Even with Tennessee's mild winter, it still pays to winterize your boat. You never know when the next hard frost will come, and once it's here, it may be too late. Even without the frost, an improperly stored boat can suffer damage through the winter. Follow these steps to help prevent costly repairs later.

Your Boat

If possible, store your boat ashore for the winter. The bulkhead, keel and motor are the critical areas needing support. Cradles work best, but don't store your boat on a cradle that was designed for a different model.

If you store your boat in the water, close all through-hull fittings, gate valves and seacocks. Do not close cockpit drains. Plug exhaust ports. Check your boat occasionally to make sure lines are secure, bumpers are in place, and the bilge is dry.

Cover the boat. Use a frame under the cover to prevent water from pooling and tearing your cover or damaging the boat. Canvas is best because it breathes, but plastic works too. Make sure you leave vents in it to allow condensation to escape. Allow for drainage if you're storing outside.

Add non-toxic anti-freeze to water tanks, toilets and septic holding tanks. Never use engine anti-freeze in a freshwater system.

Remove electronic equipment, important documents and other valuables that could tempt thieves.

Your Engine

• Drain the cooling system and add anti-freeze. On outboards, this means filling a large bucket or drum with enough antifreeze to reach the water intake, then running the motor until it is warm. Use a non-toxic antifreeze only.
• Disconnect the battery and store in a warm, dry place. If you have to leave it on board to operate an alarm or bilge pump, fill battery cells with distilled water and fully charge it so it doesn't freeze. Apply petroleum jelly to clean terminals to prevent corrosion.
• Oil: Drain and replace the engine, transmission and outdrive oil. Replace gear oil in outdrives. Use internal oil fogger while the engine is warm to prevent corrosion.
• Top off fuel tanks, leaving a little room for expansion. Add a fuel stabilizer.
• To keep water from collecting in outdrives, leave them in the down position.

Your Trailer

• Rust spreads easily, so inspect your trailer before storing. Sand off and prime any rust spots you find.
• Check tire inflation and brakes and brake fluid. Consider raising the trailer onto blocks to take stress off the tires and suspension.
• Lubricate all rollers, pivot points, the winch, and the coupler.
• Look for signs of cracking or metal fatigue. Tighten bolts and screws and inspect the electrical system for worn wires or loose connections. The bulb bases inside taillights can be sprayed with WD-40 to keep moisture out.
• Protecting your boat now against the extremes of winter will save you time and money in the long run.