Greenbook: A Local Guide to Chesapeake Living - Issue 9 | Page 43

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FINANCE

I'TS TIME TO

WINTERIZE!

As late fall and winter approach, it’s time to start thinking about winterizing your
boat; after all, it’s a significant financial investment and recreational asset. In
fact, this time of year brings to mind that old saying "pay now or pay later." If you
procrastinate in winterizing, or if you figure it’s a cost you want to avoid in the
short run, your future on the water could be bleak — and expensive.

B

rad Wells works for Herrington Harbour North
Marina Resort and Yacht Center located in
Tracey's Landing Maryland. He says that while
it’s possible to DIY winterization, this is one job better
left to experts. “Professionals winterize dozens of
boats each season and thousands over their careers."
They are systematic, and most can offer a checklist of
their process. Professionals are also going to be more
likely to catch other issues while winterizing that your
typical boater may overlook.
Winterization starts with hauling your boat out of
the water. Wells says this is the best way to protect your
investment and a good place to launch the process.
“Hauling out allows both wood and fiberglass vessels
to dry out, which prevents osmotic blistering and
thousands of dollars in future repairs,” he said.
Next, Brad says, is to check the bilge pumps. He

sardonically jokes that every season — usually multiple
times— marina staff rush out for "all hands on deck"
emergencies when a slip-holder's bilge pump fails and
threatens to sink the boat. “Sometimes customers don’t
even realize their vessel might feature a variety of bilge
pumps,” he says. Bilge pump failure is typically caused
by age, wrong diameter water output line, overuse and
neglect, things you might not be able to identify unless
you winterize carefully, and maintenance expenses
you won't want to face when you get back out on the
water next spring.
Bobby Pette is a broker with Knot 10 Yacht Sales
in Annapolis. Like Brad Wells, he says the best thing
you can do to protect the life and longevity of your
boat is to have a certified marine specialist winterize it
and listen to their expert advice on any mechanical or
detail problems you might need to address.

GREENBOOK | FALL/WINTER 2016

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