Tips to Prepare Your Boat & Lift for the Off-Season

As the summer boating season comes to a close, you may be thinking about preparing your water toys and dock for the off-season. It's important to protect your investments and prepare your boat and lift for the winter months. With proper care, you have a better chance of ensuring your boating season will kick off smoothly next spring! Take a look below to learn how you can prepare your lift and boat for the off-season!

Prepare Boat Lift for Winter

Your boat lift should be maintained at least twice a year. Once in the fall and again in the spring. This process can double check all the fittings are tight and your lift is ready to take on the damage that may happen during the coming seasons. Catching a small repair early is important to help prevent further, more permanent damage.The potential for damage during the winter months is strongly due to freezing water. Your lift hoses, connector arms, and tubs can all be damaged by the freezing temperatures. While we are checking over your lift before winter hits, you can go ahead and schedule your spring check up, as well. We look forward to ensuring your lift is ready for the harsh winter weather!

Prepare Dock for Winter

As winter nears, it's important to think about the wellbeing of your dock. Freezing water can cause a number of issues for docks. We can install de-icers near your dock to help keep the water moving - therefore reducing the chance of it freezing. This can drastically reduce the potential damage to your dock, lift, and boat! It's a great way to protect your investment this coming winter!

Prepare Boat for Winter

As we near the cooler time of year, it's time to prepare your boat for winter. It's important to winterize your boat every year. This process drains fluids from your boat to help reduce the chance of damage due to freezing. Draining the fluids can help protect your engine and help prevent a crack in the engine which can be a costly repair.

Now that you know how to prepare your boat and lift for the upcoming winter months, you're ready to get started. As the best boat lift company at the Lake of the Ozarks, we want to help you protect your investment this winter. If you notice any damage to your boat lift at the Lake of the Ozarks this winter, contact Summerset Boat Lifts and we'll be out to repair your lift in a hurry!

Summerset Boat Lifts

1165 Jeffries Road Osage Beach, MO  65065

573-348-5073

Email:info@summersetboatlifts.com

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Is Your Boat Lift Ready for the Winter Weather Ahead?

The Lake of the Ozarks is expecting its first snow of the season this weekend!  With boating being one of the main activities here at the Lake, many homeowners are faced with extra preparation for Winter. In addition to winterizing your house, you need to be thinking about your boat, boat dock and boat lift at the Lake of the Ozarks. Preventing the major damages caused by snow and ice by preparing now will save you a lot on costly repairs.

Damage by Winter Weather

During the Winter months, ice heaves can occur in lakes of all sizes and are especially dangerous where there is minimal insulating snow coverage.  Occasionally, the force of these ice heaves is powerful enough to move trees and other structures on lake properties.  More commonly though, the ice damages docks, boat lifts and retaining walls and displaces sod, leaving a lumpy shore line. Sustained frigid temperatures will freeze the surface water around docks, lifts and boats, causing all kinds of expensive repairs. When docks freeze, they become less flexible and do not move evenly as the water level reduces.  This major structural stress can break joints and twist boat lifts.  

How to Avoid Ice Damage

When it comes to ice, the best preventative measure you can take is purchasing a de-icer.  A de-icer will create enough water movement to protect the boat docks and lifts from frozen waters.  For more information about de-icers, check out our blog entitled "As Summer Sets, Avoid the Deep Freeze!" In addition to purchasing a de-icer, you should have a professional come check your lift and add antifreeze to the hoses.  If you can prevent the water from becoming frozen solid, you'll be able to avoid the majority of damages caused by Winter weather!

Boat Dock Insurance

Depending on how bad the weather gets, damages can be unavoidable.  It is important that you have the proper insurance coverage for your Lake of the Ozark boat lift and boat dock.  You first want to make sure you have liability protection because accidents can happen no matter how careful you and your guests are.  You will also need to purchase physical damage coverage, which can typically be extended from your homeowners or fire insurance policy.  Be sure to include the value of your lift and any other attached items when advising your insurance agent of your docks value.  You should also check that your personal property, such as life preservers, fishing poles, etc, that are stored on the dock are also covered under your policy.  Collapse cover is also something to discuss with your agent.  Some companies automatically provide this type of coverage and others exclude it, so be sure you know exactly what you are covered for.

Summerset Boat Lifts provides outstanding boat lift service at the Lake of the Ozarks!  If you are unsure of your boat lift being prepared for Winter, give us a call at 573-348-5073.  Be surprised at how soon you may see a representative of Summerset Boat Lifts on your dock. We want to earn your trust and your business!

Summerset Boat Lifts

1165 Jeffries Road Osage Beach, MO  65065

573-348-5073

Email:info@summersetboatlifts.com

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Stop! HOLD EVERYTHING!!! Have you scheduled your boat winterization?

Let Summserset Boat Lifts be proactive instead of reactive with maintaining your boat lift at the Lake of the Ozarks this fall! Your boat was built to float, but will it while winterized?  Some won't!

Winters can be quite brutal at the Lake of the Ozarks and you never really know what to expect with this back and forth weather we've been having.  Now is the time to make sure everything with your boat and boat lift are in order before the unexpected happens!

Winter In-Water Boat Storage

Whenever a boat is stored in the water, it's in a continuous battle to keep the surrounding water out. That battle gets considerably more difficult in the winter when ice might damage sections of your boat.  This is where your Lake of the Ozarks boat lift comes in.  With your boat raised out of the water, you don't have to worry about water seeping in or ice causing problems.  However, you need to make sure your boat lift is properly maintained for operation during the colder months to come.

Boat Lift Maintenance

Many people think to winterize their boat, but often forget the importance of preparing the boat lift for the off-season as well.  At Summerset Boat Lifts, we pride our service and that's what sets us apart from everyone else.  We want our customers to relax knowing their boat lift will make it through the winter!  


We'd love to check your lift out for proper operation and any maintenance needs prior to your boat being winterized!  Contact us today at 573-348-5073.  We are Summerset Boat Lifts, and we are Lifting Your Dreams… From Canoes to Cruisers!

Summerset Boat Lifts

1165 Jeffries Road Osage Beach, MO  65065

573-348-5073

Email:info@summersetboatlifts.com

Keep up with local news, events and product information by Following us!!

Like Our Facebook Page

Connect with us on LinkedIn

Follow Us on Google+