Winterizing Your Boat (continued)

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Check the water level and fill as needed. Wash them down with soapy water to clean them up and take off any acid that may be on the outside. Dry them with a dry cloth, then dispose of the cloth. Use a wire brush to clean off the terminals. Do the same with the battery cable connectors. Take the batteries indoors. Put a full charge in them, and either leave them on trickle charge, or disconnect the charger. There are different schools of thought as to which is best, so do what is most comfortable for you. If you disconnect the charger, check the batteries periodically and charge as needed.
   Next, vacuum out the inside of the boat, including all compartments. If you have carpet, use a stiff bristle brush to help restore the nap. If the boat finish allows put a coat of good quality wax on

the hull and inside panels. Apply a liberal coat of vinyl protector on the seats and any rubber and plastic parts. Spray all light sockets and electrical connectors with an electrical spray to prevent corrosion.
   Winterizing a motor can be a little more detailed. There are several way to do this. If you're uncomfortable doing this, you can take it to a knowledgeable repair service, rather than doing it yourself. Before servicing your boat for winter storage, the last trip of the year should include the manufacturerers engine tuner to remove carbon.
   First, fill the gas tank completely with gasoline (and oil mixture if you normally do), then add a stabilizing agent. Filling the tank will help eliminate moisture build-up inside the tank. Adding the stabilizing agent will extend the shelf life of the gasoline for use next spring.

   Now lower the motor in the run (vertical) position and attach a motor muff that's attached to a garden hose. You can use a large container of water, but you'll need to continue filling the container while the motor is running. The size of the container depends on the size of the motor. Don't run the motor without water. This will ruin your water pump in just a few minutes. Take off the top cover and start the motor. Make sure water is coming out the sight hole. Allow motor to run for 10- 15 minutes to allow time for the fuel that has been stabilized in the tank to get into the carburetors. After the motor has run for 10 - 15 min's, spray a steady stream of a fogging agent into the carburetor throat until the motor stalls. The fogging agent covers everything inside the motor with a thick coat of oil protecting it from

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