How Much Does It Cost To Winterize A Boat? (A Complete Guide)

As the temperature of your area falls towards freezing, it is the time when you should think about winterization to protect your boat.

Winterizing a boat is the process of protecting the engine and other sensitive parts off the boat during the cold season.

It helps protect the boat from cracks and malfunction during the season when the temperature hits below zero degrees.

This protective procedure keeps the interior and exterior of the boat safe from freezing temperatures.

Winterization is an important process because boats can be harmed when the temperature hits zero degrees and stay the same for over 12 hours.

The engine, outdrives, water pumps, water pipes heads and faucets can all be damaged when the water freezes in them during the winter season.

The repair of any of these parts can be very, very costly.

Some people, who live in the areas where the temperature does not necessarily hit zero degrees, don’t take winterizing the boat seriously.

So they should be ready to pay more for repairing their boat after the winter season because this protective process also ensures a longer life for the boat.

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How Much Does It Cost To Winterize A Boat?

As the boat owner, you should be ready to pay some extra investment for winterizing the boat.

It is an uncommon process to prevent the boat from any costly damage which may happen during colder months due to freezing, dormancy or moisture.

But annually, spending money for proper storage and winterizing can prevent expensive repairs in the future.

An estimated cost of winterizing the boat can go down to $150 if you have a smaller boat, but this can go as higher as $500 if you have a larger boat and you want to invest extra money in other winterizing accessories.

However, the average cost needed for winterizing the boat is around $300, but this cost can go high depending on some factors, including your location, the professional you hire for winterizing and others.

But a properly winterized boat looks as good in the spring as it did in the late autumn.

Mechanic cost For Winterize a Boat Cost

If you hire any mechanic for winterization of the boat, then it may cost $150 and a bit more for the materials required.

However, some mechanics also charge for their travel time, which will pay be about $50, and it is an extra cost that you have to add to your total expenses.

Shop cost

If you bring your boat to any shop for winterization, then the cost will be some high of about $300 to $400.

But if you are spending more money on the shop winterization process, take it as your plus point because they use high-quality materials and are often more experienced than any mechanic.

Cost spending for the process of winterization is less than having the burden of repairs after winter.

Don’t think about the money you have to spend for winterizing your boat, but you should think about the money you can save by winterizing your boat.

You’re not just saving yourself from expensive repairs, but you also maintain your boat’s extended life for longer.

However, you can also think about DIY winterization.

DIY Winterizing How Much Money Can You Save?

You can save money by hiring any professional for winterizing your boat by Doing It Yourself (DIY). DIY winterizing can be done more quickly at home without paying any professional.

And average DIY winterizing cost is between $70 and $150.

This cost is a variable that will go high or down depending on the product you will use during the process.

DIY wintering process can be more convenient and good as you know which parts of your boat should be protected during the process.

Also, the products you will use are guaranteed to be of high quality because you bought them yourself.

The only downside of DIY winterization is that it can be stressful and take you much time.

You should be careful while choosing the right materials for this process.

Suppose you are going to winterize the boat first time in your life.

In that case, you also have to take advice from any professional and learn the process completely to avoid any resistance and secure all the sensitive parts of the boat correctly.

Extra cost For Winterize A Boat

Boat winterization is an important process to keep the boat safe and protective in the winter season.

Winterizing the boat is not an expensive process, but some things will add extra cost to the actual price;

If you want to store your boat during winters inside of a temperature-controlled facility, this is ready to pay extra money for this. It can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,000 for the whole season.

But the cost will be less you will store the boat outside.

Another cost to consider is the cost needed for boat pick up and delivery, which can add hundreds more depending on the distance your boat travels for the winterizing process.

Most companies charge $125 to $200, another $8+ per foot to haul and another $5+ per mile to travel.

What happens if you don’t winterize your boat?

Winterizing is superior in terms of sensitive parts of the boat like the engine and batteries well-functioning after the winter season.

However, winterizing costs can be anywhere between $300 and $400.

This is an average cost for the process, but if you do not winterize your boat, the cost can be greater for repairing the damaged parts.

Here are a few damages that your boat may have to face if you will not go for winterization;

Corrosion in the wire
Cracks on the body and also on the hull of the boat
Coldwater can expand the boat’s engine

Sensitive boat’s part can crack
Mildew and mould can build up in the boat’s interior

These damages can attack your boat during the winter season if they are not winterized. And the cost to repair these damages and fix the cracks can be very high compared to the cost needed for winterization.

And even after fixing the cracks, it may not be guaranteed that it will work like it is used to.

The Boat Winterization Process (Step By Step)

Boat winterization is an easy process that few hours to complete. Any professional start this process by cleaning the boat and applying rust inhibitor on all the metal items of the boat.

Other steps included in the winterization process are given below;

1-Mechanicals

Almost every boat has inboard or outboard engines, every boat may have these engines of a different design, but they work the same. In boat winterization, storing these engines is the most important step.

If accidentally, the frozen water left in the boat’s engine may crack the block and other components, which can cause heavy and costly damage.

To protect the engine following steps are followed;

Oil changes

Changing the engine’s oil helps to flush out old oil and ensures the new oil fully coat the internal components of the boat.

An oil change is a very effective step that helps to increase the life span of the boat’s engine.

After, fill the engine with high-quality oil before storing the boat for winter.

Draining of cooling water

Then draining the water from the engine is also an important step to prevent the damage from expanding water when it freezes during winters.

Protect internal engine components

When the boat is stored, engine oil drains away, leading to corrosion. To prevent this issue, oil spray coats all the parts to keep all the components sway from the corrosion.

Remove batteries

Disconnecting the batteries from the boat and saving them in a safe and clean environment will keep them safe and also in good condition during the winter season.

2-Cover the boat

They will wrap the boat with proper boat cover when everything is done.

Purchasing the right cover for the boat and covering it can also be a good tip to save winterization costs.

Buying a good quality boat cover is not cheaper, but it can be a great investment to protect the boat from any harm.