Summerset Boat Lifts: winterizing your boat

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Winterizing Your Boat, Dock and Lift

With winter vastly approaching and the weather cooling down, boating season at the Lake of the Ozarks is coming to an end. Now is the time to start thinking about winterizing your boat. In today's blog, your favorite boat lift company at the Lake of the Ozarks offers a few tips for getting your boat ready for the cold winter season.

1. Make a Winterizing Checklist.

There are a lot of different things you'll want to remember to do to your boat before the temperatures drop below freezing. The best way you can remember everything is to create a checklist. You definitely want to refer to your owner's manual for specifics on your boat, but here is a general checklist you can use from www.BoatUS.com:

Engines -

Fill fuel tanks and add stabilizer to gasoline
Change oil and filter
Change fuel filters/separators in engine
Check coolant level in freshwater-cooling system and add coolant is needed
Run antifreeze through raw-water-cooling system
Make sure water strainers are filled with antifreeze
Fog cylinders in gasoline engines
Top up battery electrolyte level and put batteries on marine charger

Installed Generator -

Change oil and filter
Change fuel filters/separators
Check coolant level in freshwater-cooling system and add coolant is needed
Run antifreeze through raw-water-cooling system
Make sure water strainers are filled with antifreeze

Other Systems -

Flush and fill air conditioning system with antifreeze
Run antifreeze through watermaker and pickle as per owner's manual

Outboards -

Fill installed fuel tanks and add stabilizer
Turn off fuel supply and fog while running
Drain gear case and add fresh lubricant
Flush engine with muffs and fresh water
Store unit in lowest position
Inspect/replace anodes
Empty fuel from portable tanks into car tank and take them home for storage

Outdrives -

If water intake is in lower unit, flush and run antifreeze through using muffs
Drain gear oil and add fresh lubricant
Inspect/replace anodes

Belowdecks -

Pump out holding tank and add antifreeze to head
Drain water heater and bypass it
Drain freshwater system and run antifreeze through it
Run antifreeze through refrigeration, deck washdown pump, etc. per owner's manual
Drain shower sump and other places where water pools
Remove food
Open lockers to air
Take home cushions or store on their sides
Take home portable electronics
Close propane valves and take home portable canisters
Verify bilge pump and switch operate properly
Clean and dry bilges
Secure all ports and hatches
Turn off all circuit breakers

In the Water

Close all seacocks except for cockpit drains
Plug exhaust ports
Check docklines and chafe guards - center boat in slip
Add or adjust fenders for proper placement

Before You Go

Tie off tiller/steering wheel
Cover/shrinkwrap boat
Lock cabin and leave spare key with marina manager

2. Decide How You Want to Store Your Boat.

There are several ways that you can choose to store your boat for the winter season. Many choose to pull their boat out of the water and keep it on a trailer in a storage facility. However, often times people find it either too expensive or too difficult to find a place. Others choose in-water boat storage on their Lake of the Ozarks boat lift. This option allows you to get back out on the water earlier in the spring. If you choose to store your boat in the water, you need to make sure you have a proper lift to keep your boat raised out the water, reducing the changes of damage.

3. Have Your Boat Lift Checked Out.

Whether you're storing your boat on a lift for the winter or not, now is the time to take care of routine maintenance on your boat lift. Whether you have some loose bushings or hoses, Summerset Boat Lifts can get your boat lift in tip-top shape. Then if you're storing your boat on it, you'll rest assured your boat is in good hands. Even if you're not storing your boat on your lift for the winter, your lift will be ready to use when spring rolls around.

4. Consider Purchasing a De-Icer.

In-water storage becomes even easier when you choose to have a de-icer on your dock. Even if you're not keeping your boat in the water, installing a de-icer will protect your boat lift and your dock from ice damage. Ice can break up entire dock structures, as well as age the wood and even splinter the surface. The best way to protect your dock and lift is with a de-icer, which you can purchase from the best boat lift dealer at the Lake of the Ozarks, Summerset Boat Lifts.

5. Make Sure Your Insurance Coverage is Adequate.

Insurance is there to protect you during unexpected circumstances. No matter how well you prepare for winter, there's always a chance of something, such as severe weather, causing damage to your boat, lift and/or dock. First off, you want to make sure you have liability protection because accidents can happen on your dock no matter how careful you and your guests are. You'll also want to purchase enough physical damage coverage to include the value of your boat, dock, lift and any other associated accessories. Coverage for your dock collapsing under the weight of ice and snow is another aspect you'll want to consider. The best way to make sure you're fully covered is to talk to an independent insurance agent that is familiar with the Lake of the Ozarks and the specific risks associated with this area.

For all your boat lift needs, whether it be a new lift or boat lift maintenance at the Lake of the Ozarks, Summerset Boat Lifts has you covered. Now is the time to make sure your boat lift is ready for winter by scheduling a fall maintenance check. Give us a call at 573-348-5073 today! Be surprised at how soon you may see a representative of Summerset Boat Lifts on your dock!

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

Saturday, October 3, 2015

9 Tips for Winterizing Your Boat

It's October and boating season is winding down. Now is the time to start thinking about winterizing your boat. Spending some time and effort now on your boat will keep it in tip top shape, saving you time, effort and money when spring rolls around. Here are a few tips for winterizing your boat from your Lake of the Ozarks boat lift dealer.

Winterizing Your Boat

The first step in winterizing your boat should be to make a list of all the tasks to be accomplished. You want to make sure you don't leave anything out. Be sure to check your owner's manual for their recommendations on what needs to be done to winterize your specific boat. Below is a list of general tips that everyone should follow when winterizing their boat.

General Boat Winterizing Tips

1. Inboard Engines - You'll want to change the oil before storing your boat for the winter. To change the oil, heat up the oil first by running the engine for awhile. The warm oil allows for impurities to drain away. While you're changing the oil filter, you'll also want to flush it out with fresh water. Then be sure to re-fill the oil to proper levels and check for any leaks. Then flush the engine with non-toxic antifreeze by using an intake hose to the water pump. Start the engine and allow the antifreeze to circulate. In addition, you should change the transmission fluid, as well as remove the spark plugs and spray each cylinder with fogging oil.

2. Outboard Engines - Flush the engine with fresh water using flush muffs or the flushing port usually on the back of the engine. Then start the engine, and while it's running with the cowl removed, spray fogging solution into the air intakes on the front of the engine. Then remove the fuel line from the engine and continue spraying fogging solution until the engine dies. This step is important because you don't want any fuel in the carburetors. By removing the fuel, you'll prevent build-up of deposits from evaporated fuel. Finally you'll want to apply water resistant grease to the propeller shaft and threads, change the gear oil in the lower unit and lightly lubricate the exterior of the engine or polish with a good wax.

3. Stern Drives - Thoroughly inspect the stern drive to remove any plant life or other debris. Drain the gear case and check for moisture in the oil. Moisture could indicate leaking seals that would need to be repair before boat use in the spring. Clean the lower unit with soap and water. If your stern has rubber boots, check for cracks or pinholes. Finally grease all fittings and check fluid levels in hydraulic steering or lift pumps.

4. Bilges - Use hot water, soap and a stiff brush to clean up any oil spills. Once the bilges are clean, spray them with a moisture displacing lubricant and add a little antifreeze to keep any water from freezing.

5. Fuel - If there is any fuel remaining in the tank, you'll want to treat it with fuel stabilizer. Some manufacturers even recommend refilling your tank to reduce space for condensation to form. Be sure to change the fuel filters and water separators.

6. Fresh Water System - You'll want to completely drain the fresh water tank and hot water heater. Isolate the hot water by disconnecting the in and out lines to then connect them together. Pump a non-toxic antifreeze into the system and run all faucets until the antifreeze is coming out. You'll also want to put some non-toxic antifreeze into the water heater.

7. Head - Pump out the holding tank at an approved facility. While pumping, add fresh water to the bowl and flush it several times. Use the recommended solution in your owners manual to let sit for a few minutes before flushing with fresh water again. Pump non-toxic antifreeze through hoses, holding tank, y-valve, macerator and discharge hose. Check your owners manual to make sure the type of antifreeze being used won't damage your system.

8. Interior - Once you've taken care of everything to do with the system, remove any valuables, electronics, lines, PFD, fire extinguishers, flares, fenders, etc. to be cleaned and checked over the winter, and then replaced if needed. Open all doors and lockers to make sure everything is thoroughly cleaned before you lock it up for the winter. Turn any cushions up on edge to help air circulate around them or better yet bring them home with you to keep them in the best shape possible. Open and clean the refrigerator and freezer. To keep your boat dry and mildew-free throughout the winter, you might want to install a dehumidifier or use some of the commercially available odor and moisture absorbing products.

9. Batteries - Disconnect the battery cables and remove the battery from the boat. Clean the battery and terminal ends with a water and baking soda solution. Be sure to rinse thoroughly with clean water. Apply a light coat of grease on the terminal end of the battery and cables. Store the battery in a cool, dry place with a trickle charger to keep it charged through the winter to it's ready to go in the spring.

In addition to winterizing your boat, you'll want to make sure your boat lift is also prepared for the cold weather to come. This is one aspect of winterizing that many people often forget. At Summerset Boat Lifts, we pride ourselves in great service and that's what sets us apart from everyone else. We want our customers to relax knowing their boat lift at the Lake of the Ozarks will make it through the winter! Contact us today at 573-348-5073 to have us check your lift out for proper operation and any maintenance needs prior to your boat being winterized!