How to Winterize Boat Motors
You know summer has ended when it is time to winterize the boat motor. Winterizing the motor is one of the most important things to do when owning a boat. WInterizing it protects it from the winter weather and will keep the motor in great shape for the next boating season.
- Pull the boat from the water, clean and wash it thoroughly. Drain the bilge plug to let everything out of it so if there was something in it, it would not freeze in the winter.
- Leave the storage areas open, so moisture does not build up inside. Place life jackets into a dry area so that they will dry out.
- Fill the boat's fuel tank with some fuel stabilizer and then some marine fuel. Let the boat run long enough to pump the treatment through all of the lines. Doing this will stop oxidation from happening and will keep the fuel from spoiling over winter.
- Remove the plug to drain the water from the engine. This can be done by buying a flushing kit from a boat supply store. If you drain the water from the engine, water can freeze in the lines and cause damage to your engine.
- Spray the engine with oil or lubrication so that the engine will repel water and it will not rust.
- Cover the boat with a cover that is tight and secure on the boat.
- Check the boat trailer and make sure the tires are properly aired up and not in a lot of dirt. This will eliminate the chance of them dry rotting.