Boat Winter Storage Checklist
Use this as a planning list, then compare it with the manuals for your exact boat and equipment. Not every item applies to every boat.
- Wash exterior surfaces
- Remove lake debris and organic material
- Clean and dry interior compartments
- Remove food, drinks, trash, and perishables
- Evaluate valuables and portable electronics for removal
- Dry upholstery, fabrics, and life jackets
- Follow manufacturer winterization procedures
- Address engine and cooling systems
- Review fuel-storage recommendations
- Address freshwater, plumbing, and ballast systems
- Confirm the battery storage plan
- Inspect the trailer, tires, lights, and hardware
- Confirm drainage procedures in the owner's manual
- Choose and secure an appropriate cover if used
- Measure the complete boat-and-trailer configuration
- Photograph the boat before storage
- Record maintenance items for spring
Start With a Clean, Dry Boat
Wash exterior surfaces and remove weeds, mud, insects, and other debris picked up at the lake or launch. Clean the cockpit, storage lockers, and other accessible interior areas, and remove trash before the boat is put away.
Check the bilge and other compartments for standing water, following the boat manufacturer's drainage instructions. Open accessible compartments long enough for surfaces, upholstery, covers, and fabrics to dry before closing the boat for the season. Reducing trapped moisture before storage can help reduce odor, staining, and moisture-related problems, but no preparation method guarantees that those issues will not occur.
Cleaning is also a useful inspection opportunity. Note damaged upholstery, loose hardware, worn lines, fluid leaks, or other concerns that should be addressed before storage or placed on a spring service list.
Take Out What Shouldn't Stay All Winter
Remove food, drinks, perishables, trash, wet towels, and clothing. Damp life jackets and other fabrics should be dried and may be better stored elsewhere. Consider removing valuables, portable electronics, and items that could be damaged by freezing or prolonged temperature changes.
Review loose gear in lockers and under seats. Items that retain moisture can keep nearby surfaces damp, and unsecured equipment may shift when the trailer is moved. This does not mean permanently installed electronics must be removed. Follow the boat and electronics manufacturers' storage guidance, and remove only what is appropriate for the installation.
Engine and Mechanical Winterization
Engine winterization varies materially among outboards, inboards, sterndrives, two-stroke and four-stroke engines, and different cooling-system designs. The correct process can also depend on the manufacturer, model, fuel system, generator, exhaust system, and other installed equipment.
Potential areas of attention include cooling passages, engine and drive fluids, the gearcase, exhaust and raw-water systems, corrosion protection, and scheduled maintenance. This checklist intentionally does not prescribe drain-plug locations, antifreeze procedures, fogging steps, or fluid specifications. A procedure that is correct for one engine may be wrong for another.
Manufacturer resources from Mercury Marine and Yamaha Outboards illustrate why model-specific instructions matter: their published storage guidance addresses different engine designs and procedures. Use the documentation for the equipment actually installed on your boat.
Don't Ignore the Fuel System
Long storage periods may require attention to fuel condition, tank level, fuel-water separators, fuel lines, and the differences between carbureted and fuel-injected engines. Stabilizer may be recommended for some systems, but the correct product, compatibility, amount, and procedure depend on the engine and boat manufacturer.
Do not rely on a universal tank-fill percentage. Manufacturer guidance differs by fuel-system design. Follow the engine or boat manufacturer's recommendations for fuel storage, and ask a qualified technician when the fuel is old, contaminated, or otherwise questionable.
Water Systems Can Be the Biggest Winter Risk
Any system that can retain water deserves attention before freezing weather. Depending on the boat, that may include freshwater tanks, sinks, showers, pumps, water heaters, washdown systems, livewells, heads, holding tanks, ballast tanks, and ballast pumps. Wake and surf boats may have several ballast components, but not every boat has these systems.
Trapped water can freeze and damage components. Follow manufacturer procedures for draining or winterizing each water-containing system. Do not assume that operating a pump briefly, parking on a slope, or storing under a roof has removed all water. If the manuals are unclear or a system cannot be confidently prepared, use a qualified marine technician.
Plan for the Battery
Inspect batteries and connections for visible damage, leakage, or corrosion, and do not leave a damaged or leaking battery in storage. Follow the boat and battery manufacturers' instructions for long-term storage and charge maintenance.
Some owners disconnect or remove batteries; others maintain them in the boat. The right approach depends on battery chemistry, installed electronics, manufacturer requirements, and the storage arrangement. Do not guess at charging voltage or charger compatibility. Battery manufacturer guidance, such as Discover Battery's storage overview, emphasizes following the specific manufacturer's recommendations.
Use the Right Cover and Think About Ventilation
A suitable boat cover can reduce direct contamination and exposure, but it should fit the boat and be installed according to its instructions. Consider ventilation, tower configuration, wind, expected precipitation, and whether the cover can support conditions anticipated at the storage location.
A covered bay reduces direct overhead snowfall and rain, yet it is open-sided. A boat cover may still be useful under covered storage, depending on the boat, ventilation, and owner preference. No single cover material or wrapping method is best for every boat. Follow the cover and boat manufacturers' guidance, and avoid a setup that traps unnecessary moisture.
Don't Forget the Trailer
Inspect the trailer before it sits for the season. Look at tire pressure using the tire or trailer manufacturer's specification, visible cracking or damage, wheel bearings and hubs, lights and wiring, safety chains, coupler, winch strap, tie-downs, spare tire, frame, and brakes if equipped. Record anything that needs service rather than relying on memory in spring.
Service requirements and intervals vary, so use the trailer, axle, brake, and tire manufacturers' instructions. The trailer is part of the stored configuration. Measure the boat and trailer together, including the tongue, outboard or sterndrive position, swim platform, tower, windshield, guides, and spare tire. Guide #1 includes a more detailed boat-and-trailer measurement checklist.
Covered or Outdoor Storage for Winter?
Outdoor storage
Outdoor storage is generally the lower-cost choice. The boat and trailer remain directly exposed to sun, rain, snow, wind, and changing seasonal conditions. The storage choice does not replace preparation, winterization, a suitable cover, or periodic owner checks.
Covered storage
An open-sided covered bay reduces direct overhead exposure to sun, rain, and snow. It is not heated, enclosed, or climate controlled, and it does not prevent freezing temperatures, wind-driven moisture, dust, or other outdoor conditions.
For the full comparison, read Covered vs. Outdoor RV & Boat Storage in Eastern Washington. Freezing temperatures are a normal winter planning consideration in the Inland Northwest; the National Weather Service Spokane climate normals provide regional context without predicting the conditions for any particular winter.
Before You Walk Away for Winter
- Manufacturer procedures completed
- Boat and compartments dry
- Food and perishables removed
- Sensitive gear removed where appropriate
- Battery plan confirmed
- Cover secured according to its instructions
- Trailer inspected
- Storage dimensions confirmed
- Contact information current
- Boat condition photographed
- Spring maintenance reminders recorded
Make Spring Easier Now
Keep a short note on your phone or in a safe place listing maintenance still needed, battery status, planned fluid service, trailer repairs, cover condition, equipment removed from the boat, and anything disconnected for storage. That record can prevent confusion when the boat is prepared for use again. Spring recommissioning should follow the boat, engine, trailer, battery, and accessory manufacturers' instructions.
Boat Storage Near Deer Lake
OUTDOOR RV & BOAT STORAGE
$50/monthFor owners prioritizing low-cost local storage and comfortable managing direct outdoor exposure.
View Outdoor Storage →COVERED BOAT STORAGE
$125/monthOpen-sided bays approximately 11' W × 36' D × 14' H, for owners wanting reduced direct overhead exposure.
View Covered Boat Storage →PJ's is a gated facility near Deer Lake. Water or hose access may be available with prior approval. There are no electrical hookups and no dump station. PJ's does not provide boat winterization or maintenance services. Fit is not guaranteed, storage is subject to availability, and the complete boat-and-trailer configuration must be measured before requesting a space.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to winterize my boat if it is stored under cover?+
Yes. Covered storage reduces direct overhead exposure to snow and rain, but it does not prevent freezing temperatures. Follow the winterization procedures supplied by the boat, engine, and equipment manufacturers.
Should I remove my boat battery for winter storage?+
It depends on the battery type, boat configuration, and manufacturer recommendations. Some owners disconnect or remove batteries; others maintain them in place. Follow the boat and battery manufacturers' storage and charging guidance.
Can I leave water in ballast tanks during winter?+
Do not assume a ballast system is empty or protected. Water-containing systems may require draining or winterization. Follow the boat and ballast-system manufacturers' procedures or ask a qualified marine technician.
Should I cover my boat inside covered storage?+
A suitable cover may still be useful because a covered bay is open-sided. The right choice depends on fit, ventilation, the boat's equipment, and manufacturer guidance. Avoid a setup that traps unnecessary moisture.
How much is covered boat storage at PJ's?+
Covered boat storage is $125 per month, subject to availability and fit. Bays are open-sided and approximately 11 feet wide, 36 feet deep, and 14 feet high.
How much is outdoor boat storage at PJ's?+
Outdoor RV and boat storage is $50 per month, subject to availability.
What size boats fit in PJ's covered storage?+
PJ's covered bays are approximately 11 feet wide, 36 feet deep, and 14 feet high. Fit is not guaranteed. Measure the complete boat-and-trailer configuration, including the tongue, motor, tower, windshield, and accessories.