Making it Through the Winter

I guess the groundhog was wrong this year about spring coming early. This prolonged winter will only mean that waterways will remain closed and we'll just have to wait a bit longer to get our boats in the water. This does give us enough time to think about repairs to our boats, and any upgrades to make it better for the summer. Instead of sitting around waiting for summer to happen, and letting the winter months take their toll on your boat, get proactive and read these tips to improve your boat for the summer season.

• You should have already taken care of this when storing your boat for the winter, but check antifreeze levels in the engine, and maybe add some more to the toilet, sink, bath or shower drains if you have them.
• Inspect the cozy areas of your boat for mice and rats, as they love to burrow in your boat for the remainder of the winter, This can do some damage to your boat, and no one wants to clean up the dens they leave behind. It might be a good idea to get some poison or set up some traps if you haven't already done so.
• Quite a lot of condensation will occur as things start to warm up and then get colder again. Leave a few containers of salt throughout your boat to help reduce that problem.
• Inspect any furniture or clothing you may have left behind for mold. It's a big problem to take care of once it sets in, and may require professional services to help get rid of it if it gets out of hand. If you find anything that's damp, leave it out to dry, and then store it in the central areas of your boat where it's usually dryer.
• Inspect the electronics of your boat, and check batteries. If any need repairs or replacements, now would be good to look online at some quality marine electronics for your boat. Sales significantly increase as boats go in the water, and boat owners realize the new electronics that they need. Get a head start on the process, and you might be able to find a few good deals on quality equipment right now.

Most importantly, be safe and careful when inspecting your boat, especially if your boat is moored at the moment. Waters can be shockingly cold, and there won't be as many people around the marina this time of the year if you fall in.