Preparing your sailboat for winter - a step-by-step checklist

When thinking about winterizing your sailboat, you need to consider some serious decisions. How are you going to store the boat during winter? Where will you store it if you haul it out? What precautions do you have to take if you leave the boat in the water? Where will you get that information? How will you arrange for the regular inspections needed during the winter months? How much will it cost?

You’ll need to cover your sailboat no matter where it’s stored. You can cover it with tarpaulins or you can shrink wrap the boat. You’ll need to make more frequent inspections with tarpaulins, although they are less expensive than shrink wrap.

Unstepping the mast is a good idea as it allows you to use the mast as a support for the tarpaulins. You also get less windage with your mast on the deck and less likelihood of damage to the rigging.

Your motor needs special attention during the winterization process. It can be severely damaged by water freezing inside the water jacket. All water must be drained from the motor and replaced with eco-friendly anti-freeze.

The fresh water pumps and lines also need to be drained and the head needs to be drained and
filled with anti-freeze. The batteries need to be taken off the boat and stored in a cool dry place.

The sailing web site sailingmates has a checklist on how to winterize your sailboat. Here is part one of the checklist