Winterizing a sailboat

• Cover exterior vents to block entry of birds and rodents. Bronze-wool pads will block vents. Sailboat boom is a favorite nesting place for birds. Muskrats often nest in engine exhaust pipes, chewing holes in hoses! Use exhaust pipe covers.
• Water tanks and hot water tank: drain; pour non-toxic antifreeze into tanks; pump through all pumps and outlets.
• Cooler or fridge: drain, pour non-toxic antifreeze through drain or pump.
• Head, Holding tank: empty; pump non-toxic antifreeze through the toilet into holding tank. Remove water in "intake" hose, add antifreeze (may require removing hose).
• Bilge: remove all water, then pump through manual and electric bilge pumps until antifreeze comes out the outlet. Put some in bilge (fibreglass only) if you normally get condensation or leakage during winter.
• Lobby against shrink-wrapping boats! What a shortsighted idea. Marinas may profit from it, but we all pay for garbage disposal and a thousand years of plastic mountains!)

Rigging:

• Remove sails, secure running rigging, slacken shrouds.
• If removing mast, remove boom, disconnect wiring, remove instruments.
• If mast is stored on deck, tie it down securely, and support it well.
• Removed, coil, and store stantions/lifelines.

Winterize:

• Winterize engine according to manual.
• For an external cooling system with heat exchanger, run engine (briefly) with intake hose in the jug of non-toxic antifreeze until the coloured liquid appears out the stern.
• Add fuel stabilizer to fuel tanks. Condensation can cause water contamination of fuel, which can contribute to mechanical failure of the engine.
• Remove electronic equipment if you wish (for security only).
• Charge batteries fully and disconnect all wires (see below).
• Pour antifreeze into deck/cockpit drains with "traps". If you have drains that trap water, you will need to cover the boat. Ice destroys hoses and may cause that sinking feeling next spring!

Diesel engine:

Disconnect the raw water intake hose from the seacock or filter, insert in a jug of antifreeze and start the engine - stop the engine when anti-freeze comes out the stern exhaust (save it for proper disposal), then reconnect the hose. Fill fuel tank and add fuel stabiliser. You can check the impeller and fuel filters.

Cabin - Ventilation

• Paper (charts, books), foam and fabric (cushions, lifejackets) can be left on board if they are clean and there is good ventilation, and your boat is rodent-proof. If rodents can get in, they will destroy foam cushions, fabric or paper towels to make nests. Moth balls in egg cartons inside the boat may deter them, but the smell may deter YOU.
• Leave an opening in boat cover at each end.
• Open interior doors, seacocks, vents (a port if cover secure).
• Hang up or prop up all fabric items left on board. Clean fabric won't grow mold if ventilated.
• Wipe down interior fibreglass and wood with dilute bleach (with good air flow).
• If any items grew mold, and bleach is not an option, kill mold spores by washing with 'bleach for the unbleachables'. Upholstery probably requires professional cleaning or replacement.

Electronics:

Sounders and stereos last longer if stored in a warm, dry place, but can be left on board. Don't remove caulked, bulk-head mounted instrumentation unless the manual says otherwise.

Batteries

Since "good" batteries with a complete charge will discharge very little at subzero temperatures, they are usually safe to leave in the boat over winter in *cold climates.

Charge all batteries fully (13.5 volts) and test with load. If voltage immediately drops below 13v with a stereo or several lights on, the battery probably needs replacing. A bad battery will discharge quickly and should not be left to freeze. Batteries eventually crack if discharged under 12 volts and frozen. After charging and testing, disconnecting the wires (they're labelled right?!), and store each in its battery box. If batteries are kept inside, even a cold basement, you should charge them once a month.

* These procedures have been used for 20 years for a boat in eastern Ontario where boats are hauled and usually covered for the winter with temperatures as low as -35C. By spring, batteries are usually between 12-13 volts. YMMV

Mast cradles for Aloha 32