Before You Store: 5 Things to Never Forget to Do

But if you do, don’t worry — we’re not judging. We’ve forgotten them too.

Boat owners are a special kind of optimistic.

We end every season saying, “Next year, I’ll be more prepared,” while simultaneously forgetting at least five really important things before storage.

Whether your boat is headed into winter hibernation at Red Run or tucked away somewhere cozy, here are the top “oops, I forgot” items — and how to avoid them this year.

1. Add Fuel Stabilizer (aka: Don’t Let Your Gas Go Bad)

Every boat owner has had this moment:

You open the fuel tank in spring, take one sniff, and instantly regret not using stabilizer.

Fuel breaks down faster than you think, especially in cold weather. Without a stabilizer, your engine can gum up, sputter, or just straight-up protest when you try to start it in the spring.

Quick fix:

Add stabilizer, top off the tank, run the motor for a few minutes, and you’re golden.

Your future self will thank you — and so will your mechanic.

2. Drain the Water (All of it!)

Bilge water. Live wells. Ballast tanks. Freshwater tanks.

If water can hide there, it will… and it will freeze.

Frozen water = cracked parts = expensive sadness.

Friendly reminder:

Do a slow, deliberate walkthrough and drain every compartment that holds water. Check twice. Trust no compartment.

3. Open All Compartments to Air Out

Boat storage rule #1:

Closed compartments equal surprise smells.

Open up:

• Hatches

• Storage lockers

• Ski compartments

• Seat bases

• Anything with a hinge

  
  

Letting air circulate helps prevent mildew, mold, and that haunting “what died in here?” aroma.

It also helps you remember what you left behind (snacks, socks, sunglasses… those things multiply).

4. Disconnect the Battery

We’ve all done it — stored the boat, came back months later, and the battery was flatter than a Michigan highway.

A simple disconnect keeps your battery healthy and prevents random power drains over winter.

Even better:

Give it a full charge before storing it and keep it out of the cold.

Your boat will actually start when you need it to (shocking, we know).

5. Take Out the Stuff That Shouldn’t Freeze

You would be amazed what people forget on boats in winter:

• Sunscreen

• Towels

• Life jackets

• Half-empty drinks

• Fishing bait

• The entire snack stash

• Your favorite hoodie (now frozen into a sculpture)

If it can freeze, mold, or stink… bring it inside.

Bonus: You won’t have to spend the first hour of boating season doing a “mildew inventory” of all your belongings.

Bonus Tip: Give Your Boat One Last Peek

Walk around it.

Look under seats.

Open every door.

Pretend you’re doing the pre-flight check on a spaceship.

If you think you’ve checked everything…

Check it again.

Before You Go…

Storing your boat shouldn’t be stressful — just intentional.

A few quick steps now mean you can launch in spring without surprises, breakdowns, or mystery smells.

And while your boat is resting safely on our gravel lot, we’ll keep an eye on things until the sunshine returns.

What’s the one thing YOU always forget before storing your boat? Drop it in the comments — let’s build the ultimate “don’t forget” list!