Boat Winterization Checklist
Synchrony Powersports

As a boat owner, you need to protect your vessel. You may know how to safeguard it in summertime, but do you know what to do when cold weather hits? That's where boat winterizing comes in.

Boat winterization can protect your engine and other essential boat parts from damage caused by freezing and expanding water. As you look over a boat winterization checklist, you'll see tasks designed to remove water and moisture from your boat's pumps, fuel lines and engine.

Although some people do their own winterization, a boat winterizing checklist can be intimidating. If the project seems overwhelming, consider having a professional winterize your boat. And if you’d like to pay for it over time, you can bundle in your winterizing costs with a Synchrony installment loan when you purchase your boat from an enrolled powersports dealer.^* With an installment loan, you can combine your purchases into one convenient monthly payment.

Boat winterization is a process that gets your boat ready to face subfreezing temperatures. It's usually lumped together with performing annual maintenance at the end of the boating season.

Since freezing water expands, it can lead to costly cracks in your engine, plumbing or other equipment. A boat winterization checklist focuses on removing moisture to prevent mold, mildew and cracks from water expanding when it freezes.¹ Winterizing also helps you prepare your boat for long-term storage when you perform annual maintenance like an oil change and spark plug replacement.

Boat winterization takes time and money. If you do it yourself, you can spend about $250 on supplies. At a marina or boat mechanic, you can expect to spend at least $500.²

Boat owners in North America should consider winterizing their boats. Even if you live somewhere like Texas or Florida that doesn't experience freezing temperatures often, a cold snap could damage your engine. If you have an off-season from boating, it's a good idea to winterize.³

You could wait until temperatures approach freezing to winterize. However, it may be more convenient to winterize your boat at the end of the season before putting it in storage for the off-season. Boaters often winterize after Labor Day, but if you boat well into the fall, winterization can be done later, as long as it's done before freezing temperatures approach.

If you skip boat winterization, you can run the risk of cracks or other damage to your equipment. Whether you're winterizing an outboard or an inboard motor, you're helping protect your engine, fuel system and plumbing. Even a small crack in the engine can potentially total it, so winterization can potentially help you save thousands in repair bills.

The process for winterizing your boat is similar whether you're working with an inboard or outboard motor. Focus mainly on removing moisture from the engine and fuel system. If your boat has plumbing, a live well, bilge pumps or any other systems that move water, those will need attention too.¹

Need a boat winterizing checklist? Consider these steps.¹

1. Change your oil and add stabilizer. While this isn't an essential step for winterization, it's a good maintenance practice and will protect your engine from dirty oil all winter.²
2. Prepare the engine. Drain all the water by opening the petcock. This is usually a bronze valve on the side of the engine. Disconnect the lower hose from the water pump so it can drain too.²
3. Protect the engine from corrosion. Check your owner's manual to learn how best to protect your engine, inside and out. Marine anti-corrosion spray works well on the outside of the engine. If you're winterizing an outboard motor, you'll be using a fogging oil, which coats the engine's interior to protect it. Find your owner's manual online if you don't have a physical copy.
4. Fill your tanks and add fuel stabilizer. Full tanks reduce the risk of condensation, while fuel stabilizer keeps your gas from going bad over the winter. Once the stabilizer is added, run the engine.
5. Change your fuel filters. If you have fuel/water separators, change those too.
6. Drain all water from plumbing and pumps. Focus on your plumbing system, bilge pumps, live wells and anywhere else that draws or holds water. Add antifreeze to the plumbing system and anywhere else you can't entirely drain all water. Leave your drain plugs out.
7. Wash the interior and exterior. Be sure that the interior is fully dry.
8. Wrap or cover the boat. Then, you're ready to store it.

Here are a few additional tasks to consider for your boat winterizing checklist:⁴

• Remove all trash and food.
• Vacuum carpets and wipe down upholstery.
• Clean all storage compartments. If you're storing equipment like life jackets in the boat, make sure they're entirely dry.
• Empty the fridge and freezer if you have one. Prop open the door.
• Close and lock all hatches and ports.
• Consider using a dehumidifier.
• Lubricate seals as part of end-of-season maintenance.
• Grease the throttle, steering, trim and other moveable parts.
• Disconnect the battery cables. Make sure the battery is fully charged, and store it either in the boat or in a cool, dry spot.
• Inspect spark plugs and replace if necessary.
• Check all wires and hoses for damage or wear.
• Touch up any new scrapes or bumps. Let paint dry fully before you wrap or cover the boat.
• Review your owner's manual and ensure you've completed all the necessary winterization steps.

Bass boats often come with a bit of additional equipment, such as live wells, fish finders and trailers. To winterize a bass boat, consider these additional steps:

• Remove all electronics, including fish finders. Store them indoors in a cool, dry place until next season.⁵
• Take off trolling motors. Winterize and store those separately.⁵
• Clean all tackle and equipment. Prepare it for winter and store it in your covered boat or another cool, dry spot.
• Winterize your live wells. Clean the live wells and make sure they're entirely dry. If you're not able to drain all water from the system, add antifreeze. Be sure to clean it all out before next season to avoid poisoning your catch.⁶
• Inspect your trailer. Check for any damage to lights or wiring. Grease the wheel bearings and put the trailer on blocks to help avoid tire damage from sitting all winter.⁶ And if you need a trailer, Synchrony partners with 700+ trailer manufacturers to offer convenient financing for various types of trailers.

Winterizing a ski boat can be straightforward. However, if your boat has a ballast system, you may need to fill the pump, lines and bladders with antifreeze.⁷ In addition, consider these steps to ensure you're ready to hit the water next summer:

• Remove all ski and sports equipment, including tow ropes, wake shapers, skis, tubes and wakeboards.
• Inspect equipment for damage. Make any necessary repairs, like patching tubes. Discard frayed ropes and broken equipment.
• Store ski and wakeboard equipment. Put your gear in a place that isn't too hot or cold. Consider storing skis and wakeboards on designated shelving where they're not likely to be bumped.⁸

It can be tempting to save money by winterizing your boat yourself. However, that can open you up to risks. If even things go wrong during the winterization process, it can potentially cost you thousands of dollars to repair or replace the engine, fuel system or water pumps. Having a professional winterize and wrap your boat for storage is often money well spent. If you're determined to winterize your boat yourself, consider hiring a professional to walk you through the process the first year so you'll know exactly what to do in the future.

Financing all of your boat startup costs (including winterizing and maintenance service plans) into one convenient monthly loan payment can help you make the most out of your time as you hit the water, while paying over time.^*

Want to learn more about Synchrony financing and see what your monthly payment might look like? Use our Payment Calculator.

Financing with Synchrony means:

• Banking you trust: Synchrony is a Fortune 500 bank that's been helping consumers for more than 80 years.
• Brands you love: We partner with 100+ powersports brands for you to choose from.
• 4,500 dealers: Synchrony loans are offered by more than 4,500 dealership partners, so you can get the powersports adventure you want with the financing terms you need.^*
• Lightning-fast approval: Get a decision about your loan application in 60 seconds or less.
• Auto payment: Never miss a payment. Call Synchrony's customer service and set up automatic payments.
• Early payoff: No early payment restrictions if you'd like to pay off your loan early.
• Equal payments: Payments are equal over the life of the loan, so you don't have to worry about adjusting your budget.

Ready to finance your dream boat? Find a dealer near you that offers Synchrony financing and click "Boats" under Subcategories.

Related articles:
Boat Financing | Boat Accessories | Boat Ownership 101

^*Offer is subject to credit approval by Synchrony Bank.