Winterize your boat

Before the first hard frost — around Rice Lake that’s usually late September through October. Once overnight temperatures start touching freezing, water left in an engine can freeze and crack it. Book earlier rather than later: the last two weeks before freeze-up are the busiest of the marina year, and haul-out slots go first.

At Islandview Harbour engine winterization runs from $160 to $400, depending on whether it’s a 2-stroke or 4-stroke outboard, its horsepower, or an inboard/stern drive. Shrink wrap and winter storage are priced by the foot and quoted separately. The full price list is on this page — you pick the services, and the running total prices as you go.

Fogging, fuel stabiliser and antifreeze, so nothing freezes solid over the winter. The engine is run up, the cooling system is drained or filled with antifreeze depending on type, the fuel is treated so it doesn’t go off over five months, and the internals are fogged against corrosion. Oil and filter changes, propeller inspection and a fresh-water system flush are separate lines you can add.

Trapped water freezes, expands and cracks whatever holds it — most often the engine block, exhaust manifolds or raw-water pump. Those are among the most expensive repairs on a boat and usually aren’t covered by insurance, since freeze damage is treated as a maintenance failure. Untreated fuel also degrades over a winter and gums up carburettors and injectors.

Winter storage is priced by the foot: Indoor Storage — $300; Storage — with trailer — $13/ft (min $300) · $220 for a PWC; Storage — no trailer — $16/ft (min $350) · $300 for a PWC. Storing without a trailer costs more because the boat needs stands and handling of its own. Haul out is a separate line, as is the spring launch.

Yes — shrink wrap is $18/ft. It’s the difference between a cover that sheds a winter of snow and ice and one that pools water, sags and lets it in. Wrap also keeps the interior dry enough that mildew doesn’t take hold over five months. In spring we can take the wrap back for recycling — a paid line on the price list, included free in the White Glove package.

Yes to both. PWC and Sea-Doo winterization is $175, or more with an oil and filter change. Pontoons are routine here — hull and pontoon washing is priced by the foot, and pontoon enclosure removal and reinstallation is $3/ft.

Yes. Winterization, shrink wrap and storage can be booked together in one visit, and the price list on this page prices the whole basket at once.

Islandview Harbour is at 1087 Islandview Dr, Bailieboro, ON K0L 1B0, on Rice Lake near Peterborough. We take winter work from across the Kawarthas, including Peterborough, Lakefield, Bridgenorth, Hastings and Norwood. Call (705) 939-6754 or book on this page.

On this page. Pick your boat, choose a removal date, tick the services you want, and the running total prices as you go. You don’t need an account to see prices — signing in is only asked for on the last step. If you’d rather talk it through, call the dock on (705) 939-6754.