Storing and Winterizing a PWC

It may still be riding season, but soon enough, you'll find yourself looking for a way to store your PWC. You might even need to put it in the shed for a couple months in the middle of the summer, in which case, you'll still need to be prepared with some good winterizing techniques. By doing a few small DIY maintenance tasks on your personal watercraft, you can prevent a lot of serious maintenance issues in the long run, so read on to learn a little more about best storage practices. If you need any assistance though, feel free to bring your vehicle into Destination Powersports for some preventative maintenance. We're near Fort Myers and Cape Coral, Florida.

Flush the Engine

On the very last ride of the year, you'll need to flush your engine to get the excess water out. If you don't plan on another ride and want to put it away immediately, at least try taking it to a small body of water and starting it up for a few minutes. Then, at the dock, put your PWC into the trailer with the stern leaning back a little. Then start the engine and shut it off every 20 seconds. While it runs, repeatedly turn the handle. This process kicks that extra water out of the engine, which prevents rust and other serious damage that water could do to an engine in storage.

Give it a Wash

You'll have to do some more mechanical work later, but before doing any of that, make sure you wash it down. Stay away from dish soap or anything like that. Instead, you can use the same detergent that you wash a car with, along with a scratch-free cloth. Be sure to wipe off all that slime and algae off the bottom of the hull, and clean the sides and rest of the vehicle carefully. Rinse off the soap before it has a chance to dry off, then, once the washing's complete, buff and wax the entire exterior.

Fill and Stabilize the Fuel

Poor quality fuel can corrode your fuel tank, or worse, the Ethanol will separate from the fuel and potentially choke out the engine. IN order to avoid this, fill the tank up all the way, and add a fuel stabilizer to the mix. Make sure you follow the directions in your user manual for how much stabilizer to use, and also heed any directions on the bottle you purchase.

Taking Care of the Battery

Even a stagnant battery will lose it's charge, and without the engine being turned on for months, there won't be any way to power it in storage. Because of this, you'll need to disconnect your battery before putting your personal watercraft away for any period of time. Keep it separate from the PWC, preferably in a garage or shed. Keep in mind that batteries can release strong fumes, so don't store it close to anything flammable. Also, make sure you put it on a tender, so you'll have a full charge when you take it out of storage.

Change the Oil

The last simple maintenance procedure you'll need to do is a simple oil change. Even if you already have decent oil in your PWC motor, clean fluid will keep all the parts lubricated properly, so you won't have to worry about damaging it when you start it up again. We recommend using a synthetic oil and a new filter, this way you'll ensure good lubrication. After this, take a bit of oil and touch up every moving part in your personal watercraft to avoid corrosion. Lubricate steering nozzle pivot points, brakes, and any other moving parts you can get to.

Putting it away

Finally, you can put the PWC into storage. Make sure it stays away from flammable substances, and find some method of keeping the hull off the ground. You can put it on a trailer, remove the tires, and rest the trailer on concrete blocks. Finally, put a rag in the exhaust pipe so small animals and critters don't make their nest in there during the offseason.

Preparing your PWC for storage involves a few pretty simple tasks, and while they seem like a hassle at first, it will save you from a lot of engine problems down the road. Take the time to keep your personal watercraft in good condition, or, if you don't have to time, bring it on into Destination Powersports! We're in Punta Gorda, Florida, where we proudly serve customers from Fort Myers and Cape Coral.