Boats in the water

by Tony Takitani

How to winterize a sailboat

Winter is close and here comes the time that you must prepare your sailboat for hibernation. Deciding on the perfect place to store your sailboat and what is the appropriate method to can be a real headache. But, it?s totally worth the time and effort you put in the fall so that your sailboat is clutched by winter’s icy clasp.

Some people think that by simply covering it up, the sailboat is properly protected. Well, this is a big mistake because winter weather can really cause great deal of damage to your sailboat like cracked bocks, corrosion and so on.

Here are some crucial steps that you can follow so that you appropriately winterize your sailboat.

The first and most important step is to remove all fluids from the sailboat. Watch out for the engine, heater tank, batteries, toilet or any other spot that contains water. It is essential to do that because if any of these pars freezes, there is a great possibility that severe damages are caused to the boat. Add some anti-freeze if necessary.

Let us move on to the rest steps.

> Interior Cleaning

Unplug all electronic equipment, and remove fire extinguishers, lines, fenders, and valuables. During winter time you may clean these items and keep the in a dry place.

Empty storerooms and leave them wide open. Let air flow in to prevent from bad smelling.

Defrost the refrigerator, clean it and keep it unplugged.

Install a dehumidifier or a moisture absorber so that odours are absorbed while your sailboat is closed for hibernation.

Shut tightly every propane bottle. Do not forget the stove supply. Remove the propane bottles from the boat, check them for damages and seal all joints. Do not store in a warm place.

> Outer Cleaning

Rinse the deck and hull cautiously to remove salt and dust leftovers. Do not forget the propellers and rudder.

Repair any scratches and wax fibreglass surfaces to protect them from winter conditions.

Cautiously inspect the hull and deck for any damages and repair.

In addition, check all winches, mainsheet, clutches, lines, anchors, and spinnaker pole for damages. Repair, if necessary.

You can also add some lubricant in the roller folding scheme.

> Batteries

Disconnect all battery cables and remove the batteries. Make sure you keep them in a place where humidity cannot cause any damage.

Use a baking soda and water solution to clean the terminal ends and batteries and apply a thin coat of grease. This will allow you to achieve a better maintenance of your batteries.

Fully charge batteries before storage and repeat this step periodically.

>Drain Clean

Drain and clean every tank, hose and pump and disconnect.

Add anti-freeze inside the hoses to avoid potential freezing of possible remaining water residues.

> Head Cleaning

Pump out the holding tank and wash the head with fresh water. Let it sit for a while and add some more water. Close the seacock, pull the hose and fill the head with anti-freeze making sure that it goes to the holding tank, y-valve, and macerator. Discharge the hose without opening the seacock.

> Engine Cleaning

Turn on the engine to warm it up so that you change the oils and you drain away all dirt with the oil.

Replace every fuel filter.

Add stabilizer and run the engine for at least fifteen minutes to make stabilizer run through every component of your engine.

Empty leftover oil, replace with clean oil and change the oil filters.

Add anti-freeze and water with a pickup hose and turn on the engine so that the anti-freeze flows until the water exits the hose.

Cover the engine with a waterproof plastic cover to keep moisture away.

> Sails

Take them down and clean well to remove salt residues that have been accumulated during sailing.

Check for damages and repair.

Wrap them and seal them up.

After you have followed above suggestions, your sailboat is ready to be safely covered for hibernation. Purchasing a waterproof plastic cover is the best and mostly recommended way. In doing so, no dust, rain, snow or cold are allowed to penetrate and affect your boat. A good ventilation system is also needed in order to keep humidity and mould away. Alternatively, you may purchase the shrink-wrap boat cover. It may be a bit more expensive, but it will last for more than twenty years.

Be careful not to forget any of the above steps. Winterizing your sailboat is a procedure that has to be done correctly in order to considerably extent the lifetime of your sailboat.

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