Winter Boat Storage Tips

Boat owners have to store their vessels during the winter season, and it is important that you prepare for this in advance so that you can protect your boat and keep it safe. Water will freeze in low temperatures, and even if it doesn’t turn into solid ice, very cold water can still damage your boat, so storing it out of the water is a must. This will prevent ice or weather damage to the hull, and regardless of whether you choose to store your boat inside or outside, the following tips will help you store your vessel properly:

Drain Your Boat

Once you remove your boat from the water, you need to drain the water tanks, pipes, heads, bilge, and seacocks. If possible, raise the bow to accelerate the drainage process. If you have an electric water heater, you will have to isolate it, which you can do by removing the in and out lines and connecting them together. It’s recommended that you spray the bilge with a moisture-displacing lubricant and that you add antifreeze into the bilge and water tanks, as this will help prevent freezing. Always winterize the engine before you drain the engine water intake.

Clean Your Boat

A thorough clean is a must before you place your boat in storage, so scrub the entire vessel with soap and water. This includes the exterior and interior. Make sure you get rid of any plants and open every drawer, locker, refrigerator, and freezer to remove any contents that may be present. Make sure the boat is completely dry before placing it in storage.

Winterize Your Engine

Use fresh water to flush your engine, as this will remove salt, dirt and corrosion. Refill the coolant system with antifreeze and replace the oil and all filters after you warm up your engine just briefly to loosen any impurities. You should also remove drive belts to avoid snapping as a result of tension and must top off your engine with a full tank of gas mixed with a stabilizer.

Lubricate the Moving Parts

Grease your steering system and control mechanisms and apply moisture-displacing lubricant on all of the moving metal parts like the hinges, latches and linkages. Do this lightly and detach the propeller to inspect for fishing line and seal damage, then lubricate and return to its position.

Remove the Battery and Charge it

You must take out the battery to completely charge it. Clean its terminals and coat them with grease and repeat this step for the battery cable ends. Store your battery in a warm, dry place until the spring, when you can place it back into your boat.

If you’d like more information regarding the proper ways to store your boat storage, We can help you store your boat and will keep it safe until the spring when you can use your boat once again. Our facility is clean and secure, so if you want peace of mind, contact us today.

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Inflatable dinghy and Rib Repairs

Inflatable dinghy repairs is more than sticking on a patch. Our trained and experienced technicians repair inflatables with the highest quality materials to ensure the reliability and appearance of the inflatable is the best it can be.

From cleaning and annual servicing to complete refurbishment we have extensive experience of working on inflatables.

Typical services we provide include:

• Tube repairs such as – patching, delamination, parts replacement, lifelines, etc.
• Tube refurbishing and replacement
• Cleaning
• Valve servicing
• Installation of Seawise and Weaver davit pads
• Installation of after-market fish rod holders, downriggers, rubber handles, etc.
• Installation of new transoms in foldable hypalon boats
• Fitting of underside overlay protection
• Supply & installation of electronics (GPS, radar, chartplotters)
• Install of lights, batteries, rewiring, etc.
• Emergency onsite assessment

You can also order parts and accessories for all makes of inflatable RIB’s and dinghies through us.

Nanaimo inflatables also partners with Pacific Wave to sell NEW inflatable dinghies

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Boat Painting by Experienced Marine Painters

Why paint your boat’s bottom yourself when you can get someone else to do it for you and remove all that hassle and stress! At Nanaimo Yacht Services @ Stones Boatyard, we offer an excellent rate, skill and speed of service for boat painting in a paved yard in picturesque Nanaimo! We are professional, experienced marina painters.

Not sure which paint to use? Not a problem! Once you have hauled out your boat, our experts will be able to determine what the existing paint is, and if a different paint would better suit your needs. We are experienced in all types of marine paint including polyurethane and antifouling paints.

As this is one of our most popular services, it is important that you book early! If  you book your bottom paint and zinc change at the same time as your haulout, we will be able to better ensure that the work is completed in a timely fashion. We are, unfortunately, not able to estimate a job until we have seen the condition of the bottom of the vessel and size of the boat.

You will be charged per man hour spent on the boat, as well as any materials used in the process for the preparing, and painting of the boat. See our rates page for more information.

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How To Clean Your Inflatable Boat

Like any other boat, inflatable boats need proper care and maintenance in order to function at their best and last a long time. When left unmaintained inflatable boats may only last for 2 to 3 years– a significant loss on your investment. But with regular cleaning you can expect to enjoy that boat for 20 or even 30 long years, and you could even trade or resell it.

The question now is, how does one properly clean an inflatable boat?

1. Choosing the Right Cleaning Products

The first and probably most important step to properly cleaning an inflatable boat is to choose the right cleaning products. Many inflatable boat owners make the costly mistake of choosing the wrong cleaners and end up damaging their boats instead.

While inflatable boats may be made of durable PVC or Hypalon, they are still susceptible to damage when exposed to harsh chemicals. They are not like fibreglass or aluminium boats and should therefore not be exposed to the same types of boat cleaners. Products you should never use to clean inflatable boats include solvents, toluene, acetone, bleach, ammonia, highly alkaline cleaners (anything with a pH greater than 11.5), abrasive scrub pads, and steel wool. These products can damage and discolour the fabric and attack the adhesives of your inflatable boat.

While you could simply use soaps or detergent, these can leave a sticky residue on the boat surface that attracts and holds dirt. Soap scum can also serve as food for mould and mildew, and you’ll have to figure out how to clean mould off your inflatable boat.

To properly clean your inflatables it’s best to use inflatable boat cleaners. These are made specifically for cleaning these boats and can effectively remove dirt, grime and stains without damaging the surface. Some of these cleaners can also protect boat surfaces from the elements, keeping them in the best condition.

2. Cleaning Your Inflatable Boat

Once you’ve got the right cleaning products and tools, cleaning your PVC boat becomes quite simple. Depending on the product you choose, you’ll probably need just a couple of clean cloths and some water, if the cleaner requires it. You may also need a soft brush for scrubbing, but it really depends on the cleaner you choose, so make sure you read the usage instructions carefully. Most cleaners only require you to apply the cleaner on the surface of the inflatable boat for a few minutes, and then wipe it off with a clean cloth.

When using any boat cleaner don’t forget to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands, and be sure to reach every nook and cranny with the cleaner and cloth. It would be good to use an all-in-one cleaner like Star Brite, as it not only cleans your boat but also leaves a tough coating that protects against salt and UV exposure.

A smart way to go about cleaning your inflatable boat would be to start from the boat floor and work in sections, moving outward while applying the boat cleaner. This would also make it easy for you to check for any damaged areas, and see where you’ll need to make some repairs. Don’t forget to flip the boat and apply the cleaner on the underside as well, as this area is most exposed to the water.

Once done, you should end up with a nice, glossy-looking inflatable boat. Take care when using your newly-cleaned boat as the surface may still be slippery due to the cleaner.

Cleaning your inflatable boat is something you should do regularly especially if you use your boat often. You should also make sure to clean your boat before and after storage. If you’ve just bought a used inflatable boat for sale, or even a brand new one like a Zodiac inflatable boat, it would be wise to clean these as well. You can never be too sure of where the boat has been or what hidden dirt or damage it may have; and with brand new boats there may be some lubricants left from the manufacturing process that you need to clean off before use.

If you’re concerned about cleaning your inflatable then come and talk to us. We’re happy to give advice or you can leave your inflatable with us and we can do the clean for you.

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Travel directions to Stones Boatyard

Our centrally located boatyard in Nanaimo, on Vancouver Island is just a short trip from Victoria BC , Comox, Courtenay and Campbell River, the Sunshine Coast, Metro Vancouver and the rest of Vancouver Island.

We are readily accessible from Vancouver and Seattle by ferry or a short flight by seaplane as well as regular aircraft.  And of course we’re at the head of the Gulf Islands enabling easy access to some of the most spectacular cruising in the world.

If you’re not coming by boat you have several options:

• A scheduled flight (20 minutes) from the Vancouver International Airport to Nanaimo Airport.
• Several float plane services from either the Vancouver Airport or downtown Vancouver to the Nanaimo Harbour and Departure Bay dock. Visit Westcoastair.com or Harbourair.com and from Vancouver Airport to Nanaimo only: Seairseaplanes.com
• A  seaplane service between Seattle-Lake Union and Lake Washington terminals (Washington State) and Nanaimo. Kenmoreair.com
• The M/V Coho is a passenger and vehicle ferry from Port Angeles, Washington to Victoria – it is then a very picturesque hour and a half drive from Victoria to Nanaimo. Cohoferry.com
• Regular (18 per day) ferry departures (car and passenger) from both Tsawwassen (nearest to the airport and the US border) to Duke Point, Nanaimo or from Horseshoe Bay in West Vancouver to Departure Bay, Nanaimo. BCferries.com

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Boat Cleaning & Boat Detailing

 At Nanaimo Yacht Services @ Stones Boatyard, we offer a wide range of boat and marine repairs, as well as maintenance such as boat detailing and cleaning. We can provide simple boat washing, compounding and waxing and boat detailing where we will buff, protect and polish all the hardest to reach places.  Our boat bottom cleaning services are second to none! 

Our boat detailing services include:

• Interior and gel coat repair and fibre glass cleaning
• Hull cleaning
• Waxing, buffing/polishing
• Applying new boat sealants
• Removal of mold and seaweed
• Polishing of all metal

We have an excellent team of highly skilled boat cleaners and we also have the on site expertise of Pro Boat Clean for a deeper and more protective clean on your sail or power boat.

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