Winterize Your Boat In Canada

Winterizing your boat is an essential activity for owners living in colder climates, like Québec, and if you’re a seasoned yachtsman, this is one responsibility that must be professionally managed year to year. Boat winterization is a way of protecting your vessel from harsh winter climates so that come spring recommissioning, your ready to hit the canadian water when temperatures warm. At Marine 360, we follow a six-step process to winterize your boat:

1. Remove the boat from the water.
2. Draining of all the fluids in the boat.
3. Pressure wash the hull.
4. Complete winterization (injection of antifreeze into hoses and engines, replacement of water with antifreeze).
5. Application of shrink-wrap.
6. Secure boat for safe storage.

This process ensures optimum protection against cold canadian winter weather and makes it easier to get back into service in spring

Marine360 has decades of combined experience in professional boat service and winterization. Our team is knowledgeable, professional, and our storage facilities are among the best in eastern Canada. Don’t take a chance with a less experienced service department and risk your boating season in the Spring. Contact either our Québec or Ontario locations to get more information on available storage opportunities, service requests, and information about what new boat models are making their debut this winter. While some of you may be winterization veterans by now, new boat owners may be wondering all of the details of what their vessel will go through once boating season is over.

Properly Draining The Boat

Pumping out the boat is an essential step in the winterization process which includes removing waste and residues accumulated during the boating season. The process begins by positioning the boat close to a specialized pump-out station. A suction hose is then connected to the outlet calve of the black water tank, enabling this water to be transferred to a storage tank or treatment system. To eliminate deposits and odors, the tank is rinsed with clean water.

After draining, the boat is removed from the water using our equipment and is then given a final, thorough wash before moving on to the next phase of the process.

Winterization

Complete winterization of your boat is essential to protect it from the rigors of winter we have in Québec and prevent costly damage. At Marine 360, this process involves injecting antifreeze into hoses and engines, to prevent the formation of ice that could lead to cracks or breakdowns. Once the water has been drained from the boat, it is replaced by antifreeze in all relevant areas, ensuring optimum protection for your systems throughout the winter.

Application Of Shrink-Wrap

At Marine 360, we believe that installing a heat-shrink cover is the ideal way to protect your boat during the winter. The process begins with the installation of a thick, durable plastic tarp designed to conform to the shape of the boat. Once the canvas is in place, we heat it with a heat gun, causing it to shrink and stretch around the boat, creating an airtight protective envelope. This watertight cover not only protects your boat from the elements, such as snow, wind and rain, but also prevents mold and dirt from forming inside. It also jeeps rodents out of your boat, as they seek a cozy place to live during winter. By reducing air infiltration, heat-shrink fabric maintains a more stable environment around the boat, reducing the risk of damage from temperature variations. Used correctly, it provides long-lasting protection throughout the Canadian winter, extending the life of your boat.

Blocking The Boat

Properly blocking your boat for sage storage is an essential step in preserving its structure and ensuring its longevity. Blocking involves placing the boat on supports, called bers or stanchions, which redistribute the boat’s weight evenly to prevent hull deformation. In addition to protecting the structure, proper blocking also protects the boat from damage caused by weather conditions, such as strong winds and snow accumulation, which can exert unusual pressure on a poorly supported hull.

Winterizing your boat is essential to protect your investment. Cold temperatures, humidity and frost can cause costly damage to engines, tanks and electrical systems. A complete winterization will extend the life of your boat, avoid costly repairs and ensure that you’re ready to get back on the water as soon as the season returns.