BOAT STORAGE SUGGESTIONS

Follow these simple suggestions to protect your boat properly and ensure years of use:

• Fiberglass boats will "chalk" in time if left in the sun. If possible, store your boat in a garage, carport or cover it with a breathable tarp.
• When storing your boat, open all hatches to vent it and prevent moisture that can cause rot, rust or corrosion. Pull the plug to drain water. To make sure that you replace the plug before using the boat, attach it to the boat key ring, or some place where you can’t miss it.
• Do not store boats under trees. Falling leaves will stain a boat (particularly fiberglass). Tree sap and bird droppings are also tough to remove.
• Store removable seat cushions inside after cleaning and scrubbing them, treating any mildew spots that have occurred, and drying them thoroughly.
• Check battery fluid and restore it as required. Check battery terminals and clean them with a brush to maintain good electrical connections.
• Check boat accessories. If you have wood oars or paddles, check them for roughness, splinters or cracks in the blade. Replace if required. Check plastic or metal paddles or oars for signs of wear that might cause them to fail.
• Check your ropes, lines, anchors, boat poles, rod holders and other accessories. Repair or replace any damaged equipment.
• Check the condition of your life preservers (personal flotation devices—PFDs), and replace when required. Sun, saltwater and age will damage PFDs. Note that you must have one for each person on board, including children, and they must be properly sized for each person.
• When storing your boat, remove the electronics to prevent theft. Keep such instruments inside to protect them. When removing electronics, protect electrical connections with de-moisturizing compounds or sprays. Check your lights (bow: green, starboard and red, port and the 360 degree white light) to ensure that they work.
• If trailering, use a trailer with adequate bunks or beds on which the hull rides, all positioned appropriately to support your boat. This is most important when fitting a boat to a trailer the first time. (For a complete guide on trailering, click here)
• Visually inspect the rest of your boat trailer at this time. Check tires, tire pressure, hubs, grease fittings, rust or corrosion on any part of the trailer, tongue, trailer hitch chains, lock, trailer lights (night, right turn, left turn and braking lights).
• Last, check to make sure that your boat sticker or state certification is up to date along with the trailer license registration.