Boat Storage

[Mike Niccum]

I was wondering if anyone here stores their boat outside. How do you protect it? I have heard of people using shrink wrap on their boat. I have a 2002 Nitro bassboat. Any tips?



Thank you,



nic

 

[Jim B]

I store my boat outside. what i do is i do the standard winterizing on the motor, fog and lower unit oil change gas stabilizer, change water seperator, etc. I take out the batteries and put then in the cellar. I clean out all my stuff so i can go thru it over the winter. i also put some pink antrifreze into the livewell and run it thru to make sure no water is trapped in there. i put a fresh coat of wax on the boat and trailer. then i take it and get it shrinkwrapped by a local shop. after i get it home i put it on blocks and take the tires off and cover the hubs over with a trash bag and duct tape. i also loosen all the straps and coat anything on the trailer that might rust with anti corrosive spray. I think i do more then most guys but when i do something i do it all the way.

 

[Mike L.]

I do almost exactly as Jim does, except that I put my boat cover on and then cover it with a tarp.

I leave the tires on but jack up the tires and put the trailer on a jack stand to keep the weight off the tires. MIke L.

 

[Dennis Graham]

I just read an article that says you should also "drain the water in your speedometer" by disconnecting it at the gauge. If the gauage freezes it can permantely damage it. I never thought about it before.

>>Dennis

 

[C C]

I have my boat winterized by my mechanic, he does all of the above then he shrink wraps it and stores it. In the spring he undoes whatever he did to winterize it, changes the plugs, engine oil and lower end oil and runs it engine to check it out. Last but not least re-packs the wheel bearings and I am on my way. Since I am not certain as how to do the job myself, to me it is well worth the expense.



Cass

 

[Steven Atwell]

Hey CC, how much does that usually cost you?

 

[Mike Niccum]

Hey thanks for all the tips on winterizing. You have been very helpful.



And J.W., I would love to come down to Texas but my sister-in-law lives down there and Texas is not big enough for the both of us. lol



nic

 

[JEFF WHITE]

i tarp it after draining and refilling the lower unit(s).stabilizer in the tank,take the batteries out.take all the electronics off.i put a board the full length from the windshield to the transom so the tarp is raised for drainage,and one to the bow also.



the spring is start the motors on the flusher install the electronics and everything else removed,regrease the wheel bearings,check the air in the tires,and away i go to the lake.

 

[Texas Transplant]

Mine has been outside since I bought it 2 1/2 yrs. ago. It's a tin job. I don't 'formally winterize' it, but do perform some off season checks, etc. I have a custom cover from Tracker that I keep on the boat all the time.



During the winter months, I use it, but not as much as the balance of the year. If I get to a time where I've not run it in 3-4 weeks, I'll put the hose/flusher attachment on it and run the engine for a short period.



Spring, I do the lower unit thing, bearings, batteries, etc. to make sure they are all ready. Since the boat is nearing 3 years old, I'll probably do a more formal job this winter, specially since I will have used the boat this year considerably more than before. Last year - maybe 8-10 trips to the lake at most (family health problems). This year, probably at least 30 days on the lake at a minimum. Next year, I expect that my number of trip days will be in the 40-50 range. For me, that's quite a bit.

 

[Tim King]

I throw my coveralls in a storage compartment and keep on fishin!