Who’s excited to get back out on the water?!?!?!?! Whether you attended the boat show or not you are likely excited to get your boat ready for boating adventures with the family. If you’re of over 85 million of us who boat every year, you’ll know it’s only a matter of time before you’re back on the water again. How can you get back on the water after packing your boat all through winter? Below we have attached a list to help you check off some of the items that you may have forgotten about to ensure that you have a smooth first launch this spring.

Cover off

Before you do anything, you need to get the tarp or covering off your boat. Hopefully, before you put your boat away for winter you covered it up. Check the cover for any damage and since it collected a lot of dust and perhaps some cobwebs, etc, now might be the time to give it a good washing.

Cooling System

When it comes down to how de-winterize a boat, check the cooling system’s hoses for holes and cracks and don’t forget to empty the strainer too if installed. This is good advice for a closed cooling system. If you have an open cooling system (which are most waterski/wakesurf boats) and your boat engine was winterized, chances are the cooling system was drained to ensure no damage caused by ice in the lower unit of inboard/outboard engines.

Check Water Pumps and Thermostats

About every 200 hours, the water pump on the impeller should be replaced. This important rubber part is what keeps waters flowing down to cool your engine. So, if it is ready to be replaced then it should be.

The thermostat plays an important part too. It regulates the water temperature and if it is not working correctly, you may find that your engine can become too hot or too cold. Like the water pump, make sure to replace this once it reaches 200 hours of use.

Also, when going about how to de-winterize a boat, don’t forget to check your hoses for cracks and be sure to replace them immediately.

Check Your Battery

When it comes to how to de-winterize a boat, a battery check should always be included. As part of this, topping off of any fluids should be included as well. The best thing to use for this is distilled water to prevent any imperfections from entering the battery.

Check the volts and amps of your battery with a battery tester. If the battery is not capable of holding a charge it most likely needs replacement. If it is working, clean any corrosion from the battery terminals before attaching it back to the cables.

Clean the Distributor

During the winter months, distributors have a tendency to corrode. To help remedy this, it is best to clean it during the de-winterizing process. First, remove the distributor cap and give it a thorough clean. Once it is all cleaned up, be sure all of the connections are hooked up tightly.

Check the Fuel System

Although it is best to drain the cooling system before Winter, your fuel tank should be completely filled to the brim with fuel stabilizer. This helps to prevent moisture from forming inside it during the cooler months. If the fuel filter is the same one from last season, change it. If you did put gas in your fuel tank but you didn’t add an additive to it to prevent fuel separation or water contamination, you will need to drain it out. This is because the gas has most likely gone stale.

Check for Worn Belts

Belts play a vital part on your boat, so it is of the utmost importance that you check for worn belts during the de-winterizing process. To see if they need replacement, press your hand down on them. There shouldn’t much give. If it does have a lot of give, it needs replacing.

Another way to discover if a belt needs replacing is by looking near the pulleys for soot. If you notice soot, this means the worn belts need replacement.

Inspect the Bilge Pump

There are a couple of bilge pump parts that need checking. This includes the pump, the automatic switch and the circuit. When water enters the bilge it hits the switch. If this switch is not working, it may cause trouble by not recognizing excessive water in the bilge pump

Wax the Bottom of the Boat

A good wax job on your boat can keep it looking pristine and spot free through the summer and make the wipe down at the end of the day much easier.

Do a Trailer Check

If you trailer your boat, this is a biggie. Along with knowing how to de-winterize a boat, there are many other things that can happen to your boat’s trailer over the winter months too. Brackets can corrode and springs can rust, so if you need to replace the trailer be sure to do so.

Ensure Safety Gear Is in Order

This is a step that could potentially save a life. You need to make sure all of your safety equipment is not expired or damaged and that it is ready for a potential emergency situation. Making sure you have Coast Guard compliant safety gear on your boat for the right size of watercraft is super important. This includes reading expiration dates for fire extinguishers and replacing any old ones, testing lights in the cabin and on deck, checking signaling equipment like horns and flares as well as checking you have the right amount of flotation devices on board.

Check your watersports gear.

Make sure your tow ropes for skiing, wakesurfing, wakeboarding and innertubing are all up to snuff. No excessive fraying, brittleness and general lack of integrity. How are your bindings on your gear? Is there any evidence of dry rot, loose screws, etc that will affect performance? Make sure that none of your gear will let you down. Do you have a spare core for your innertube. Don’t lose a day on the lake because your gear wasn’t taken care of.

Clean Up

Before you take your boat out for a ride, you need to complete the final process of how to de-winterize a boat. This includes making sure all of your electronics are onboard are working, charging your battery, checking navigational lights and, of course, doing a quick clean up.

For those with a lot of boating experience, this may just be a refresher, but for those new to boating or have a new boat, getting into a routine for your spring launch is a good way to ensure a fun summer on your boat. See you on the water!