Is Your Boat Ready for Winter Storage?

Boats need pre-winter maintenace in preparation for the extreme cold just around the corner.  However readers experience a wide range of  winter temperatures, from Michigan and Wisconin to the north and southern Illinois and Kentucky to the south.

Regardless of their winter differences, anglers in the north and mid-south need to take steps to weatherize their engines and electronics.  Here are some tips to ensure your boating gear is in good working order next spring.  Tailor these tips to the severity of your winter.

Hopefully most boaters have drained and refilled their outboard's lower units already; owners of four-stroke motors have changed the engine oil and filter, and sprayed anti-fog oil in the cylinders.  And any fuel left in the tank has been treated with an Ethanol stabilzer like Marine Sta-bil.

Trolling motor batteries require attention to keep the electrolyte from freezing and damaging the plates.  Non maintenance-free batteries should be filled with distilled water and onboard chargers plugged in to maintain their charge.

The cranking battery needs TLC also, ensure the electrolyte level is okay and if it isn't part of the onboard charging system, install an inexpensive automatic onboard charger dedicated to the cranking battery.

According to the Trojan Battery Company a battery at 40 percent charge will freeze at 16 degrees F, while a fully charged battery won't freeze until -92 degrees F.  What most boaters don't realize is, a battery loses its charge sitting in a boat or basement doing nothing, hence the value of onboard charging.

ProMariner ProSport 1.5 Battery Charge Maintainer, selling for under $40, will keep a cranking battery full charged.  See it a Bass Pro Shops or www.basspro.com.

Other boat items to check are life jackets, fire extinguishers, raingear, and accessories like pliers and landing nets.

Life jackets are easy to inspect for wear and lost buoyancy which can lessen the total weight it can float.  Check for lively foam by pressing your hand onto the foam area; if it doesn't spring back quickly, chances are the foam has lost some buoyancy and the jacket should be replaced.  For inflatable life jackets, follow the manufacturer's recommended procedure to ensure the device is in good working order and the CO2 cartridges are withing expiration dates.

Boat fire extinguishers usually have a gauge to measure their pressure.  If it's low our out of date, replace it; they are less expensive than a new boat.  Area marine dealers should have a selection of appropriate extinguishers.

Unlike "rubber" raingear of the past, today's high-tech fabric suits are nearly impossible to repair, especially if they are lined with insulation.  Replace anything that leaks badly enought to be uncomfortable.

Check the landing net for broken or rotten cords.  To save a few dollars, just replace the net.  Try a rubber net; the almost never tangle in a lure's hooks.  If the handle is broken or loose, check out Frabill's slection at www.frabill.com.

Lubricate depth finder connectors and rusty pliers with a quality dielectric CorrosionX.

Inspect lures by checking the hooks and split rings.  Replace rusty or damaged hooks and partly open split ring with new ones.  Try Red Daiichi treble hooks because they seem to catch more fish.  Split ring pliers will make the job much easier.

Check each fishing rod for damaged guide windings.  Apply color preserver or rod varnish to protect windings that are beginning to fray.  Replace badly damaged windings.

Rotate a cotton swab inside each line guide.  If any cotton pulls off or snags, it means the guide is worn or broken.  Have an experienced rod repairman replace broken or loose guides.

Frequently used reels should be disassembled and cleaned at least once a year.  Follow the manufacturer's directions for disassembly, cleaning, lubrication and reassembly.  Maintenance on spinning and baitcast reels is rather complex, requiring experienced anglers or repair technicians.

Remove the old line, paying attention to which direction it was wound on the spool.  Disassemble the reel as much as you feel comfortable with, and clean the parts.

Place a drop or two of oil on small moving parts and rotating shafts.  Apply a film of grease on the gears, fasten new line to the spool, and reassemble the reel.

Two excellent high-tech reel lubricants are Quantum's Hot Sauce and ReelX by Corrosion Technologies.  After lubing the reel, spool new line according to the directions in its box.

After the real is cleaned and oiled, spool it with new line.  Spinning and spincast reels need soft, limp lines like Bass Pro Shops Excel or Berkley's Trilene XL.

Level wind or baitcast reels can be spooled with a much wider selection of lines, just remember to buy quality line from a reputable manufacturer.

Good winter maintenance to your boat and motor will increase your odds of a pleasant fishing experience in 2012. 

by Darrell Taylor reprinted from Midwest Outdoors