Before Winter Hits, Make Sure You Do This To Your Boat

As Minnesota’s weather turns quickly into fall, a marine checklist focuses on winter storage steps meant to prevent spring problems. The article urges owners to run a fuel engine stabilizer through the system by adding it to the tank and running the engine for a couple of minutes before storage. It recommends using a stabilizer before every fill-up and stresses that the engine should be run with proper muff attachments or in the water. Next, it advises draining the lower unit oil after removing the boat from the water to reduce freeze-related damage during cold winters, while noting inboard/outboard setups need winterization by draining water and adding antifreeze. It also highlights battery care: pulling marine batteries indoors, periodically charging them, and taking a yearly photo of wiring for easier troubleshooting later.