Winter is here. Sailing slows down and, depending on where are you situated, the weather might get intense. Winter can be very rough on your boat, so a correct protection and storage are fundamental to prepare your boat for a great sailing season next year. So, the question is how to give the best attention to your boat during the winter season.

We at MAURIPRO concern about you. That's why we came up with How to Prepare Your Boat for Winter. A simple guide for you and any sailor around the world to easily learn the principal steps you should take for a correct winter storage. Enjoy!

1. Deck Cleaning

An easy but important first step. Just like organizing your house before going on vacation, your sailboat also needs to get some cleaning and organization. If there are any times left on your deck, take some time to organize them, see what will still serve you for the next season and remove all the unnecessary objects. Keep the necessary and store them below the deck. Make sure they're dry and safely stored.

2. Oil Change

Your engine also need maintenance, so make sure you take care of it before you store your boat. You have to protect the engine against water and acid substances because once they get in there, you'll see signs of corrosion. To avoid the damage, you must add new oil to the engine and change its filter.

3. Remove Electronics

We recommend to remove and properly store electronics that are around or not installed. If the boat is stored on land, remove batteries, bring to full charge, store in a dry place and check battery water levels. Don't forget to charge it once in a while to make sure it's ready for your next sailing adventure!

4. Check Your Rigging System

A properly rope storage during cold months is fundamental to go sailing once the winter season is over. Ropes have to be completely dry before you store your boat. In case they don't, after winter they will turn green and lose strength. To be fully functional, you have to make sure you don't leave them lying on the wet deck. You can gather them by using a mousing line; they'll be neat and tidy in no time.

5. Take Care of the Steering Mechanism

Preparing the Steering Mechanism for winter storage requires care too. Grassing it for the last time will assure that the mechanism will be fully functional once the winter season is over.

6. Spray With Fogging Oil

Get your engine turning over without starting it, and while it's still turning overspray fogging oil into the carburetor or through the spark plug holes, whichever way your manual instructs you to do. This will keep your engine's moving parts protected during the winter cold.

7. Wash and Wax

The last step for the winter preparation process: the cleaning. Completely eliminate any dirt and salt off the deck. Then, cover the body with wax to prevent rust from corroding your boat's body. You would love to look it like new three months from now, so be a perfectionist to have it that way.

8. Select a Cover

A boat cover is an excellent option to protect your boat from dust, grime, dirt, and moisture. If you want to make sure your boat is fully functional after the winter season, then you must click Boat Covers now to select one. Consider investing in a custom winter storage cover rather than paying for shrink-wrap each season.

9. Know Where to Storage

Storage can be done in four different ways:

• Outdoor Storage is the most common and cheaper option, unfortunately, this is the process that presents more cons. You'll need a resistant cover, it will be exposed to dangerous elements, must be transported to and from the dock, etc.
• Boat Storage Units is relatively inexpensive will protect your boat from dangerous elements, and storage facilities are easy to find. Its cons are that they may require transportation to the dock and, for larger boats, will not be easy to fit on a common storage.
• Dry Stack Storage is done in a warehouse near dock, allowing protection from dangerous elements and will not require transportation. Unfortunately, is expensive than the first options and the large boats will not fit.
• Indoor Storage is more effective and protective for any kind of boat. Unfortunately, this storage is the most expensive option.

Send us your comments and let us know about your experience with this simple process!