It’s been another great season of exploring those blue horizons, but the winter season is quickly approaching. Now is the time to think about keeping your boat in good condition during the off-season. Here are some pro tips on how you can store your boat when it’s not on the water.
Store Outside the Water in the Off-Season
Leaving your boat at the marina means you’ll have to do the same upkeep you’ve been doing all year long. Instead, store your boat in a dry space during the winter:
- In the Garage
- On a Trailer
- In a Specialized Storage Unit
Attached garages will work best since they’ll siphon the heat from the house and keep the boat from freezing over. If you opt to store it on a trailer, check the tires on occasion to make sure they don’t go flat. Storage units can give you the benefit of keeping your boat in a place designed for its quality upkeep, letting you keep focus on your other winter pursuits.
Keep It Covered
Wherever you keep your boat, make sure you keep it covered to prevent mildew and other depreciation from the weather. Shrink-wrapping it is a great way to keep it in solid condition, and a tight-fitting tarp can work well if you need to keep the boat accessible.
Take Care of That Fuel System
Look after your boat’s systems by taking the time do a few small things:
- Fill and then flush the system with antifreeze.
- Add fuel stabilizer in the engine.
Antifreeze stops those wintry nights from freezing internal moisture and damaging the inner-workings. Filling and flushing it coats it safely enough. Also, keep the gasoline in the engine fresh with fuel stabilizer. This will keep your fuel supply good to go for half a year or so.
Keep Charged
A trickle charger is a good way to ensure the battery doesn’t lose power and lifespan. It’s a device that recharges the battery at a rate matching natural discharge.
Find a Convenient Spot to Keep Your Boat
One of the main things we recommend paying attention to is getting the best location to store your boat. In the off-season, you know the space will be dedicated to boat care. Also, in the on-season, it’s way more likely you’ll hit those open seas if you find a convenient place to pick up and drop off your boat between excursions.
StorQuest in Clearwater, Florida lets you get the most of the white sands and clear waters of the Gulf Coast with our location right off Highway 19. You’ll be at Cove Cay in no time or a quick drive away from all the best marinas on the west coast.
Adventuring somewhere else? Check out our nationwide locations list to find where you can store your boat and be ready for that next epic adventure. We scout our locations to get you going as quickly and conveniently as possible, because your journey matters.