Off Season Maintenance and Winterization

Now that boating season has slowed, and many won’t be using their boats until the weather warms; it is important to properly maintain and store your boat and motor. Proper preperation for the off-season is what sets your boating season up for success come spring. There are a few steps we take when winterizing your outboard motor to ensure it is ready to withstand the cold during extended storage.

Fuel System

Prepping your fuel system for extended storage is arguably the most important step in winterization. We begin by checking for water intrusion within the fuel system. Then we disconnect the fuel hose from the motor and connect a portable tank to run our winterization mixture through the engine. This keeps the internal components lubricated for the duration of the storage period. We then stabilize the fuel currently in the tank and re-connect the fuel hose.

Pro Tips

We recommend servicing your outboard at the end of the season and winterizing at the same time; this means you have fresh plugs, fluids, and fuel filters come spring.

Store your engine vertically to avoid water collecting in the lower unit. This will prevent water freezing and expanding, which could lead to costly gear case damage.

Keep your fuel tanks over 3/4 of the way full to minimize condensation.

Remove your batteries, charge, and store them in a warm dry place.

Replace spark plugs in spring (if not done during winterization).

Check your fuel water separator after running out that first tank in the spring.

Winterizing your outboard is imperative to maintaning the longevity of the motor and avoiding costly repairs during prime boating weather. Schedule a service and winterization through SaltWater Marine today, or contact our parts department if you are looking to DIY your winterization.