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WINTERIZATION CHECK-OFF LIST

So you need to lay your boat up for the winter...or for an extended period of time (more than 2-3 months). What should you do? The following check list hits on the important things that you should consider in order to prolong the reliable service life of your boat and to reduce potential recommissioning costs later. This list is intended to be used for most outboard and inboard/outboard powered trailerable boats. Not all items will apply to all boats.

Winterization/Storage Check Off

_____ Grease trailer wheel bearings

_____ Power-wash bottom to remove fouling growth

_____ Apply MaryKate or similar Phosphoric Acid solution to remove marks and stains

_____ Drain coolant system for heat exchanger equipped engines, refill new coolant

_____ Inspect belts, replace if worn, cracked, or glazed.

_____ Inspect wiring harnesses, replace wires w/ cracked insulation or corroded terminals

_____ Empty bilge of all accumulated water and slops

_____ Clean bilge

_____ Grease zerk fittings (steering, tilt/trim, winches, weight handling apparatus)

_____ Pull propeller and trust washer

_____ Inspect for debris/monofilament, remove any foreign matter

_____ Inspect shaft seal

_____ Lightly grease propeller shaft spline

_____ Replace thrust washer and propeller

_____ Drain lower unit oil and replace with new oil, look for indications of water or metal shards

_____ Replace zinc anodes if greater than 66% wasted

_____ Preserve power head (READ MANUFACTURER'S INSTRUCTIONS FOR 4-STROKE ENGINES)

1. Hook up fresh water cooling water intake
2. Start engine
3. Rev engine RPM while Iinjecting/spraying preservative oil/fogging oil in carbuerator/air intake
4. Disconnect fuel source/line while continuing to fog engine w/ engine at idle
5. Stop injecting/spraying fogging oil when engine begins to starve for fuel

_____ Remove batteries, top off with distilled water and store on non-conductive material

_____ Shrink wrap, cover with canvas/tarps, or store in covered storage

_____ Jack trailer and block so that tires do not touch the ground, or block boat off of trailer.