Boat Diving Boards and Boat Storage
It’s been a splendid fall season thus far. But don’t look now, winter will soon be here. And if you haven’t taken your boat out of the water yet, it is likely time to do so. But storing your boat for the winter isn’t as easy as just pulling it out of the water and parking it in your driveway, backyard or even storage facility. Winter conditions and sitting in storage for long periods of time can cause wear and tear on your boat.
And storing your boat improperly will at least lead to painstaking maintenance once spring rolls back around.
So it is in your best interest to properly store your boat. Lillipad Marine, home of the boat diving board, offers tips to prepare your boat for winter storage.
Remove What You Can
It’s not a good idea to just leave stuff on board your boat. These items are also subjected to the elements and if not, still contribute to the mess you will have to clean up come spring.
So go ahead and gather up the lifejackets, fire extinguishers, flares, dock lines ski ropes, fishing poles and whatever else you have on your boat and store them in your house or garage for the winter.
Even bracket-mounted items like radar displays and GPS systems should be removed and the loose cables wrapped up in electrical tape.
All batteries on your boat should be removed and cleaned up before putting into storage.
Dry Out
Remove any standing water you find on your boat as well as clean up any dirt or oil. Remove all objects and clean the spaces they once occupied very carefully. You don’t want to start the boating season in the spring having to clean up mold and mildew.
Lubricate Everything
While you may have already lubricated all of the critical components of your boat, you don’t want to overlook the small stuff. Go around your boat and apply a light coat of lubricant to the myriad of moving parts including latches, hinges, linkages, ratchet mounts and bow rollers.
Don’t forget about lubricating all of the parts on your boat trailer as well.
Oil
Your end-of-the-season storage checklist should include changing the oil and oil filter.
Prep The Fuel System
Top off the fuel tank to avoid buildup of condensation over the months it will be in storage. You should also add a fuel stabilizer to the tank. After adding the stabilizer, fire up the engine for a few minutes to ensure it circulates throughout the system.
Clean It Up
A clean boat will fare far better in storage than a dirty boat. Besides, you will want to start the season with a clean boat that is ready to hit the water. Any dirt you fail to clean will take a foothold and be even more difficult to clean in the spring.
Go Over Everything
Any small problem you notice now should be fixed so you don’t have to deal with it in the spring. So check your engine and components and don’t forget things like worn cables and fluid levels.
And don’t forget to purchase a diving board from Lillipad Marine for even more enjoyment on your boat next year.