Bulletin Post

Plan Your Winterization Now

The Chesapeake's first hard freeze typically arrives in mid-to-late November, which makes October the right time to plan rather than scramble. Decide now whether the boat stays in the water or comes out, whether you'll winterize yourself or hire it out, and when it needs to happen — yards and mechanics book up fast once the first cold snap hits.

The basics don't change much from boat to boat: stabilize the fuel and run it through the system, drain or antifreeze every raw-water line including the engine, head, and washdown, pull batteries or keep them on a maintainer, and give the hull a good cleaning before it sits. Make a list, check it twice, and you'll be glad you did when April rolls around.