At Bridge Marina, we’re often asked by our service guests, “What should we do to our boat before we drop it off for winterization service?” It’s a question we love to answer, as it helps us help boat owners ensure that their boat is put away properly for the winter season… a great boating season next summer really does start with winterization right now!
Here are just a few of the “Do’s” boat owners should understand before they drop their boat off for winterization service:
- DO make sure your boat is clean before you put it away – it’s not going to magically get any better or cleaner over the winter! (And, if you don’t want to clean your boat, we suggest you schedule a good cleaning and/or detailing service as part of your spring recommission service to keep your boat in tip top shape – your elbows will thank you later).
- DO empty your storage compartments – take out items like watersports gear, lines, and life jackets and store those elsewhere.
A few of the things boat owners should NOT do before winterizing their boat:
- DON’T leave food on board – you’re opening up your boat to the potential of critters having a feast on your leftovers… or a can of soda could explode over the winter. Trust us, neither is fun to discover in the spring.
- DON’T leave gear – especially wet items – in storage compartments. You want to make sure your compartments are dry and clear of gear, lines and other items.