[adamjkok]

6. Inspect for Repairs: Checking for and making repairs in the fall will help you get out on the water faster in the spring. Be sure to inspect the hull and deck for cracks or blisters and repair if necessary. Check lifelines for signs of corrosion and inspect and service all seacocks, winches, turning blocks, rope clutches, and the mainsheet system. Remove the mast and inspect mast, boom, and rigging for wear and damage. Also inspect the electrical wiring inside the mast. Remove tape from spreader tips and turnbuckles and inspect. here

[qay]

Before diving right in, always check your boat’s owner’s manual for any boat-specific winterizing instructions. Instructions from the owner’s manual are always a must-do. Make sure nothing is forgotten by creating a checklist of tasks to be completed before you start.

[Jason]

The main goal of winterizing is to remove all fluids that could freeze, however it is also a good time to clean off the grime of summer and make any necessary repairs. Proper winterization will ensure no surprises in the spring. To help with a smooth transition, we have complied a list of 10 tips for preparing your boat for the long winter.

[marcpage]

When storing sails, make sure that they will be protected from rodents. Dacron sailcloth is a favorite mouse snack, and they will chew little ragged holes all through your sail without a safeguard. There are two good options to prevent this: first, suspend your sail bags from a height, like rafters of a garage or barn. Or sprinkle mothballs inside your sail bag. For foolproof protection, do both. here

[benyclawn]

10. Cover: Whether storing your boat inside or outside, a cover is a necessity. For outdoor storage a Sunbrella Marine Grade canvas cover is ideal. If you are storing your boat indoors, use a trailering cover or shrink-wrap. Make sure there is an anti-chafe material and that the cover is fitted so rodents and bugs can’t crawl up underneath. Custom-made boat covers fit best.

[ArrowJ]

Don’t: Don’t ever put something on the stove or in the oven and “run out for just a minute” to your neighbor’s boat. Instead, invite them over and keep an eye on what’s cooking. Oh and beware the amount of rum—its only real warming effect is sliding down your throat.
here

[madhatter]

Do: Consider creating a plastic cave. For boaters in the northeast, shrink wrapping is a way of life during the winter. Although not cheap, shrink-wrapping your boat has its benefits—the boat stays warmer and dryer, and snow slides off without needing to shovel around odd structures like dorades and winches. With a portable Mr. Buddy propane heater, you can even warm up the cockpit and sit “outside” and enjoy the snowflakes landing on the sheer blanket above your head. Just remember to recycle all that plastic at the end of the season. [links]

[TheColdOne]

Do: Do cuddle up. Christmas presents come in various packages and sharing a little body heat this holiday season may be the cheapest gifting you’ll do. Whether it’s with your significant other or a fur kid, cuddling warms your toes and your heart.

[syndicat.com]

Do: Do get a heater—or many. Reverse cycle, ceramic (electric) and gravity-fed diesel heaters will transform any boat from a cold cave to an inviting sanctuary. You may need to add another shore power connection if you plan to have multiple electric heaters and be sure to monitor your fuel tank so you don’t run out of diesel. For electric, make sure it’s the kind kind of heater that will turn off if it falls over. Numerous small and silent heaters are on the market, so boats of any size can become a pleasant hideaway even when the wind is howling outside. more

[nadav001]

Do: Do think about changing your scenery. Seriously—relocating may be the best way to stay (or get) warm this winter. Tired of Boston harbor ice? Sail down to the Tobago Cays in the Caribbean and your worries about staying warm will disappear. In fact, most of your worries may disappear if you suddenly find yourself in the Grenadines. [links]

[bethel]

11. Keep the bilge dry. This has more to do with smell than mildew or an actual feeling of damp, but that smell of stagnant water can be pretty unpleasant, especially when all the hatches are closed and ventilation is poor. We’re lucky in that we have a shallow bilge, so it’s relatively easy to keep it dry: after the pump gets as much as it can, we sponge out the rest.

[DiabloD3]

2. Take your boat out. This doesn’t have to be extended cruising—although, if you can manage that, great. Simply a few hours’ sail or a motor over to a nearby dock for lunch does the trick. It’s hard to motivate when there’s snow on the marina pontoons, but getting out and feeling the boat as it moves through the water really lifted my spirits. It made me remember why we live on a boat in the first place and it got us out on deck, moving around outside. An added bonus is that doing this even just once a fortnight means you have to tidy the boat into sailing shape, which cuts down on the clutter and cramped feeling. more

[vsheldonguzmanw]

4. Exercise. One of the biggest remedies: Get exercise. Before the trails got icy, Seth and I went hiking in the Olympic National Park as much as we could—our biggest hike was a full day excursion in which we gained (and lost) 6,000 vertical feet. When snow, ice and darkness descended in December and January, we bemoaned not having our ski-touring gear cluttering up the boat, but joining a gym was a decent alternative. There’s nothing like endorphins to make the winter blues disappear. more

[nicecook12]

These are more difficult problems. As well as keeping the cabin temperature at a point where we don’t have to wear hats and jackets indoors, here are some of our tactics: [links]

[robotmonkey]

12. Use an active dehumidifier. This, of course, presumes that you’re on shore-power, but if you are, then this works wonders. We have a big General Electric machine that has run continuously through three winters now, and it really gets the credit for keeping Celeste funk-free and mold-free. We keep the humidity level at 50 to 55 percent, even when it’s 100 percent (raining) outside. When we’re away for a period of time (days or weeks), it drains into our galley sink. When we’re on board, we empty its two-gallon bucket about every 24 hours.

[6174Kauri]

Heating the cabin not only makes it actually livable, but dries the air, which is a beachhead in the war against dampness. Here are some heating options—we use all three in different situations—with pros and cons: here

[laczoka]

The main goal of winterizing is to remove all fluids that could freeze, however it is also a good time to clean off the grime of summer and make any necessary repairs. Proper winterization will ensure no surprises in the spring. To help with a smooth transition, we have complied a list of 10 tips for preparing your boat for the long winter.

[endian7000]

5. Clean, Clean, Clean: Winterization is the perfect opportunity to clean your vessel from top to bottom. Clean out the inside of the boat, emptying all lockers, food lockers, icebox, and refrigerator. Wash down all the surfaces of the boat inside and out. Also be sure to clean the hardware, mast, and rigging to remove any salt or grime. Thoroughly clean and dry enclosures. For cleaning canvas, like Sunbrella, we recommend using 303 Multi-Surface Cleaner, it does a great job and will safely clean a number of surfaces. Lightly wax fiberglass surfaces and touch up any chipping paint. more

[cxswqaaz]

Before diving right in, always check your boat’s owner’s manual for any boat-specific winterizing instructions. Instructions from the owner’s manual are always a must-do. Make sure nothing is forgotten by creating a checklist of tasks to be completed before you start.