For some captains, the boating season is wrapping up, and winterizing their boat should be top of mind. For year-round boaters, a mid-season maintenance checkup should be on the to-do list.

When temperatures drop, water freezes and expands. Frozen water can crack and damage parts of the vessel including the engine, hull, hoses, pumps and seals. Sea Tow – recognized throughout the marine industry as Your Road Service at Sea® – urges boaters to winterize their boat to protect it from extreme conditions and ensure it runs smooth and safe when it hits the water again in the Spring.

Prior to starting any DIY winterization process, boaters should review and understand their manufacturer’s guides to ensure that they’re taking the proper measures for the specific boat and engines.

Before putting a boat on ice for the winter, Sea Tow captains are available to share a step-by-step guide to help winterize a vessel including the needed tools and products to protect it against the elements. They can also share mid-season maintenance tips for those who can boat year-round.

Sea Tow has been at the forefront of on-water assistance since 1983, with more than 500+ ports nationwide. It offers its members free boat towing in their home area, tow coverage to repair facilities on all covered vessels, alternatives to towing such as battery jumps, fuel delivery, covered ungroundings, disentanglements and more, along with additional paid on-water services such as boat salvage and recovery, vessel for hire and environmental response. The franchise network also handles salvage and recovery missions and responds to natural disasters, environmental hazards and oil spill cleanups.