Boating Tips

Before the marina hauls and winterizes your boat, there are many jobs that you, the boat owner, can perform. Most marinas will look after the motors and water systems, but they won’t do some of these more detailed jobs.

Protect your cushions and mattresses

If your cockpit upholstery has been damp during the last few weeks, lift it up off the seat foundations, stand it on end, drain it, expose to the sun and the wind. If your upholstery is going to stay aboard after haul out, go back to the boat after the marina has finished winterizing it to stand the cushions and mattresses on their side and lean them separately against the cockpit sides. This will provide good ventilation around them. There are always lots of warm days during the fall that will draw the moisture out of them, if there is good air circulation.

Clean before storing

Fall is a good time to wash just about everything on the boat–inside and out so that you don’t have frozen on dirt to deal with in the spring. This job includes washing the canvas, the upholstery, the superstructure, coolers, the frig, ice maker, lockers, live wells, bait wells, etc. Also, this will avoid black fur in the corners greeting you in the spring.

Brush Away the Mold

This tip I was given for black mold at forms during the fall on the underside of convertible top canvas.

When dry, remove the canvas from the bows, spread it out on a flat surface like a piece of plywood on a picnic table. Next, put on a handyman’s paper face mask, so you don’t inhale the mold dust. Brush away the mold with a dry scrub brush. Use no water, no cleaners, just brush dry. Brush parallel to fabric “grain” to loosen mold from the weave of the material. Shake like a bed sheet in the wind. Repeat brushing as required on corners missed. Brushing dry does not wash out the waterproofing.

Hang to Store

Depending on your storage space at home versus your varmint problem on the boat, you may also want to remove your convertible top/bimini top and all the canvas. One winter, I had rolled up the tops super tight around the bows after washing and drying thoroughly. Come spring, when I unrolled them, a family of four-legged critters had crawled in the rolled up end with some paper and made a cozy nest. Nest creation involved chewing several holes in the rolled up canvas. Every year since, I have hang the canvas flat like sheets on a clothes line in my storage shed, so that there are no pockets to nest in.

Before the marina hauls and winterizes your boat, there are many jobs that you, the boat owner, can perform. Most marinas will look after the motors and water systems, but they won’t do some of these more detailed jobs.

Make a List

On all boats, either during your last cruise or your last days in the harbor prior to haul out, make a written list of all the repairs that either you are going to do or you are going to leave for the marina to do like gauges that are non-operative, taps that leak, upholstery nicks that need to be sewn, snaps that are pulled off the canvas, woodwork that needs to be refinished, motor tune ups, etc.

Eliminate Nesting Material

There are many items on board the boat that should be removed for the winter so they don’t freeze, rot or attract animals. You should box up and take home all the food and drink containers, all the bedding, towels and clothing. If not taken home, they can be stored in large sealed plastic bins with snap on lids. Also remove any of the kids toys that they may want over the wintertime. Also remember to take home anything that is made of paper because mice and birds love making nests out of tissues, toilet paper and paper towels–even synthetic chamois. It doesn’t hurt to set a few mouse traps just for insurance.

Sailboat Extras

For sailboats, there are a few additional jobs that should be tackled before haul out. They include removing and washing the sails, hanging them to dry and packing them up to take home. Depending on whether the marina is going to do it or you are going to do it, you want to un-step the mast, inspect all the running and standing rigging and make notes of items to be repaired or replaced.