Winter Storage Tips

[townvet]

This is my first winter with our new Grady and would love some tips on winter storage. The boat dealer will be taking care of the heavy stuff (motors,water systems, shrink wrap etc...

It is advisable to remove as many of the seat cushions as possible? Remove even the hard to remove ones? What about the vinyl padding all around the gunwale? Will mice get in?

The cabin has been stripped, all cushions out etc.

What is the best way to treat and store the Eisenglass?

Should I put a coat of Flitz on the metal or just wait till spring?

Thanks

Townvet
336 Canyon w. T350's

 

[Stonewall]

I have never removed any of my cushsions for the winter and certainly not the gunwhale pads. Everything will be fine. As far as the eisenglass just make sure it is cleaned with Plexus or another good product and leave it in place. Flitz is a good idea for the metal. And don't forget the outriggers. Your baby will be just fine over the winter.

 

[journeyman]

It's always a sad time of the year

Everything comes off my boat (not the coaming pads), cushions, electronics, fishing gear, life jackets, ... , ... , Everything!

After a good drying out, and a good cleaning, most gets put away in the basement where it's dry. This also give me a opportunity to inventory all my stuff, some of which won't make the cut next year. I'm always amazed at how much I accumulate. I now make a list of things I need/want for next year and things that need attention during the winter.

Having the boat empty gives me the greatest opportunity to clean really well, which is next on the list. She gets a thorough cleaning, a coat of wax and metal polish before being covered for the winter. Waxing and polishing now really helps stay ahead of this never ending chore. I'll also spray electical connections (as best I can).

Doing it this way helps save time in the spring. Aside from any specific projects, I can uncover, clean, wax, metal polish (again, I know!), bottom paint, load up and go.

 

[sluggoe]

a) anything i can easily carry comes off my boat;
b) would apply meguiars plast-x to eisen;
c) woody to all the metals;
d) clean hull and topsides with a f/g cleaner;

is it really necessary to wax the whole boat b4 storing under shrink?

--slugg

 

[journeyman]

is it really necessary to wax the whole boat b4 storing under shrink?

No. But I do it because it helps me stay ahead of the game. After my spring wax and polish, I don't always take time during the year to do it right again so this gives me a chance to get it done.

Doing it this way does make the spring job much easier though!!!!

 

[townvet]

How do you keep dock lines clean and soft for next year

 

[NOTHING ELSE MATTERS]

How do you keep dock lines clean and soft for next year

Warm water and fabric softener works wonders.

 

[magicalbill]

I agree with Journeyman.
I wax in the fall..I think it's good for the gel to have a coat of wax on it when it sits for months. Less work in the spring the more you do in the fall.
I turn my cabin cushions up on end so air circulates underneath and around them.
It sits inside my pole barn so no tarp or wrap.

 

[journeyman]

Warm water and fabric softener works wonders.

This works great! I have a cart for my lawn tracter and I put all of my line in it for a fall soak, even my anchor line. Keeps everything soft.

 

[striped bass]

Vet:
Open all hatches, doors and circular inspection ports to let air circulate in the hull. Storing the cushions in a dry place is good advice as well as cleaning and treating them with a protective coating.

 

[seasick]

I remove anything in the cabin that can be chewed. I basically remove everything that isn't bolted down. I clean all the vinyl seat cushions, treat them with 303 protectorant and store them in my attic. I spot wash off any dirt or yuck from the cloth cabin cushions and store them also. Eisenglass is rinsed, washed with boat soap, dried, treated with 303, rolled with old cotton sheets in bewteen panels and stored in the attic also.
I give the boat a good washing with soap and treat the metal parts with wax/cleaner. I don't wax the hull until spring but maybe thats a good idea.

 

[Finest Kind]

don't waste time and effort in the fall

I think it is a waste of time and effort to wax and cover in the Fall.

Every fall, I remove my bolsters and store them in the cabin, out of the weather. They come off easily, only held in place with wing nuts.
I also remove all the teak trim from the cockpit and bring the pieces home for storage in the garage.
I remove the enclosure, and lay it out on the bunk in the cabin with old towels between the sections.

The cabin area is covered up with the original canvas snap-on cockpit cover, and that's it. No shrink-wrap and no tarp or full canvas cover.
What's the point? In years past when I used to put on the full cover, the boat was still flithy when uncovered in the Spring anyhow...

In the spring, the hull gets 2 coats of Mequires one step cleaner-wax, and I hit the hardtop, cabin sides, walk-around and deck with a power washer first, then soap her down and apply a coat or two of fresh Maquires.

After 18 years of ownership, (bought her when she was 3 years old in 1991) I am still proud of the way she looks, and I still get compliments from folks who can't believe she is a 21 year old boat.

 

[BobP]

http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/winter/brochure.asp