They don’t call it “The Sunshine State” for nothing. One of the best things about living in Florida is its lack of cold, hard winters. Not getting harsh snowfalls and sub-zero temperatures means that fewer things need to be properly tucked away for the cold season, but does that include your boat? This article covers the things you need to do for boat winterizing in SWFL.
Do Boats Need Full Winterization in Florida?
Image by Alina Kacharho is licensed with Unsplash License
For those living in colder areas, winterizing a boat is all about protecting key components from the damage done by freezing temperatures. While that’s hardly an issue in Southwest Florida, it doesn’t mean that you can simply leave your boat unattended for long periods without risking some damage. It’s just that the damage factors are different. Instead of ice and freezing temperatures, you need to watch out for humidity, salty air, corrosion, and UV damage.
Essential Winter Maintenance for Florida Boats
Some of the things Florida boat owners can do during the winter months to keep their boats in good condition include:
- Make sure you leave everything in good condition. The first step is an overall inspection. Small issues can grow bigger if left unattended for several months, so take a look at essential components like the propeller and belts, and generally make sure that your boat is clean and well-functioning.
- Add stabilizer to your fuel. Leaving fuel inside your tank for months can cause it to decompose, which may damage your engine when you turn it back on in the spring. Emptying your tank is inconvenient, so the most practical method is to fill your tank up to 95% and add fuel stabilizer to keep it from oxidizing and separating.
- Prepare your engine. Likewise, engine components can degrade if exposed to corrosive substances for months. Change your oil and flush your cooling system to remove any potentially corrosive chemicals.
- Cover the boat. Leaving your boat exposed to sun, rain, and debris for months at a time can damage its hull, seats, electronics, and even interior areas. Make sure to keep it covered and seal the cover tightly to prevent the wind from loosening it.
Professional Maintenance Options for Florida Boaters
While you can perform all necessary winterization operations yourself, it’s usually best that you leave it to professionals. This way, you can make sure your boat is properly winterized, which can save you lots of money on maintenance and repair operations later on. Aloha Marine’s Cape Coral boat maintenance technicians have the skill and local experience required to keep your vessel in excellent condition over the winter.
Keeping Your Boat Ready Year-Round
As with most valuable objects, properly maintaining your boat is much easier and less expensive than repairing it after something goes wrong. Although Southwest Florida is blessed with mild winters, some basic winterization operations are still necessary to keep your boat looking and working well when the next boating season starts. From a routine tune-up to more complex repairs, you can trust Aloha Marine to help you with any boat-related matter. Contact us and get a same-day boat service estimate.
