The warm weather and another sailing season have come to an end. It is now time to winterize your yacht so that it appears in boat shape once spring arrives. Winter can be brutal even in temperate states. As a yacht owner, it is essential to prepare your boat for the cold. Winterizing a yacht not only avoids costly damage to your valuable asset, but also extends the life of the yacht and its engine by protecting its components from freezing and corrosion.
Wintering: What's the importance?
In fact, protecting your yacht from the elements is important no matter where you live. Winters can be colder in frozen states, but studies show that yacht owners in warmer climates file more frost-related claims due to unexpected cold spells. The good news is that yacht wintering doesn't have to be difficult, and service providers are here to help by providing this checklist to keep your boat in good condition during winter hibernation. Take these protective measures now for the winterization of a yacht so that it can get back in the water as soon as you are ready.
Where to park your yacht?
If you live in a state where freezing temperatures are the norm, storing your yacht ashore is a matter of course. In warmer climates, however, where ice and snow rarely occur, you have a choice. While storing your yacht on the water will give you a head start on next spring's boating season, storing it ashore is a safer bet. A yacht hibernating on high ground will not sink. In addition, a hull surrounded by air for several months each winter is less likely to develop blisters than a hull that stays in the water.
How do you hibernate your yacht?
Whether you store your yacht on land or in the water, here are the steps to follow for winterizing a yacht.
Make a clean sweep: winter air can be wet or dry, and both conditions can wreak havoc inside your yacht.
Dismantle electronics and other valuables and take them home for safekeeping. Remove all flammable products (portable propane cans, charcoal, flares, fenders, paints, thinners and varnishes) and store them ashore.
Leave a fully charged fire extinguisher behind and be sure to store it in plain sight.