After a full season of cruising aboard your Jeanneau powerboat, it is time to prepare it for winter storage, sheltered from the weather.
Whether you choose a drydock or an in-water storage solution, at a shipyard or in your garage, it is important to be well prepared for the winter season and ensure the protection of your Jeanneau powerboat in order to maintain it in optimal condition.
For a thorough cleaning before dry storage, here is our advice:
Rinse Thoroughly
After exposing your powerboat to UV rays, salt, sea water, and diverse other exterior aggressions throughout the sunny months, your hull will need a thorough cleaning before winter. To best protect your boat, we advise you to proceed with a full fresh-water rinse. The deck, handrails, stemhead fitting, and bench seating must all be rinsed to remove impurities before storage.
You may also choose to use specific cleaning products for the surfaces to be cleaned, available at your Jeanneau dealership.
Contact my Jeanneau dealer regarding rinsing my powerboat.
For any cleaning project, do not forget to equip yourself with the appropriate protective clothing and gear.
Strip Down the Boat
We strongly advise you to remove all electronic appliances and equipment from your boat in order to shelter them from the humidity and cold of winter.
All fabric elements on board (canvass covers, cushions, Bimini, etc.) must also be cleaned with a specific product before being dried and stored in a dry location to ensure their protection.
Winterize Your Engine
To guarantee the smooth function of your engine when you return to the water next season, you may wish to entrust your Jeanneau dealer with the task of winterizing your engine. They will take care of rinsing the engine, putting antifreeze in the cooling system, refilling the oil, as well as replacing the filters in the fuel system, and checking the water pump. They will add an additive in the fuel tank to prevent any bacterial development in the fuel. They will also fill the fuel tank to avoid condensation.
Beforehand, charge the engine batteries and disconnect them to maintain their performance.
Entrust the winterizing of my engine to a Jeanneau dealer.
Empty Your Tanks
We recommend that you rinse the grey water and holding tanks with fresh water and empty them. For fresh water tanks, after emptying, add a percentage of non-toxic antifreeze to ¼th of the tank and run all the taps for several minutes to empty the tanks completely. Finally, leave all the faucets on.
Contact your Jeanneau dealer for advice.
Air Out and Dehumidify
To prevent humidity from damaging your cabinets, refrigerators, freezers, etc, clean them thoroughly and leave them open. You can also install a dehumidifier and let air flow as much as possible to dry out the boat.
Clean Heads
We recommend that you clean the plumbing for the head with a specialised product to avoid any unpleasant surprises next season, when you return to cruising. Don’t forget to empty the holding tank, if your boat is equipped with one, and close the valves for winter.
Check All Safety Equipment
Take advantage of the off season to check your safety equipment: check the expiration dates of your flares, your fire extinguishers, inflatable life jackets, etc. This is the moment to prepare for sunny days ahead!
If your boat has a trailer, you must take it to your Jeanneau dealer for a thorough review. At this time, your dealer will check the condition of the bearings, the brake system, and all elements important for your safety.
To prepare for the care and storage of your boat with peace of mind, and to benefit from professional advice for the maintenance of your hull, your accessories or batteries, cleaning your deck, or even the use of cleaning products, your Jeanneau dealer is available to provide all the information you need to winterize your powerboat in order to keep it in optimal condition and ready for the next season.
Find your nearest Jeanneau dealership.
To learn more about maintaining a powerboat, please read our Jeanneau guide to establish good maintenance habits for cruising with full peace of mind.
See more advice from Jeanneau for maintaining your powerboat.