If you own a boat or other water craft and live in an area where there is seasonal weather changes, you must store your boat for the winter. You just can’t leave it tied up to the dock and expect it to remain in good condition.

The boat or other water craft must be properly preserved and stored to protect it from deterioration from the elements and lack of use. When the warm weather returns you want your boat to be ready to go without expensive servicing or repair bills. The boat storage tips offered below will go a long way to protect your boat while it is in storage.

Tips for storing your boat:

1. Whether you wish to store a boat or other water craft it should be fully functional before it is placed in storage. This will insure that it is ready to go when the warm weather returns.

2. Fully service the boat with fuel and oil before placing it in storage. This will ensure that it stays in running condition. Servicing will also save the components from rusting and prevent corrosion.

3. Fill the fuel tank completely. This will prevent moisture from forming inside the fuel tank that can lead to fuel tank corrosion. However, some plastic fuel tanks must have a fuel additive added to the fuel tank to prevent the tank from deteriorating from the chemical action from ethanol.

4. Drain all water from the engine cooling system if it is not protected from freezing with glycol.

5. Thoroughly clean the boat inside and outside.

6. Remove the battery and store it separately, in a dry place. Never store a battery on a concrete floor.

7. If the boat is stored outside, cover it to protect it from the elements. Although plastic or vinyl wrap is most often used for outside boat storage, it will cause moisture to build up and lead to the formation of mold on the vinyl fabric. If your boat is vinyl wrapped insure that there is a large vent at both ends for ventilation to reduce mold build up.

Once the boat is prepared for storage you can store it in your garage or back yard and avoid the several hundred dollars to store it at a boat storage facility.

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