winter boat storage

Just wondering if anyone has any tips on "things to do" before I cover up my boat for the winter. This is my first year with my own boat and will be wrapping her up in my own yard for the winter next weekend. Shes a 21` White Shark fisher with a 150HP Johnson outboard. Bought her second hand in England in July. She sits on a 4 wheel braked trailer. I had the outboard professionally serviced 8 weeks ago. Any tips to prevent rusting or engine problems greatly appreciated. Should I empty petrol from fuel tank ?? thanks, Colin.

That service that you had done - was it a summer service or a winter service?

Reading between the lines, it was probably a summer service, so you might want to winterise your engine.

Nice looking boat, by the way.

Winter boat storage:

Disconnect and remove electronics.
Grease battery terminals or remove the battery if the boat is not being used at all.
Grease all steering joints
Probably a good time to check steering cables (if cable steering used)
Make sure cover is secure and draining water rather than pooling on the cover.
Throttle lever: strip and grease internals (if not done on the engine service)

Engine:
Flush engine or run every couple of weeks.
Remove plugs and introduce some 2 stroke into the cylinders or run every couple of weeks.
Grease all points on leg and internal ball joints (throttle, gear selector) (if not done on the service)
Wind the steering tube in rather than leaving it out to the elements.
The school of thought seems to be to keep internal tanks full rather than empty. Run the engine dry of fuel or run every couple of weeks.

Trailer:
Jack axles off the ground and spin wheels occasionally
Grease winch
Grease roller spindles, brake cables and compensator joint (if exists)
Go really mad and grease internals of the brakes!

Anything visual that you re worried about rusting could be given a coat of Vaseline or wurth hhs 2000 or suchlike


Best thing to do of course is: GO FISHING DURING THE WINTER!

Thanks for the info lads !
The service was a complete Johnson overhaul service . I`ll carry out the list you gave Jim and put her away I`d love to carry on fishing for the winter but the deal was ,I get the boat and the wife gets a new extention to the kitchen. Roll on next year

,I get the boat and the wife gets a new extention to the kitchen. Roll on next year

s***! - and there was me thinking I was the only one in that predicament!

you guys are lucky. I got the boat and Maria gets a new house.

you guys are lucky. I got the boat and Maria gets a new house.

Ha ha!!.. did you make her live in it on her own?
My misus can have TEN new houses if she wants, but I'm only payin for the boat!