How to Winterise Your Boat in 5 Easy Steps

While winterising is not something that any nautical enthusiast enjoys, it is an essential part of boat maintenance that can influence the performance of your vessel once you get it back out on the water in the spring.

In an ideal world you should consider winterising your boat during the early days of autumn before the temperature begins to fall. Allowing yourself ample time will enable you to fully service your boat and repair any damage which may have occurred during the spring and summer months.

It is also worth bearing in mind that you will need to continue your winterising tasks for the duration of the winter months. Numerous insurance companies include a clause that stipulates that your policy will be invalid unless necessary maintenance work has been carried out.

Winterising your boat correctly will help ensure that your boat’s electrics in her engine will also be protected against any potential damp. Remember that damp can also affect the interior of your boat as well, so it is always essential to ensure that your indoor furnishings are properly protected.

A good place to start is to fill up your boat’s fuel tank to maximum capacity in order prevent condensation accumulating in your fuel tank, which can result in dreaded diesel bug contamination. Due to the fact that diesel is an organic fuel it offers microscopic fungi an ideal opportunity to breed and grow.

Diesel bug usually originates from air or moisture inside the tank, and once inside the tank, the bacteria can lay dormant for an extended period of time. Once this bacteria comes into contact with even the smallest droplet of water, they will begin to rapidly reproduce inside the tank.

Once the contaminated fuel enters the fuel system, it can be extremely difficult to eradicate, and needless to say, expensive. An affected vessel will experience accelerated corrosion and will require immediate attention.

Antifouling is an essential part of routine boat care, which becomes all the more important when entering the colder winter months. While it may not be something any boat owner particularly enjoys or looks forward to, failure to apply boat paint before entering the winter months will have dire consequences for your boat.

It essential to apply several counts of antifoul to ensure maximum performance come the spring and to prevent weeds growing on the hull. Keeping your hull as smooth as possible will also ensure that your engine runs as efficiently as possible and performance is maximised.

Failure to apply boat paint will result in your hull becoming a breeding ground for all sorts of nautical critters, including barnacles, weeds and mussels.

Your boat will more than likely be sitting in freezing cold temperatures, putting your pipes in danger of freezing and eventually bursting. It is therefore essential to completely drain the fresh and hot water tanks and then isolating the hot water.

Another precaution that should be considered is pumping a non-toxic anti-freeze into the water system and then turning on all taps and the shower and letting the water run until you see the anti-freeze coming out. This will ensure that all of your onboard fresh water systems are thoroughly protected for the duration of the winter months.

The soft furnishings inside your boat will be highly attractive to mould and mildew and that is why it is essential to ensure that your boat gets as much ventilation as possible. If possible, you should consider removing all soft furnishings, including: cushions, bedding and sofa covers.

If this is not a viable option then see if it is possible to hang them while you are not using the boat to ensure that as much air passes through them as possible. This will be further enhanced through the addition of some secure deck hatches and boat vents. Another excellent way of preventing mould and mildew is to store a dehumidifier on your boat throughout the winter, this is especially important if your boat is particularly susceptible to damp.

When a dehumidifier is used alongside a small cabin heater on a low thermostat, this provides an extra level of protection and will ensure that your boat is in pristine condition come the spring.

Changing the oil filter on your boat can more often than not prove to be incredibly messy and will certainly require a good collection of rags to clean up any spillages. In addition to this you will also need a good quality filter wrench that will not damage your filter. Carbon and other combustible products tend to build up and restrict the flow of oil to the engine. Therefore, it is important to change it at least once a year.

One tip that I would recommend is to use a plastic bag and wrap it around the filter to catch the oil and filter. I would also suggest using a barrier cream to protect your hands as old engine oil is composed of a vast amount of carbon and can be very difficult to clean.

It is also a good idea to change your engine oil as well. This is a simple process and ensures that no corrosive acids are present in the engine over winter.