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Highway Marine’s How to Guide to Preparing Your Boat for the Lehigh Valley Winter

Dec. 13 2023 How-To Guide By Highway Marine

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Prepping your boat for winter is an essential process every boat owner in the Lehigh Valley should know intimately. It helps to protect your boat from the harsh, cold weather that can lead to costly damage. Since this is such an important part of boat ownership, our team of boat experts here at Highway Marine put together this how-to guide on winterizing your boat. Whether you’re a new boat owner or a seasoned pro, give this guide a read and ensure that your boat will be winterized effectively for the cold winter that lies ahead. 

Wash Thoroughly 

Start off by washing both the interior and exterior of your boat to remove any grime, salt, algae or fishiness that’s accumulated over the season. Make sure to get into every nook and cranny, you’ll be glad when you break out your boat next spring. Cleaning even the smallest spots like crevices, spaces between seats, storage areas and the like is a great way to ensure no odor causing bacteria or water gets trapped.  

Once you’ve cleaned your boat thoroughly, give it time to dry before applying a layer of wax. A solid application of wax is something we always recommend, especially for owners that plan on storing their boat outdoors. 

Change the Fluids 

Changing the fluids in your boat before storing it for the winter is the next big step in winterization. Start with changing your oil and filter, then move on to flushing your fluid & water systems, filling them with antifreeze. Since the Lehigh Valley can get pretty cold during the winter, ensuring that your cooling system won’t freeze over the winter is an absolute must. 

From oil and antifreeze to filters, funnels and everything in between — at Highway Marine we have everything you need to winterize your boat this season. Order your parts online or by visiting our parts department at our retail location on Route 309 in Quakertown today! 

Protect Your Engine 

When you’re winterizing your boat, protecting your engine should be at the top of your list. When storing your engine for a long period of time it’s at high risk for corrosion and rust as gravity works to pull traditional oil and lubricants to the lowest point in the engine. That’s why we recommend using fogging oil in your engine when prepping your boat each winter. 

Fogging oil is specially designed to lubricate internal and external engine parts for long periods of time. This aerosol petroleum treatment will keep your engine lubricated and rust-free during storage so you can remain worry-free all winter long. 

A quick and easy step, you’ll want to add some fuel stabilizer to your fuel tank before you put the boat away for the winter. Using a good fuel stabilizer is essential as it protects your fuel system from both corrosion and the negative effects of ethanol. 

If you’re winterizing your boat at home, proper fogging oil is an absolute must — get yours at Highway Marine today. With a million-dollar inventory full of the best names in boating, our parts department is home to Quakertown’s largest selection of boat parts and accessories. Order your parts online or visit us on Route 309 today! 

Winterizing Your Stern Drive 

Winterizing your boat stern drive is an essential step in protecting it from the harsh winter weather. To start, make sure you drain any residual water from the system. Using a flusher, you’ll get the engine to operating temperature so that the thermostat opens. Then, with the boat on a trailer or similar level, blocked surface, you’ll trim the drive down, turning it fully astern. This allows any water in the pickup, water pump housing, and exhaust passages to fully drain.  

Next, fill the system with an antifreeze solution, according to the manufacturer's instructions. This helps prevent the water from freezing and damaging the system. You'll also want to drain and replace the gear lube, and check the prop shaft to make sure it's in good condition.  

Finally, don't forget to inspect everything, including the steering and tilt-and-trim components, sacrificial zinc anodes, and grease fittings. By following these steps, you can help ensure a smooth and worry-free boating season when the warmer weather returns. 

Winterizing Your Air Conditioners 

Winterizing your boat's air conditioner is an essential step in preparing your vessel for the colder months. A clean air conditioner is a must before beginning any winterization procedure, so it's important to clear the area of any dust or debris that’s gathered throughout the season. Once you’ve got your AC unit clean, you'll want to disconnect it from all power before you start the next step.  

Next, you must drain any water from the air conditioner and its water lines to prevent freezing and potential damage. Checking the refrigerant levels is also a good idea as low levels of refrigerant can damage your AC unit or keep it from working at peak efficiency.   

Finally, inspect the AC unit's wiring and insulation as well as covering the unit with a weatherproof cover to protect it from winter storms. Remember, following these steps will ensure that your boat's AC unit operates at peak performance when the boating season resumes. 

Care for Your Livewell 

Winterizing your boat's livewell is an important step if you want to keep them in tip-top shape for next tournament season. The first step is to empty the livewell completely of water and debris. This is important because leaving water in the livewell can result in ice formation, which can damage pipes and pumps. To be on the safe side, you may want to consider running antifreeze through the livewell's water lines and pumps. This will ensure that all water has been removed and copper or foam components are free of stagnant water that can freeze and expand, possibly causing damage to the livewell's pipes and valves.  

Additionally, you may want to cover the livewell with a high-quality marine shrink wrapto further protect it from the elements. By winterizing your boat's livewell, you will be ensuring that it remains in top condition and ready to use when spring spawn arrives. Get everything you need to winterize your livewell at our parts department here at Highway Marine on Route 309 in Quakertown today.  

Shrink Wrap Your Boat 

Shrink wrapping your boat during the winterization process is a smart investment that pays off in the long run. Unlike traditional canvas covers, boat shrink wrap creates a custom fit that eliminates gaps, preventing rodents and other pests from accessing your boat. Additionally, shrink wrap is resistant to moisture, preventing damage caused by rain, snow, and sleet. Shrink wrap also protects your boat's paint and gel coat from harsh weather conditions, keeping it shiny and new for years to come.  

With marine shrink wrap, you can rest easy knowing that your boat is fully protected from any off-season threats. Don't wait until it's too late, get your boat shrink wrap here at Highway Marine today and enjoy a worry-free offseason. 

Call Highway Marine Today 

There you have it, folks! Winterizing your boat may seem like a handful, but with a bit of time and dedication, you can ensure that your boat is ready to go right away come spring. From using fogging oil, doing a thorough check of your engine, stern drive, AC unit, and livewell, to the final step of shrink wrapping your boat, every step is crucial in preserving your boat's longevity. And if you’re not into the whole DIY thing, our service technicians here at Highway Marine would be glad to winterize your boat for you — book your appointment online or by calling 215-536-4721 today. 

Whether you’re winterizing your boat yourself or need it done for you, we have everything you need here at Highway Marine in Quakertown. Check out our inventory of boat parts and accessories online or by visiting us at 875 N. West End Boulevard in Quakertown today!