Winterizing your sailboat – a DIY checklist
Don’t get to the point where you must start winterizing your sailboat without
considering the many critical decisions you need to make. Do you intend to haul the
boat out or leave it in the water? If you take it out of the water, where will you
keep it? And if you leave it in the water how will you protect it from ice formation
and will you be able to make regular inspections? What are the costs involved?
No matter where or how you store your boat, you’ll need to cover it and protect it
from the elements. If cost is no object you can shrink wrap the boat. Tarpaulins
don’t cost as much as shrink wrapping, but you’ll need to make more frequent
inspections. You should unstep the mast no matter how you protect the boat. The
mast can form a support for tarpaulins. I the boat is left in the water, unstepping
the mast reduces windage and strain on the rigging.
You must winterize your motor completely and correctly. Water freezing inside the
motor will cause serious damage. .All fluid remaining in the motor over winter must
be at least 50% anti-freeze to ensure it does not freeze. The heads and fresh
water system need to be drained of all water and anti-freeze introduced to prevent
damage due to water freezing in the bowl and pipes. All batteries should be
removed and stored ashore.
At sailingmates, the sailors web site there is a sailboat winterizing checklist
detailing all the work that you need to do.
Author 2497 > has blogged 2 times
