine over a few times, then pull high-tension leads. Before you remove and replace filters and cartridges. Pull and clean plugs and, after a valve oil spray into the cylinders, return or replace plugs. Crank the engine over by hand to distribute lubricants.

Trailer boaters should lube trailer bearings, check tires and paint, or at least touch up, and wax, trailers before the last trip of the year. Larger craft require internal ballast removal and tank draining.

Then if possible, haul out. Otherwise, double up on dock or buoy lines, add fenders in berths, and visit your boat as often as possible until spring.

After your boat's drain the engine block and freshwater lines and add antifreeze - see engine manual!. Clean and replace hoses as needed and grease plugs. Lock out saltwater lines at the intake seacock disconnect hoses and relax pump belts. Flush outboards and sterndrives and replace lubricants and oils. Remove props and smooth with bronze wool and grease until spring.

Power wash the hull, cabin exterior and decks, or use a stiff brush and scrape barnacles and weeds off before they dry.. Apply fiberglass or all-purpose cleaner topsides, a brightener or oil on teak, and hull & bottom cleaner below the water line. paint penetrating oil on seacock bolts to ease later removal.

If possible remove skin fittings and check them and the hull inside and out for corrosion, delamination and/or dry rot. Check anodes. Inspect the propeller, rudder and through hull fittings for corrosion.

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