ShipStore.com Beacon Newsletter | ShipStore.com Beacon #20 :: Winterize Your Boat 201 (Hull, Head, etc.) | BEACON020 from the ShipStore.com ™ on-line catalog.

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ShipStore.com Beacon #20 :: Winterize Your Boat 201 (Hull, Head, etc.)

From: editor@shipstore.com
Subject: ShipStore.com Beacon #20 :: Winterize Your Boat 201 (Hull, Head, etc.)
Date: October 22, 2004 12:04:48 AM PDT

ShipStore.com Beacon: Winterize Your Boat 201 (Hull, Head, etc.)
Issue 20, October 21, 2004
http://www.ShipStore.com
Floating your boat since 1982 TM

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In this issue:

~ WELCOME ABOARD: Greetings from Captain Jim
~ CAPTAIN'S TIP: Winterize Your Boat 201 (Hull, Head, etc.)
~ CAPTAIN'S SPECIALS: Winterization Specials
~ CAPTAIN'S CONTEST: "Win a Shopping Spree" Drawing

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~ WELCOME ABOARD: Greetings from Captain Jim

One of the things that happens when you get involved in the boat business is that you never get to go boating. Last year as a sales incentive, one of our suppliers gave away a number of cruises for 2. My wife and I were lucky winners! (our girls were a bit bent out of shape at being left home.) We returned late Monday night from a 4-day trip to the Bahamas on the Royal Caribbean ship "Majesty of the Seas". Never having been on a cruise ship, we didn't know what to expect. Our goal was to spend a fair amount of time in the sun with pina colodas. Turns out, this was what everyone else wanted, so we made lots of friends. A day on a company-owned island and another in Nassau were just enough to keep the summer spirit alive. We're talking with friends about making this a group outing down the road!

Each fall we drive a few thousand miles attending shows to buy goods for next year. The prices are at their absolute lowest and we have been passing on these savings throughout the year. We often encounter Day Of Show specials that can only be made on the spot. This year, we are able to post these online in real time. We'll update you with details as the gets nearer. For now, keep November 18 and 19 in the back of your mind as days to save!

And the exciting update you've been waiting for... (Drum roll, please.) We're still tweaking the site, but SevylorOutlet.com is now operational. We purchased about 2 years worth of goods from Sevylor as part of a closeout when they moved to a new facility. These items will be featured on the site, along with other Sevylor product. If you have a need for large quantities of an item, send us an email and we'll work up pricing for you. Specials will be updated regularly.

Captain Jim
captjim@shipstore.com

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~ CAPTAIN'S TIP: Winterize Your Boat 201 (Hull, Head, etc.)

INTRODUCTION

In the last Beacon newsletter, we suggested that winterizing your boat engine should be an end-of-season top priority. We focused on effective techniques for prolonging the healthy life of your boat's power source, so now that your engine is squared away, it's time for the rest of the project, winterizing your hull, bilge, head, and holding tanks (water and waste).

HULL, BILGE, ETC.

Once you've pulled your boat out of the water (our North Country winters don't give us any option!), the algae and grime begin to solidify and permanently stain your gelcoat. We recommend cleaning your hull at the same time you pull your boat out of the water because the longer it sits, the harder it's going to be to clean. While still wet, the slime will often come off with a scrub brush. We use MarkKate On & Off Bottom Cleaner to cut through it all. A wet boat can be cleaned in under an hour. Once the slime dries, it can take 6-8 hours for the same job. Note: be careful with MKT2032, it is an acid.

Use a power washer and/or a sturdy but non-abrasive scrub brush to remove the algae and grime. If you find zebra muscles, barnacles or other marine life attached to your boat, remove them and then scrub off the residue where they were connected. Once your boat is dry, careful inspection will reveal spots that need a second round of "elbow grease" to get clean. ShipStore.com offers these items to make cleaning your hull easier and more effective:

ON & OFF Bottom Cleaner, Quart
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MKT/MKT2032.html

ALUMINEX, QUART - Aluminum Pontoon and Hull Cleaner
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MKT/MKT3132.html

3M DOODLE BUG PAD HOLDER KIT
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM06472.html

3M DOODLE BUG PAD, BROWN, COARSE
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM08541.html

CLEANER HD HULL & DECK SPRAY
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM09059.html

CLEANER HD HULL & DECK QT.
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM09060.html

3M DOODLEBUG GENERAL PURPOSE BRUSH
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM14020.html

INSTANT HULL CLEANER, Gallon
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/STA/STA81700.html

INSTANT HULL CLEANER, 32 OZ
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/STA/STA81732.html

SEA SAFE HULL CLEANER 32 OZ
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/STA/STA89738.html

MOP HANDLE ONLY 48"
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MAS/MASTH48.html

NON-SKID DECK AND HULL CLEANER
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MEG/MEGM6832.html

If, while cleaning your hull, you notice any hull damage (chips, cracks, blisters), add this to your Spring To Do List. Better to repair your hull when it's dry after months of storage rather than when the damaged area is saturated with water. Once your hull is totally dry (and if you feel a bit ambitious), consider polishing it. I know, it's tough to get motivated for polishing a boat you won't be using until spring, but there are a couple of advantages to doing this. First of all, most of the polishes on the market today help protect your gelcoat, decelerating your hull's aging and chalking processes. And secondly, it'll make your spring launch that much easier and faster.

Before moving inside the boat, ensure that you've cleaned all of the exposed wood and metal on your boat including your prop(s), shaft(s), and trim tabs. In some cases you may want to seal, varnish or polish these areas now to help protect them over the winter. You may prefer to seal teak in the spring. Clean teak surfaces now to remove algae and discoloration, and then reclean in the spring to restore color before sealing. If you leave your teak unsealed during the winter, you'll want to protect it from the weather.

Okay, your boat looks great from the outside, so let's go inside and tackle the bilge. You want to store your boat with a clean and dry bilge. Bilges can get pretty gunky during the boating season, so you'll want to use a warm soapy solution and scrub brush to clean everything you can access, and then thoroughly drain the bilge. Freezing causes water to expand, so to prevent damage caused by cracking you need to open all seacocks of your thru-hulls and strainers. If there are pockets which tend to collect moisture, and/or you are concerned that water may enter the bilge during storage, add some non-toxic antifreeze to prevent freezing.

Next, remove all drain plugs for the same reason. Obviously the plug(s) in your transom should be removed. We often put the plugs on the dashboard as a reminder in the spring. Also check live wells, coolers, water ballast compartments, etc.

WATER SYSTEMS:

If your boat is equipped with a fresh water system, you need to drain the water tank and all related elements (hot water heater, pipes, hoses, ice maker, etc.) Please follow manufacturer's instructions since procedures vary according to product and manufacturer. Unless otherwise advised by manufacturer, consider pumping non-toxic antifreeze into the entire system, running sinks, showers, hoses, etc. until antifreeze comes out. Leave antifreeze in sink and shower drains to displace water in the trap.

Warning: Standard antifreeze designed for your engine is toxic and can NEVER be used in your freshwater system.

MARINE HEAD w/ HOLDING TANK:

While pumping out your holding tank at an approved pump out station, flush fresh water through the head repeatedly to help clean out the waste system and tank. Clean head according to manufacturer's recommendations, and flush more water. Once the tank is empty, follow manufacturer's instructions for how to pump antifreeze and/or disinfectant through the head, plumbing and holding tank. Check to see what sort of antifreeze is acceptable for your product.

MARINE HEAD w/o HOLDING TANK:

Please follow manufacturer's instructions since procedures vary according to product and manufacturer.

WRAP-UP

Summer's end is never more glaringly evident than when you are winterizing your boat. But it doesn't have to be a gloomy experience. Instead, allow your mind to reflect on the beautiful, entertaining and amusing moments you enjoyed during the summer. And motivate yourself to get as much done now as possible so that next spring you'll be able to launch quickly and start collecting a whole new album of fond memories.

George Davis, Beacon Editor
editor@shipstore.com

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~ CAPTAIN'S SPECIALS: Winterization Specials

ON & OFF Bottom Cleaner, Quart
Price: $ 10.99
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MKT/MKT2032.html

ALUMINEX, QUART - Aluminum Pontoon and Hull Cleaner
Price: $ 9.99
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MKT/MKT3132.html

3M DOODLE BUG PAD HOLDER KIT
Price: $ 29.95
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM06472.html

3M DOODLE BUG PAD, BROWN, COARSE
Price: $ 7.90
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM08541.html

CLEANER HD HULL & DECK SPRAY
Price: $ 10.59
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM09059.html

CLEANER HD HULL & DECK QT.
Price: $ 23.85
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM09060.html

3M DOODLEBUG GENERAL PURPOSE BRUSH
Price: $ 32.50
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MMM/MMM14020.html

INSTANT HULL CLEANER, Gallon
Price: $ 30.55
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/STA/STA81700.html

INSTANT HULL CLEANER, 32 OZ
Price: $ 9.99
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/STA/STA81732.html

SEA SAFE HULL CLEANER 32 OZ
Price: $ 10.19
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/STA/STA89738.html

MOP HANDLE ONLY 48"
Price: $ 3.54
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MAS/MASTH48.html

NON-SKID DECK AND HULL CLEANER
Price: $ 11.02
View items:
http://www.shipstore.com/ss/HTML/MEG/MEGM6832.html

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~ CAPTAIN'S CONTEST: "Win a Shopping Spree!" Drawing

Win a $100.00 credit at ShipStore.com. To be eligible for future "Win a Shopping Spree!" drawings all you have to do is subscribe to the Beacon. All current subscribers are eligible for the random drawing. If you're not already subscribed, then visit http://www.shipstore.com and scroll down the light blue column along the left hand side of the page until you see the link "Win a Shopping Spree!". Click on the link. A new window will open with an email addressed to beacon-on@list.shipstore.com and "Subscribe" written in the Subject Field. All you have to do is hit send.

You'll be sent a confirmation email which you must respond to in order to activate your subscription and be added to our mailing list. This double opt-in procedure enables us to prevent accidental subscriptions and spam. As soon as your confirmation is confirmed, you will be entered into the "Win a Shopping Spree!" drawing for a $100.00 free merchandise from ShipStore.com.

Good luck.

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COPYRIGHT 2004 ShipStore.com (tm) ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Permission is granted to electronically copy, print or forward this newsletter for use as a shopping, boating or travel resource as long as it is not altered in any way and sent in its entirety. Any other use of materials on this Web site--including reproduction for purposes other than those noted above, modification, distribution, or republication--without the prior written permission of Westport Marina, Inc. is strictly prohibited.

ShipStore.com
6039 Route 9N
Westport, NY 12993

ShipStore.com Beacon #19 :: Winterize Your Boat 101 (Engine, etc.) ( Part # NEWS BEACON019 )
ShipStore.com Beacon #20 :: Winterize Your Boat 201 (Hull, Head, etc.) ( Part # NEWS BEACON020 )

E-Mail sales@shipstore.com with any questions.