Winterize your gear now

Valley Life editor

One of the biggest mistakes people can make at this time of year is to let the boat sit out in the driveway after its last use. Winterizing your boat is not only recommended -- it's a necessity during the harsh winters of Alaska.

There are a number of businesses that winterize boats in the Valley, and people can do it themselves if they have the time. Either way, getting it done is important, if boat owners want to have a productive spring.

"Every year we get one or two people coming in during the spring saying, 'Oh boy, it's broken. Can you fix it right now?'" said Jeremy Lindamood of Burkeshore Marina in Big Lake. "It's easier to winterize now than to have problems and lose part of your season in the spring."

Winterizing your boat doesn't have to be rocket science, but you should be thorough. Lindamood said at Burkeshore, like other businesses, they essentially go over the entire motor and make sure there isn't any moisture built up.

"We check the gears and lube them, fog the motor, run antifreeze, add fuel stabilizer -- things like that to make sure you aren't getting any rust in your motor and that everything is lubed properly," Lindamood said.

Having your boat winterized also has some added benefits -- you catch things you otherwise may have missed.

"We find safety problems all the time when we're winterizing boats," Lindamood said. "It's better to find them now than later."

Expect to spend the afternoon winterizing your boat yourself, or being without it for a few days if you take it to a marina for winterization. Professional winterizations usually run between $150 and $250, depending on what type of motor you have.

Your boat is probably your biggest investment, but even the smaller "toys" should be prepared for winter storage. For camping gear, make sure everything is dried out completely before you tuck it away for the season. If space permits, it's a decent idea to leave your sleeping pad unrolled (with the valve open for self-inflating pads) and give your sleeping bag's materials room to breathe -- you won't lose any of the loft in the future.

Tents should be cleaned thoroughly, and any repairs made.

Again, being completely dry is the biggest thing to look for.

Fishing gear should also receive some extra attention as you start putting things away for the season. Make sure you clean up all your reels, and give them a shot of reel lubrication if they need it. It's a good idea to open your drag all the way.

For rods, take a damp cloth and give them a good rub-down before drying them thoroughly.

Make sure all the cork is completely dry before storing your rods for the winter. Inspect them for any damage, and take care of repairs now, instead of the spring when you are headed out for the first trip of the year.

While not imperative, it's a good idea to take your fly line off your reel. On a reel, the line is wound tightly, and by taking it off and storing it in large loops, you won't have memory problems in the spring -- and your line will shoot right through your guides rather than come off in a loopy mess.

It's a good time to organize tackle boxes, fly boxes and vests, so all you have to do is grab them and go.

Remember, a little housekeeping in the fall and early winter can lead to a productive spring and summer -- and that's only eight months away.