| The riding, driving, and boating season isn’t over yet, but it won’t be long before… I hate to even type it down! You can make sure that you’re winterizing your toys- right, before they go into storage. Watercraft: 5 Steps to Winterize Your Boat the Easy Way 1. Before winter storage, clean out all the damp and wet materials including any fabrics that can hold moisture. This will help prevent musty smells in the boat after the long winter. 2. Be sure to clean and protect the canvas that protects your boat all season long. The reason for most canvas leaks is due to dirt being trapped between the canvas threads. The dirt will act like a funnel and allow water to pass straight through. Don’t forget to reapply a protectant to the canvas to preserve it from the elements. 3. One of the most highly neglected boating accessories is not even on the boat—it’s the trailer your boat sits on. You trust the trailer to get your boat to and from the lake, but it’s rarely maintained until something breaks. Maintenance tasks such as brake service, paint protection, tire checks, lubing, and greasing the brakes and bearings will keep your trips on schedule. 4. Remember to pull your boat’s hull drain plug when it’s stored out of the water. If your shrink-wrap or covers fail during the off-season, rainwater buildup could fill the bilge and submerge the motor and systems for a long period of time. That’ll ruin next season in a hurry! 5. Last but certainly not least- & probably the most important (I say this from personal failures)! Be sure to have your boat, motor, and all systems professionally winterized. Most important, remember to have marine antifreeze installed. Marine antifreeze not only protects the systems from freezing temperatures, but it has corrosion inhibitors that help control the decay of metals inside the cooling systems. Relying on a knowledgeable marine service professional can put your mind at ease, because typically damage from freezing is not covered by most insurance policies. Motorsports: How to Winterize Your Motorcycle in 8 Simple Steps 1. Fuel stabilizer is the engine’s best friend. As fuel sits, it degrades and coats the inside of the tank and engine parts. A stabilizer in the tank prevents that. Run the engine a little to get the treatment into the carburetor and injectors. 2. Top off the fuel. This prevents condensation build-up in the tank. 3. Old oil becomes acidic. When the engine is warm, change it, and add a small amount into the cylinders to keep them protected, too. 4. Add anti-freeze. If the bike is liquid-cooled, refresh the anti-freeze. Testing the antifreeze is extremely important to preventing freeze damage to the inside of the engine block. Antifreeze testers are available at most auto parts stores. 5. Wash, dry, and polish. The goal is to clean off corrosive material, then build up a protective coating on the metal, chrome, and leather. 6. Stay off the concrete. Park the bike on a sheet of plywood or an old carpet, or elevate the cycle on a stand. The intent is to prevent flat spots from forming and eliminate moisture build-up under the tires. 7. Cover it. After completing the steps above, you can now put the entire bike in a storage bag. This will keep it protected from whatever the kids or wind bring into the garage over the winter. 8. Battery. Use a battery tender that monitors the battery and charges it when needed. Collector Vehicle: Additional Steps to Winterizing Your Collector Vehicle In addition to the items mentioned above for your toys: 1. Clean the car before storage. Cleaning and waxing the exterior before putting a breathable car cover on, will help maintain the quality of the paint, and prevent moisture, that can cause corrosion and mildew. 2. Tires. Inflate tires properly, and treat them with a good tire gel, both inside and outside walls. You can also put the car on jack stands to get the weight off of the tires. This will help prevent flat spots. 3. Reduce moisture. The interior and exterior of the car need to be protected from moisture. A damp garage will corrode all bare metals, damage paint, and cause mildew and mold in the interior. A small fan or a shop light with a candescent light bulb under the car will help eliminate moisture. For the interior, DampRid or some sort of moisture absorbing material will keep things clean and dry. Lastly, check your motorcycle insurance policy or even better, talk with your insurance agent (hopefully me)! Even if you’re storing your ride indoors, it’s still at risk of theft, vandalism, fire or physical damage since most Homeowners’ policies do not cover licensable vehicles. Nobody likes shutting down the seasonal fun. But with your winterizing help, gearing up for next season will go smoothly! |
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