Wintertime Fishing Requires Some Extra TLC for the Boat

When the snowflakes start flying, and/or the temperatures fall into that "colder than a well-digger's behind" zone, there are a few precautions you need to take if you plan to keep chasing bass on the local waterways.

For openers, you should keep your gas tank topped off and make sure you drain the bilge and livewells after each outing. You also need to maintain your batteries in a fully charged state.

I, for one, go a step farther and have my mechanic (a trusted friend) service the outboard before the weather goes too far south. This service typically includes, as a minimum, a compression check, spark-plug change, new fuel-water separator, and lower-unit lube. This year, for the first time in 3 years, I had him replace the water pump, too, and we topped off the grease in the wheel bearings.

It's in your best interests to follow all the previous and ensuing recommendations when you use your boat in a climate where freezing conditions can occur:
    
     * Prop the lids open on your storage areas if water gets on the carpeting. Otherwise, the lids may freeze shut.
     * Ensure the motor stays in a vertical position so that all the water can drain out.
     * Always run the bilge dry and drain the livewells.
     * Put your batteries on the charger each night to keep them warm and topped off.
     * Leave the boat plug in the drain hole. Otherwise, water dripping overnight may leave you with an annoying present: an icicle and no way to reinstall the plug.

Look at the situation this way. You protect yourself against the cold weather by wrapping up before you step outside, so it only makes sense to treat your boat with an equal amount of care--right?