With winter right around the corner, you will be using your boat less, and need to start thinking about how to prepare it for the cooler months. While it may seem strange, retiring your boat for the winter can be hard on it, especially if not prepared properly before storage.
Extended periods of boating inactivity can accelerate wear and tear on your boat – it can suffer from rust, moisture damage such as mold, and even damage due to rodents and other invaders. Not taking care to follow basic precautions may even invalidate your boat owner’s insurance coverage.
Deferring winter maintenance on your boat before storing it can come back to haunt you once the weather warms up. You may end up facing costly repairs that could have been avoided with fall maintenance. Even if you don’t live in an area where the temperatures dip below freezing, there are some basic tasks you should perform to get your boat ready for that long winter’s nap. Obviously, you should clean your boat thoroughly before storage, but in addition, you should:
- Clean thoroughly, inside and out
- Change the engine oil
- Top off the fuel tank
- Flush the cooling system
- Store any removable items
- Install a secure cover
For more information about how to protect your boat, contact the Carrollton, Texas insurance experts at Mike Leonard Insurance to get a quote today.