Top 3 Tips for Winter Boating

Posted by Steve Jen
3
Sep 3, 2015
141 Views
When the first chill of the coming winter months hits the air, most boating enthusiasts take out their winterizing products to properly secure their boats. The main purpose of these products is to protect the boat from the elements and keep it fully functional when the actual boating season (i.e. summer) comes around again.

That is all well for people who are more than happy to give up boating during winter, but what about people who wish to carry on. We are talking about the diehard boating enthusiasts here who let nothing get in between them and the time they spend out on the open waters.

Winter boating is nothing like summer boating. There are certain precautions you have to take to make sure that your boat continues to run flawlessly. If you are one such boating enthusiast, then continue reading for some very important tips for winter boating.

Fuel

The chances of you not being able to start the boat at all in winter increase significantly if the fuel is contaminated. There are two reasons why it might happen.

a) Ethanol in the fuel breaks down because the boat is not being used as often.

b) Because of condensation, water accumulates inside the fuel.

Winter often exacerbates these problems. Sudden weather fluctuations lead to condensation, and not using the boat for some time leads to the destabilization of gases, which eventually muddles the filters.

There is an easy solution for this problem. Even before the winter months begin, install new filters and fuel/water separators. You should also keep some extra in case of emergency. But most importantly, always remember to add fuel stabilizers whenever you fuel up your boat. When used properly, this will help to keep your fuel fresh for almost a year. 

Battery

Boat batteries have been known to lose about 30% of their power as soon as the weather hits 0° or colder. That is why you must always remember to keep your batteries fully charged and in working condition whenever you take your boat out. As the gap between the uses grows, the power of the batteries begins to wane. If you do not use the boat at all, then all the power will be drained out of the batteries on its own.

Flushing

If you keep your boat on trailers then you need to use clean, fresh water to flush the engine after you use the boat. Boats that are kept in slips in saltwater should be flushed by utilizing the built in flush attachment. The attachment can usually be located directly below the cowling.

Follow these tips and you will be able to take your boat any time you want in absolute working order. To get more boat supplies, boat parts, and accessories that will make winter boating even more fun and safe, you can check out The Open Waters, the leading supplier of everything boat related.
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