4 Tips For Preparing Your Boat For Long Term Storage
There may come a point in time when you need to store your boat for a prolonged period of time. This could be because it is the end of the season and you do not currently have dock parking for your boat or you may want to put it away because it won't be used for a much longer stretch of time. Whatever the case, it's important that you prepare your boat for long term storage to ensure that once you are ready to take it out, you can be sure that there is less chance of damages. Here are four tips to help you prepare for long term boat storage:
Use a Cover: You should never store your boat without a cover. A cover is important to protect against blistering and damage to the material. You want to be sure that the cover is made to fit your exact boat model. This is important so that it is fully protected while also preventing mildew build up because it will have proper breathing room. You shouldn't use anything but a cover designed for boats. Any other type of cover, especially plastic, is prone to mold and mildew growth.
Take Care of the Engine: To prevent overheating and corrosion, you want to be sure that you take care of the engine by flushing it out, changing the oil and oil filter, and more. You can follow the instructions on your owner's manual which should go into detail about taking care of the engine before storage, or you can visit a professional who can clean your engine for you.
Wash the Interior: Before storing, you also want to wash the interior of the boat to prevent damages to the material. Be sure to wash with vinyl protectant and remove all loose items from the boat, as well and store elsewhere. This includes life jackets, waters, flares, and more. This way, there is a much smaller chance that the interior is going to become damaged.
Store the Battery Separately: Storing the battery separately is also a good idea because it ensures that the battery will be able to be effectively charged instead of dying out. You can keep it stored at home or in separate storage attached to the battery charger.
When you consider these four tips, you can be sure that your boat is prepared safely for long term storage. When you are ready to take it back out, it will be in the best condition, possibly the same condition it was in when you left it. For more information, contact a business such as Home Port Self Storage.