When storing your boat, keep these tips in mind:
- Prepare your engine in accordance with the owner’s manual. In winter, this will normally include:
- draining and flushing the cooling system
- draining and refilling the crankcase
- applying oil to inside of each cylinder through the spark plug holes;
- other preservative actions recommended by your boat’s manufacturer.
- Thoroughly clean the hull, decks, cockpit, bilge, all compartments, lockers and the exterior of the engine and coat with an appropriate wax or preservative.
- Drain fuel lines, pumps, carburetor and tanks or fill completely and add fuel stabilizer.
- Leave all floorboards up, doors ajar, ports and skylights open, hatches partly open, drawers and lockers open.
- Carefully fit a well-made cover, provided with ventilation ports.
- Don’t forget the trailer: check tire pressure; check and pack wheel hubs if necessary and lubricate jack.