Boat owners usually learn this the hard way: spring always comes faster than you think, and boats stored all winter have a way of giving you costly surprises. We see this happen yearly at Great Lakes Yacht Sales in Kenosha. When spring launch season rolls around, boaters who do winter storage maintenance on their boats save time, money, and stress.
The concept is simple, but the impact is significant. Remember to maintain your boat during winter months to avoid spring surprises that delay launch and cost you money. Most importantly, doing winter work ensures that you are the first one on the water while everyone else is busy repairing their boats.
Winter offers boat maintenance benefits that spring just cannot provide. Shops are open now instead of waiting weeks. Parts are in stock instead of backordered. Most importantly, complex problems can be solved without hastening any poor temporary fix because of the good weather which generates a great rush to launch.
The Great Lakes Yacht Sales team has witnessed each of these methods play out. If you schedule winter maintenance while your boat is in storage, you will receive better service, at a lower cost, and your boat will actually be ready on launch day. If you choose to wait until spring, you may lose out on the first perfect weekends on Lake Michigan as appointments are at a premium and rates rush.
Winter upkeep additionally identifies issues prior to them escalating into catastrophic malfunctions. That belt showing signs of wear? If you replace it during winter storage, it will not fail mid-season and risk damage to other engine parts. That small oil leak? Don't just keep topping off the oil during the summer as the problem gets worse—fix it right during the winter.
Smart boat owners make good use of winter storage time to tackle maintenance items that would delay the spring launch, or that would fail during summer. The Great Lakes Yacht Sales team recommends using winter months to check a boat's important systems.
The belts and hoses go through a lot of stress during the boating season. Because of this, storing your boat for winter is a perfect time to inspect and replace your boat's belts and hoses. Belts that are worn, cracked, or glazed should be changed now, not later through the season. Put new hoses in if they feel spongy, exhibit cracks or bulges. Otherwise, they will leak coolant or worse.
It is less expensive to replace a belt in the winter than it is to await an emergency repair when that belt fails on the water. Additionally, you deprive yourself of the chance of a failed belt damaging other engine parts or stranding you offshore.
When small leaks are spotted at winter storage they can be correctly diagnosed and fixed rather than becoming major issues. Increased oil leaks that appear minor can indicate seals failing, and this failure is likely worsening. Seeing coolant leaks? Your hoses and fittings could be out of whack. Something more serious could be going on, too, so it's best to get on top of it straight away.
If you take care of these issues during winter storage, your boat's fluids will stay where they belong when you're in the water. It stops other environmental issues leaking oil or coolant can cause and will prevent the need for constant monitoring and topping off as minor leaks flare up.
During the season, debris, shallow water, and general use take a toll on props. Winter storage allows for a thorough check-up and repairs. If props are bent, performance will be cut back and fuel consumption will rise. Vibration from damaged propellers can eventually cause damage to shafts, bearings, and even engines.
Shaft inspection during winter helps identify any wear, corrosion, misalignment, and other issues before they lead to costly damage. If you get the props reconditioned or replaced during winter storage, they will perform optimally from day one of the season instead of dealing with vibrations, slow speed, or poor fuel economy.
Batteries that haven't been properly maintained throughout winter tend to lose charge in the spring. Testing your battery and charging system, then replacing it if needed, is best done during winter. When the batteries, electric motors, or charging systems fail, who knows how long the delay will be.
When you put your boat away for the winter, Great Lakes Yacht Sales recommends checking the battery and battery charging system. They are kept properly charged during the winter so that they're ready to go in spring. In the winter, you can do more research on what batteries to choose and get it done professionally.
Over time, the effectiveness of your bottom paint diminishes. Zincs sacrifice themselves for your underwater metals. Winter storage provides opportunities to inspect the bottom paint and zinc consumption. When your boat is repainted while being stored for the winter, it'll receive protection from day one of the season. You won't have to schedule haul-outs at busy times of the year for a repainting job.
Replacing zinc during winter can prevent corrosion damage after the sacrificial anodes are gone. It is much cheaper to change the zincs during winter storage than it is to repair corrosion damage.
Winter storage makes checking hull and gelcoat condition simple. Repairing small cracks or blisters during the winter season helps prevent moisture and damage. Your boat will look great all season long instead of showing the effects of being in winter storage, thanks to gelcoat repairs and detailing in winter.
Repairs made on the hull during winter storage cure and settle before being exposed to water. Spring hull repairs sometimes involve launching the boat before the work is fully cured and therefore less effective.
Make sure to get your engine tuned up before storing it for the winter. Replacing the impeller blocks the overheating issues that can destroy engines and ruin days on the boat. It is cheaper to perform preventive maintenance than to deal with emergency repairs or engine rebuilds.
The team at Great Lakes Yacht Sales can do full engine service at winter storage. Services include spark plugs, filters, belts, hoses, and any other tune-up parts. Fresh impellers mean cooling systems work properly from day one, protecting your engine investment.
Winter maintenance may seem like a waste of money when the boats sit in storage—but the math says otherwise. Take into account these real-life situations the Great Lakes Yacht Sales team faces regularly.
During winter storage, belt replacement costs the belt plus labor. If the same belt fails on the water, the belt itself needs to be paid for as does the emergency service rate. In addition to this, a possible towing fee may be charged. If the issue is unnoticed, this could result in alternator or water pump damage being charged too. Plus you lose the day's boating.
If you had a small oil leak that was serviced during winter storage, then it probably only needs a gasket or seal and labor. If that leak is ignored all season long, you will be spending money constantly on oil and polluting the environment. Also, if the leak worsens and the oil level drops too low, the engine may get badly damaged.
Applying paint on the bottom during winter storage requires paying for paint and labor. In delaying bottom painting, you will have to schedule a haul-out during the busy boating season, pay for the haul-out, lose boating days, and deal with a fouled bottom throughout the season until the work gets done.
It is always cheaper to get something done in the winter than to be confronted with an emergency in spring.
Winter storage work is a first priority for boaters who look forward to a smooth launch in the spring. Other boaters are discovering problems and scheduling repairs with delays, while boats maintained throughout winter storage are ready to launch immediately.
The first weekends on Lake Michigan are always the best—pleasant temperatures, active boaters, and the buzz of new beginnings. It is disappointing and entirely avoidable to miss any weekends for maintenance issues or spring repairs.
At Great Lakes Yacht Sales, we've seen firsthand how boaters with winter-maintained boats enjoy weeks of spring boating while others are still awaiting parts or appointments. It's early season time that cannot be gained back once lost.
At Great Lakes Yacht Sales, we store boats during the winter season in our heated indoor facility. Our indoor storage provides ideal conditions for working on boats during Wisconsin's winter months.
We can take care of multiple maintenance items during winter storage. We can tackle everything from an oil change to a major repair while your boat is off the water. Addressing items in-season piecemeal takes more time and money than this comprehensive approach.
Our staff gives you an assessment of the condition of your boat, as well as recommendations for work that should be done right now versus what can wait. Through this honest assessment, you can develop a budget and prioritize maintenance.
Effective winter maintenance planning starts with an honest assessment of your boat's current condition and future needs. The Great Lakes Yacht Sales team is capable of carrying out thorough inspections during the winterization process with detailed recommendations for winter work.
Think about the age of the boat, what maintenance it has had done recently, and what you noticed earlier in the season. Older vessels tend to require more extensive winter maintenance than newer models.
Budget definitely matters, but consider that deferring maintenance will probably cost more later. If you spend a little now on winter maintenance, you won't have to pay more during spring or summer.
Contact Great Lakes Yacht Sales to discuss winter maintenance for your boat. Our team will assess your boat's unique needs, provide an estimate for recommended work, and schedule maintenance during winter storage.
Do not let another spring season start with costly surprises and launch delays. Winter work means spring savings, better reliability, and more time enjoying Lake Michigan instead of waiting for repairs.
Those boats that receive the proper care during winter storage will be the boats that launch first and run best every spring. Make this the year your boat is ready when you are.
