Winter Boating Safety
The weather’s starting to get colder, and many of our waterways around Minneapolis are going to start freezing over. If you’re not a die-hard fisher, then you’re probably looking to store your boat for the winter. But don’t just put it anywhere and hope it comes back to you running smoothly. Let your local boat dealer, Nisswa Marine, give you some tips for storing your boat for the winter. If you need additional advice, then stop by our boat dealership in Nisswa, Minnesota, serving St. Cloud, Brainerd, Duluth, and Grand Rapids. We’ll help you with all your boating related needs.
Where to Store your Boat
One of the bigger challenges is figuring out where to store your boat. If you have a smaller dinghy, this may not be as difficult, but as your boat gets bigger and bigger, you might need to consider finding special accommodations. Keep in mind that the ideal storage area protects your boat from the elements and wandering thieves. Of course, if you’re limited by your storage means, then there are ways around this, but the best solution will likely be a completely enclosed area. This could be a large garage or barn. If you can, keep it close to home so you can always check on it.
As we mentioned, this isn’t exactly feasible for everyone. If you’re looking at an outdoor solution, like in your driveway or pulled into your yard, make sure you keep it covered (which we’ll go over later on). You can also rent a storage facility. This can be the best alternative to keeping your boat on your property. Some other options include keeping your boat at a local marina or keeping it on a dry rack. Whatever choice you make, follow the next steps to ensure your boat will be ready for the spring, without lots of necessary repairs.
Clean
The best thing you can do for your boat is to clean it. Give it a good scrub from top to bottom, inside and out, and in every nook and cranny. Include the hardware and trim and make sure you’re using products that aren’t going to damage your boat. Either go with a gentle detergent, a specialized product, or refer to your owner’s manual for more guidance. You’ll also want to take all removable items off your boat, especially if you’re going to store your boat away from your property and won’t have access to it. Check the entire craft for holes that pests could get into and fill those before you have an infestation problem.
Change the Oil
When was the last time you changed your motor oil? Will the next recommended change pass while it’s in storage? Instead of letting your oil sit, or having to pull your boat out of storage to change the oil, consider doing that now. Don’t forget to change the filter as well. You can also simply top it off if your oil is still relatively fresh.
Cover
When your boat is ready to head to storage, the final step is to cover it. This is particularly important if you’re storing your boat outside. You’ll probably be able to locate a special cover for your specific boat model, but if you can’t afford one, or find one, the very least you should do is outfit a tarp to keep out the elements.
There are some other tips that we can help you with if you stop by your local boat dealer, Nisswa Marine. Our experienced staff can help you with everything your boat needs this winter. You can also talk to our service staff if you spot a problem that needs to be fixed before you put your boat in storage. So if you’re in Nisswa, Minneapolis, St. Cloud, Brainerd, Duluth, or Grand Rapids, MN, then visit us today!