Boat Winterization

Boat Winterization: Supplies for Long Term Winter Storage

Boat winterization should be a top priority as the summer months wind down and fall and winter roll in. Winterizing your boat can help prevent damage and costly repairs to vital engine components.

Cold weather can cause liquids left in your boat to freeze and expand, causing lines, pumps, and engines to crack or break. Wholesale Marine offers a full range of winterizing products designed to protect your vessel after the boating season ends. These include marine antifreeze, boat heaters and dehumidifiers, boat shrink wrap, and boat winterizing kits.

Marine antifreeze products are made with USP-grade ingredients, including propylene glycol. These additives not only prevent freezing but also help prevent rust and corrosion. Whereas auto antifreeze is made to be both a cooling agent and lowers the freezing point but can cause freeze damage to marine engines components.

We offer Starbrite marine engine antifreeze in -50, -100, -200 options. This Non-Toxic Antifreeze provides excellent cold weather and corrosion protection for freshwater systems and all engines. Its premium additive package prevents corrosion of aluminum, copper, brass and solder, but will not harm rubber, seals or hose materials.

Moisture can be a real enemy to boats, keeping compartments free of moisture will help prevent mold and mildew conditions. Our inventory of marine heaters and boat dehumidifiers are also mold and mildew resistant and from brands you’ll recognize like Caframo and Davis Instruments.

For a more economical route, try Starbrite’s No Damp buckets that can be used on land or at sea. Place the bucket in any damp area and the pellets will absorb the moisture in the air. This product is an excellent way to prevent high humidity on your boat when storing for extended periods.

There is nothing better than enjoying a morning onboard your boat. However, those mornings can be a bit chilly out on the water. Marine Heaters are an ideal solution to creating comfortable climates out on the water.

The True North’s Cabin MarineAir Heater is a compact option durable marine boat heater. With five air heating settings you can find the right temperature for maximum comfort. The anti-freeze setting is a great winter storage solution that automatically turns on when the weather drops to 38°F, ensuring the air temperature in the room remains above freezing point.

Whether you are looking to remove or prevent mold and mildew, Wholesale Marine offers a full line of boat care products, including boat mold prevention and boat mildew products. We have what you need to prevent mildew stains, cleanup when they occur and even products to prevent the unpleasant smell they produce.

If you need to remove mildew or mold spores from areas on your boat, Starbrite Mildew Stain Remover is a perfect solution. Designed for fiberglass, vinyl, plastic, and painted surfaces and quickly removes mildew and begins working on contact. The buffered formula will not weaken fabric or harm vinyl upholstery. This boat mildew removal product is a great alternative to bleach.

Marine Shrink wrapping your boat can help protect your investment during the winter months or during dry docking of your vessel. When done properly, it provides a tight barrier from the harsh outdoor elements such as UV rays, freezing temperatures, and moisture that can cause permanent damage to your boat.

Shrink wrapping your boat is a relatively easy task when armed with the right tools. Whether you're a DIYer and doing this task by yourself, or having the job performed by an experienced marine technician, Wholesale Marine has all the boat shrink wrap products you need.

Unless you live in the sunniest parts of the country where you can boat year 'round, right after school starts, it’s time to think about preparing your boat for the winter months ahead. Winterizing kits allow you to quickly and efficiently prepare your inboard and outboards engines for winter storage.

Whether you are an experienced marine technician looking for winterizing products or a DIYer. We carry only the leading brands in boat winterization products including Starbrite, Shrink Wrap International, Camco, and Sierra to ensure you have everything you need to get the job done.

How to Winterize a Boat: Made Easy with Wholesale Marine 

To start the process, it is important to change the oil to protect your engine from rust and corrosion. The Jabsco Little Pal Marine Oil Change Pump is a multipurpose hand pump that can be used to drain engine oil from your engine. We also carry a full line of marine engine oil and oil filters. It is also a good idea to drain and replace gear oil.

Fuel systems also need to be protected, and adding a fuel stabilizer to the fuel tank can help prevent the fuel from breaking down and allow contaminants to take over and cause poor engine performance. Add Sta-Bil Diesel Fuel Stabilizer and run the engine for a few minutes to treat the entire system.

If it is your first time, we recommend Starbrite’s Do-It-Yourself Winterization Kit. The kit includes everything you’ll need to winterize and descale your outboard, with illustrations and step-by-step instructions. Starbrite did not forget stern drive owners, and offers their -100 Complete Sterndrive Winterization Kit.

Starbrite's Marine Winterizing Kit comes with a 5 gallon tank, gate valve/cap and clear hose. You will need ear muffs or flushing attachment for your type of engine. Check marine engine owners manual for specific coolant capacity and plan accordingly.

• Fill 5 gallon tank with appropriate amount of desired Starbrite's Antifreeze making sure vent cap is open.
• Once tank is filled with antifreeze, tighten gate valve/cap and lay tank on side with gate valve facing down.
• Place marine engine flushing attachment over engine intakes.
• Attach clear hose to gate valve at one end and flushing attachment at other end.
• Open gate valve to start flow of antifreeze into clear hose.
• Start engine and let run at idle speed until antifreeze comes out of the exhaust/water outlet of your engine.
• Immediately shut off the engine, close gate valve on tank and remove Marine Winterizing Kit.
• When engine is ready to be put back into use, flush cooling system with fresh water to remove antifreeze.
• Dispose of antifreeze in compliance with local, state and federal laws.

Protect your internal engine parts by flushing and draining residual water and coolants. Water expands when it freezes, possibly causing engine damage. Boat Winterization kits like the Starbrite Winterization Kit make winterizing your engine a breeze. These kits come stocked with antifreeze, fogging oil, and fuel treatment to protect your outboard engine during winter storage.

Winterizing may look like a tedious task that is not needed, but in the end, it can save you thousands of dollars in costly repairs. Wholesale Marine is stocked with everything you need to ensure your boat is protected from the cold weather. Have questions about which products you need, contact our boating experts at 877-388-2628 Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM until 4:30 PM EST. Make sure you ask about our Customer Rewards Program for future savings on purchases.