Heated Storage Preparation

[Steve36]

Just wondering as to who stores their boats in a heated enviroment.
My boat is going into heated storage in a few weeks and I am wondering what I should do prior to putting it in.
I have a list of what the marina does but I am wondering if all is necessary.

Hope someone can help as I dont want to pay the marina for work that is easily done yourself.

Thanks.

 

[tginz]

I hate to say this...but if it were me....I'd winterize as if you were outside. What happens if your location looses heat for a few days. That would be a real disaster and could cost you your boat in engine, waterlines, hot water heaters, heads etc. damages.

I only do minor winter work (blow out water lines, drain hot water tank) and I keep my boat in my own heated warehouse, actually just on the other side of my office wall. Makes working difficult sometimes. I do keep my boat open to circulate air in everywhere. My warehouse has three heaters and yes I've had one go down. The other two pick up the slack and don't allow the temp below 50. I also have employees there everyday and know that someone will notify the boss if our stored goods and my boat are getting too cold.

In my opinion, as long as you have someone checking EVERYDAY and could handle heater repair or immediate winterizing in a crisis, then OK don't winterize now. BUT if your baby is going to sit days without anyone checking the temp, think twice. Also climate, in your location, is obviously a consideration, the Carolina's present different freeze rates and conditions than say Maine or Minnesota.

Best of luck. You will love inside heated storage. My trailed 2004 looks brand new as its only sun exposure is when I'm on it, otherwise winter and summer it is warm and shaded inside.

tginz

 

[sbw1]

We follow the maintenance schedules for the engines and genny;drain the water system; do a very good job of cleaning the head and polish and wax the hull above the rub rail; clean all sea strainers;open and close each seacock;fresh white diapers under the pumps and engines;fill the tank with stabilized fuel and run the engines and genny to circulate stabilzed fuel. The boat is put away clean with all of the electrical switches turned off. I spray for spiders as the last step. That's about it.

 

[Jaws]

If the price of heated winter storage isn't out of line then it's a convenient option. You have to do very little work outside of draining your water and pumping the holding tank. Just take off any perishables. I also hang some fabric softener sheets and place a few Dri-Rite containers in the sinks. Also open the fridge and icemaker doors. Leave the boat open so air can circulate.

This will be the seventh winter that we have stored our boats in this fashion. Most storage facilities around the Great Lakes would have security and temperature alarms in case of heater failure. Having said that, this year we'll have the boat winterized as well. Just a precaution that my dealer likes to take.

Some facilities really cram the boats in, making it difficult to do a winter wax job but generally your boat will be accessible for any non-messy winter work projects. The facility should also throw some thin "poly" over the boat to keep any dust off. In the spring the boat comes out looking like new.

James

 

[Steve36]

Thanks for the replies. Just wondering what the term "fresh white diapers under the pumps and engines" mean. Can you explain ?

Also, what do you do with the standing water that is in the sump pump (where the shower and air conditioners drain).

Lastly do you disconnect the battery cables or do you just flick the brakers ?

Thanks again.