Boat Maintenance: nearing season end...

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	Name:	LonghornBoater -
	Subject:	nearing season end...
	Date:	8/31/2010 9:00:13 AM

While it is appropriate and relatively easy to do the fluid changes and flush/fogging of the engine (get a manual from the marina or bookstore), cleaning is another story. The one winter I was forced to leave my boat on the trailer was a disaster. I fully detailed the boat and bought a cover from Overtons, fashioned supports to prevent water pooling during rain storms, and put an open box of moth balls under the helm station. I came back in the spring to a total mess. The cover despite my preparation had evidently filled with water, frozen, and split the cover allowing more water into the cockpit with subsequent rains, all the upholstery was mildew ridden and the inside of the boat filled with leaves and other debris.

Two recommendations, one if at all possible store the boat in closed storage (think mini storage or pole barn) or at least where you can observe it on a regular basis failing this, just do the mechanical weatherization and a general clean up now and save your energy for a total redo in the spring.

Good luck and start saving now for the cleaning materials and Advil you'll need in the Spring.