Boat Maintenance Tips for the Off-Season

Posted by Alumi-Span Docks on 10/1/2020
What’s the best time to take care of boat and dock maintenance? During cooler weather?

Fall and winter in the Midwest are great times to take care of boat care tasks you might have put off while on the water in the warmer summer months.

To prepare your boat for inactivity, here are a few tips to keep your dock and boat in great shape until spring:

  • Keep it clean! This seems like a no-brainer, but cleaning is one of the most overlooked aspects of boat maintenance. Fall and winter are the perfect time to wash off summer grime. Make sure to thoroughly clean and dry fiberglass, canvas, wood, and other surfaces.
  • Drain the engine. If you don’t plan on running your engine or motor during winter, pull the drain plug and get all the water out. Next, add fuel stabilizer, and run the engine for a few seconds to make sure the chemicals mix in. This will prevent corrosion in the gas line and will keep the gas from breaking down. (This is also a great time for an oil change!)
  • Cover it up. If you leave your boat exposed, all your maintenance will be for nothing! A good waterproof cover that fits over the top of your boat is really important.

Good Boat and Dock Maintenance Happens Year Round


Taking care of your boat and boat dock ensures you’ll have a great boating experience when you get back on the water next summer.

If you need tips for how to store your boat, how to maintain it, or how to remove your dock when the time comes, we can help!

Our experts have been helping Michigan and other Midwest residents with boat docks for over 50 years. We use only the highest quality materials for all our boat docks and boat dock parts, and take pride in the dependability with our docks and dock parts.

Today, 40 to 50-year old Alumi-Span boat dock sections are still found in service and many of our marina customers are in their 2nd and 3rd generations of management.

“From the first call, anyone with whom I spoke was professional and friendly. Sketches were sent to me, and I placed my order in November 2017. Per my request, the dock was delivered at the end of March 2018. I was not required to have anyone on site to help unload it and, also per my request, they carried it to the lake side of my home. I cannot say enough positive things about my experience with this company.”