Protecting Boats From Damage During Off-Season Storage

6 Tips for Protecting Boats From Damage During Off-Season Storage

When the boating season is coming to an end, a lot of boat owners start to feel some sort of relief and begin to think about the warmer months that will arrive at some point. But what some of them need to understand (especially inexperienced ones) is that they cannot just leave their vessel and go.

If they want to be sure everything is going to be okay, then they need to roll up their sleeves and do some work before they take a break. So what does it mean? It means that they should take a couple of steps to ensure nothing bad strikes their boat while they are away.

Boats can go through a number of bad things when they are not utilized. That’s precisely why it’s essential to have a detailed preparation that’s going to preserve it. Want to know what it involves? Keep reading then!

The Importance Of Off-Season Care

Now, you may think that this isn’t as essential, but you wouldn’t believe how pivotal it is. Bear in mind that you’ll be leaving your vessel for a very long time. We’re not talking several hours or days, but months.

Do you honestly think that nothing bad can happen then? Nature never sleeps, which means that it could potentially cause a variety of different issues. For instance, you could wake up one day and notice that your boat is covered in mold.

Or maybe rodents decided to inhabit it. Fuel may degrade, as well. There are so many bad things that could go wrong. That’s precisely why off-season protection is always a wise idea. It’s all about the prevention.

Did You Consider A Boat Storage?

If the answer is no, then now may be a good time to consider this solution. If you’re wondering whether that’s a truly good idea or not, passionate boat connoisseurs at www.sparefoot.com/boat-storage are here to remind you that it is one of the best things that you can do for your vessel during off-season. Boat storage is a perfectly safe place that’s going to safeguard it from numerous negative things and occurrences.

For instance, many people resort to it when they want to make sure no weather element damages their vessel in any way. Keep in mind that weather elements, such as rain, UV rays, snow, and many others, can still negatively impact it when it’s not properly secured.

Besides that, if your boat is stored at a storage facility, then you do not need to worry about potential theft, vandalism, etc., because these facilities are packed with a number of different security features, like video surveillance, that are there to make sure nothing bad happens to it.

Time To Do Some Cleaning!

One of the surefire ways to protect your boat, yet a step that’s rather simple, is to perform a deep clean. This is crucial because things like algae, dirt, salt, and many others could result in corrosion, odors, and many other negative things when it’s left outside.

Therefore, it would be advisable to thoroughly wash the exterior, hardware, and deck. Once you’re done with that, then it’s time to move on to rails and windows. When it comes to the inside of your vessel, be sure to vacuum everything, get rid of the garbage, and other things that will breathe new life into it.

If you run into some leftovers or food crumbs, throw them in the trash; otherwise, the pests will target your boat once they see you’ve gotten some yummy things inside. All of the above-mentioned suggestions will not only make your boat cleaner but will also prevent any serious damage to it.

Another Way To Prepare Your Boat

Now that everything looks sparkly, it’s time to do some other type of preparation that will also benefit your vessel. These are some steps that you need to take:

• Make sure to flush the engine and out some antifreeze in
• Eliminate the battery and put it indoors
• Be sure to check if there are any leaks in seals and hoses
• Empty water tanks and get rid of any food

By taking all these steps, you are proactively safeguarding your vessel from long-term wear.

Resort To Draining And Drying

In case you didn’t know, water is by far one of the biggest enemies of stored boats. Even if a small amount of trapped moisture ends up in it, it can still result in wood damage, mildew, and corrosion.

Consequently, it would be recommended to drain bilges, water tanks, plumbing systems, and other parts of it thoroughly. Once you’re done with it, then you should leave all the compartments open so they can dry properly.

In addition, it would be wise if you employed some moisture absorbers to make sure humidity is kept under control while your vessel is in storage.

UV Protective Coating As A Fantastic Idea!

If you think that UV rays are harmful only during summer and spring, then you are seriously wrong. They can damage your boat any time of the year, and there’s no need to remind you how detrimental the sun can be.

Therefore, one of the best things that you can do to protect your boat from UV rays is to purchase a professional UV protective coating that’s intended to safeguard your vessel when it’s situated outside.

In these instances, you should hire a professional who’s going to put some specialized coating that’s supposed to absorb UV radiation. Something like this is highly beneficial for your vessel, and it’s going to increase its operational life.

Then There Are Freezing Temperatures

If you live in a cold region where freezing water is nothing unusual, then you should do something about it because freezing water can cause havoc to plumbing, engines, and hull components.

One of the best things that you can do is to winterize effectively. By doing so, you’ll save tons of cash on potential repairs.

As you can see, none of the steps and suggestions that were given today are difficult. You do not need to do all of them; however, the more you implement, the better you’ll protect your boat.

Additional Find Rentals Articles

Ephraim Wisconsin | Things to Do, Places to Eat and Stay
Ephraim Wisconsin Travel Guide

Quechee Hot Air Balloon Festival
June - Quechee Vermont

Travel Guide For Your San Diego Vacation Rental
San Diego Area California