Battery, Bilge, and Beyond: Your End-of-Season Boat Checklist

redrunstorage
Nov 9, 2025
2 min read

A simple, stress-free guide to putting your boat to bed for the season

We get it — saying goodbye to boating season can sting a little.

But putting your boat away the right way now means smoother, happier launch days later.

Think of this as your end-of-season boat checklist, Red Run style:

helpful, simple, and without the 14-page manual.

1. Battery — Give it a winter vacation (inside!)

Disconnect the battery.
Clean the terminals if they look grimy.
Store it somewhere dry where temps stay stable — garage, basement, workshop, wherever.

You wouldn’t leave your phone outside for four months and hope it works in the spring, right? Same logic.

Bonus points: Hook up a trickle charger so it wakes up refreshed.

2. Bilge — Dry, clean, and smell-free

Pump out any water
Wipe down the inside if needed
Leave it dry before storage

Less water = less mildew. Less mildew = a happier future you.

Also: don’t be surprised if you find something random in there. (We once found a fork. No questions, please.)

3. Fuel — Stabilize so it doesn’t turn into “goo of regret”

Fill the tank
Add fuel stabilizer
Run the engine for a minute so it moves through the system

Spring you will thank you.

4. Engine — Quick TLC

You don’t need a full marine tech certification for this part.

Just:

Change the oil (old oil gets acidic)
Replace filters if needed
Run antifreeze through the system if your boat requires winterizing

This step = fewer surprises and less crying in the spring. (Figuratively. Hopefully.)

5. Gear — Declutter so you don’t store the junk

Remove:

Towels
Food
Life jackets
Fishing gear

Clean your gear and store in labeled bins ready to go on launch day.

6. Cover + Secure

Use a breathable cover to prevent moisture from getting trapped underneath.

Tarps are tempting, but tarps trap moisture — moisture turns into mildew — mildew turns into you Googling “how to remove boat smell.”

At Red Run, we keep it simple:

Breathable covers = happy boats

Also: make sure your cover is secured and not hanging on the ground.

Loose, dragging covers turn into water and dirt collectors (and extra fees).

7. Double-check the trailer

Tires inflated?
Wheels chocked?
Lights functioning?

Treat the trailer well — it’s the Uber for your boat.

✅ You’re done.

No overwhelm. No marine engineering degree needed.

Just:

Battery. Bilge. Fuel. Engine. Gear. Cover. Trailer.

Easy.

Your boat is officially ready for a winter nap.

And you? You’re ready to start searching for next season’s dock slips and that new cooler that doubles as a margarita machine!

If you’re storing your boat at Red Run, we’ve got you covered:

A secure gated lot
Gravel (better for tires than grass or dirt)
Easy access when boating season returns

Did we miss anything? Share your winterizing tips and hacks with your fellow boaters!