How To Prepare A Boat For Storage
Posted on: 24 July 2016
Boats take up a great deal of space, and can only be used during a certain period of the year. This is why most boat owners put their boat into storage for the winter months. However, if improperly stored, your boat can become damaged and no longer able to function as it should when the summer rolls back around. Understanding the proper way to store a boat can help ensure that your boat stays in good shape for as long as possible.
General Cleaning
Once you've removed your boat from the water, you should make sure to clean it as deeply as possible to prevent mold from growing. Drain the bilge out of your boat, and scrub down the exterior to remove any organic material, particularly seaweed and algae, which may be caked on. Check all of the lockers on your boat (especially if you have a cooler or refrigerated locker) and remove any items which may spoil over the winter.
Fill the Tank
Before you place your boat into storage, it's a good idea to fill up the gas tank. This prevents condensation from collecting within the tank and the fuel lines, which can go on to cause rust to develop on the interior of your boat. You can also choose to add a gas stabilizer, which is designed to prevent the gas from breaking down into chemicals; chemical breakdown can do damage to the fuel tank and associated machinery.
Remove the Battery
Take the battery out of your boat to ensure that it won't go dead in storage. Any other electronic components that you can take out of your boat should be removed as well. Store them with the battery separate from the boat in a dry, climate-controlled place. It's also a good idea to clean off the terminals of your battery to remove any rust which may have developed (or to have the battery replaced if it has any signs of real damage) and charge it once you've cleaned it off.
Flush the Coolant
If your boat has a water cooling system, as most mid- and large-sized boats do, you'll want to flush out the coolant system to remove any dirt or grime which may have built up in the lines. If left unchecked, this dirt can cause mold to grow and can clog up your engine, which means that your boat may not function as it should when you pick it up again in the summer. Contact a company like SaveMor Self Storage LTD for more information.
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