Winterizing Your Boat - Winter Storage Tips

Winterising Your Boat: 5 Essential Tips that you will be thankful of in the Spring

As the boating season comes to an end in Ireland and the temperatures have dropped, it's time to start thinking about protecting your boat over the coming month. Winterising your boat properly will ensure it's in good condition when the warmer weather returns, preventing costly damage caused by freezing temperatures, moisture, and storms. The following tips will guide you through the best practices for winterising your boat, helping you to safeguard your boat. 

1. Drain and Flush the Engine 

One of the most critical steps in winterising your boat is to properly prepare the engine for storage. Residual water in the engine can freeze and expand, causing serious damage. To avoid this:

• Drain all water from the engine, including the cooling system and hoses.
• Flush the engine with fresh water to remove any salt or debris.
• Add antifreeze to the engine's cooling system to prevent freezing and corrosion. Engine room heaters are not a substitute for Antifreeze but are a good additional protection.
• For outboard engines, flush with fresh water and store the engine in an upright position to allow any trapped water to drain.

2. Protect the Fuel System

Condensation in the fuel tank can lead to water contamination, causing problems with your engine when the boat is back in use. To safeguard your fuel system:

• Top up the fuel tank to prevent condensation build-up.
• Add a fuel stabiliser to prevent the fuel from degrading over time.
• Run the engine for a few minutes after adding the stabiliser to ensure it circulates through the system.

3. Clean and Dry the Boat

Moisture is a major concern during the Irish winter months, as it can lead to mould, mildew, and general wear on your boat's interior and exterior. To keep your boat in top condition:

• Thoroughly clean the boat, including the hull, deck, and interior. Remove any algae, barnacles, or salt deposits.
• Check the window frame drains for any moss/algae growth to make sure they are clear and functioning correctly. 
• Dry all areas of the boat, especially the bilge, cabins, and lockers.
• Use moisture absorbers or a dehumidifier in enclosed spaces to prevent mould and mildew.
• Empty the fresh water tank and leave all sink taps open. 

4. Thru-Hull fittings

There are many different viewpoints on this topic however, from an insurance point of view it is recommended that you close all thru-hull fittings. Leave yourself a reminder at the helm or better still leave the ignition keys beside the engine thru-hull. 

As well as the thru-hulls, keep drainage channels free of leaves and debris so that water doesn’t build up and find it’s way below. Don’t rely on automatic bilge pumps to prevent flooding as bilge pumps are prone to blockages and batteries can become drained quicker than you think. 

5. Sails, Canopy or Bimini 

If at all possible, these should be removed for the winter as they suffer from the frost and a build-up of Algae is just another Spring job you can avoid. If the Canopy has to stay fitted check all the fasteners are fitted correctly and a little bit of Vaseline worked into the zips will stop them from deteriorating over the winter. Remove headsails, boom covers and spray hoods to help reduce windage. If furling headsails are left up, make sure they are very securely tied. 

Winter in Ireland can be tough on boats, but with preparation now, you can avoid unnecessary damage and ensure your vessel will be ready without too much work in the springtime.