Fishing season is far from over and as a matter of fact fishing season never ends here in he lowcountry; however, if you are one of those that abandons the boat for the fall and winter months, here are a few recommendations to take care of the boat and tackle before storing it for the off-season.
Many think of early spring as the great spring cleaning for their boat and gear and just leave the boat to sit after their last outing in the summer. A full day of working on the boat in the fall and taking care of some preventative maintenance issues will mean less work in the spring and may also save you some money and aggravation from damage done to items that were not properly cared for. The purpose of this article is to address just a few items that my help winterize your boat and tackle.
Store as much of your gear out of the weather and in house as possible. Life preserves, foul weather gear, nets, etc are sure to mildew if left under a console or inside a fish box. Wash these items with mild detergent, let them dry, and them hang them inside the garage or in hall closet. Sun tops, cushions, combings, etc. are not only subject to mildew, but they are also subject to rot from UV exposure. These items should also be washed with mild detergent and stored in dry place over the winter. Even though most electronics are weather proof these days, it does not hurt to take them off the boat and store them inside. Sunlight takes it toll on LCD screens and rubber key pads, not to mention these items walk rather easily when left unattended for long periods of time. After removing electronics, make sure to seal the plugs that may be left in place. A few wraps of electrical tape will keep the moisture and dirt out and protect the copper connections inside the plug.
While removing gear it is a great time to check out your safety equipment. While washing the life vests for instance check for wear and possible tears in the material. Also check to see if the flares up to date, the air horn works, and do not forget to check t