| In this Pontoon Boat Accessories article we will be | | | | - Change the oil |
| focusing on the importance of winterizing your | | | | - Change the lower unit fluid |
| boat and the 5 general areas involved in this | | | | - Conduct a visual inspection of the entire power |
| process. Winterizing is the equivalent of spring | | | | train |
| cleaning for your home, yet it is done 6 months | | | | The freshwater and waste systems need to be |
| earlier and also involves some very essential | | | | completely drained or pumped out and then the |
| preventive maintenance to protect from the cold | | | | entire systems need to be flushed with antifreeze. |
| weather and an extended period of inactivity. The | | | | Winterizing the cabin and interior involves taking |
| five areas are as follows: | | | | preventative measures to minimize moisture |
| - Cleaning | | | | which leads to mold and mildew. Don't forget to |
| - Engine and Lower Unit | | | | pump out the bilge and pour in some antifreeze to |
| - Fresh and Waste Water | | | | flush the lines and pump housing. Also remove the |
| - Cabin and Interior | | | | batteries fully charged and depending on where |
| - Inspection and Covering | | | | you store your boat, you may want to remove |
| Cleaning is done from the inside out, from the | | | | any electronics that can be easily stolen. |
| head to the topside, from the cabin to the hull. | | | | Finally, properly cover your boat with a high |
| The better you clean and polish the better | | | | quality boat cover or tarp that is fastened |
| protected your boat will be and the less you have | | | | securely but loose enough to allow for proper air |
| to do to launch come Spring. | | | | circulation. Support the cover with a cover |
| The engine and lower unit prep are the most | | | | support pole to prevent water-pooling. The last |
| important part of the winterizing process and | | | | thing you will do is inspect the environment and |
| involve steps done in this particular order: | | | | the storage device you are using to store your |
| - Top off your fuel, add a fuel stabilizer and | | | | boat. Make sure everything is structurally sound |
| replace your fuel filter and water separator | | | | and free from the possibility of damaging your |
| - Winterize the block with antifreeze (anti-toxic, | | | | vessel. |
| sometimes called marine antifreeze) | | | | Hope this Pontoon Boat Accessories article is |
| - Fog the combustion chamber | | | | helpful. |