How to prepare for the wintering of your boat.?

Very often carried out at the end of October, wintering is one of the essential operations that a yachtsman must undertake. This intervention consists in taking the boat out of the water in order to store it while waiting for the winter period. At the same time, it’s also an opportunity to do a major cleaning to prepare for the release, which will often take place in mid-September. But what are the steps to follow to successfully winterize a boat?

Empty your boat well

The first step in winterizing a boat is to completely empty it of its accessories. This will prevent equipment from disappearing. You should therefore take with you:

The various safety accessories such as life jackets, flares, fire extinguishers, etc.

Sports equipment such as paddle, wake, mask and snorkel, fishing rods, etc.

Electronic devices such as GPS, VHF

At the same time, you can take the trouble to control the situation of these equipments. If they are still in good condition, you can rinse them and store them so that they are still in perfect use when you return to your boat for the next season. If not, repair them or buy a new model

The wintering of a boat goes through the wintering of the engine.. Thanks to this operation, you will have the guarantee that the motorization system of your boat will be able to continue to serve you effectively for many seasons.

Simply put, winterizing your engine is like rebuilding it. To do this, you can do:

Lubrication of the screws,

A rinse of the block with fresh water,

An oil and gasoline change,

Lubrication of the engine block,

A change of oil and fuel filters, water pump impeller, accessible anodes.

Store your batteries

To store your batteries, it is best to empty them and store them in a room free of humidity, with the possibility of recharging them. If you cannot discharge them, it is advisable to check them once a month and then recharge them. Be aware that a lead battery discharged to more than 70% degrades irreversibly.

Clean the boat

One of the steps to take when winterizing a boat is to clean it thoroughly. It is absolutely necessary to restore everything: bridge, floor, chests, consoles, seats, cushions, etc. This operation allows you to ensure the proper functioning of your boat. As much as possible, choose ecological products without forgetting to go to the specific treatment sites to evacuate the waste water.

For the wintering of a boat to be successful, it is necessary to carry out checks at the end of the work. Here are some recommendations:

Check the closure and tightness of portholes, doors and deck hatches,

Reinforce the mooring lines and add fenders,

Secure your mooring line by adding a piece of chain between it and the pontoon cleat to hold it in place in case a