Winterization Check-off List
So you need to lay your boat up for the winter...or for an extended period of time (more than 2-3 months). What should you do? The following checklist hits on the important things that you should consider in order to prolong the reliable service life of your boat and to reduce potential recommissioning costs later. This list is intended to be used for most outboard and inboard/outboard powered trailerable boats. Not all items will apply to all boats.
Winterization/Storage Check Off
_____ Grease trailer wheel bearings
_____ Power-wash bottom to remove fouling growth
_____ Apply MaryKate or similar Phosphoric Acid solution to remove marks and stains
_____ Drain coolant system for heat exchanger equipped engines, refill new coolant
_____ Inspect belts, replace if worn, cracked, or glazed.
_____ Inspect wiring harnesses, replace wires w/ cracked insulation or corroded terminals
_____ Empty bilge of all accumulated water and slops
_____ Clean bilge
_____ Grease zerk fittings (steering, tilt/trim, winches, weight handling apparatus)
_____ Pull propeller and trust washer
- _____ Inspect for debris/monofilament, remove any foreign matter
- _____ Inspect shaft seal
- _____ Lightly grease propeller shaft spline
- _____ Replace thrust washer and propeller
_____ Drain lower unit oil and replace with new oil, look for indications of water or metal shards
_____ Replace zinc anodes if greater than 66% wasted
_____ Preserve power head (READ MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR 4-STROKE ENGINES)
- Hook up fresh water cooling water intake
- Start engine
- Rev engine RPM while Iinjecting/spraying preservative oil/fogging oil in carbuerator/air intake
- Disconnect fuel source/line while continuing to fog engine w/ engine at idle
- Stop injecting/spraying fogging oil when engine begins to starve for fuel
_____ Remove batteries, top off with distilled water and store
on non-conductive material
_____ Shrink wrap, cover with canvas/tarps, or store in covered storage
_____ Jack trailer and block so that tires do not touch the ground, or block boat off of trailer.