Essential Tips for Winterizing Your Marine Electronics

As the boating season draws to a close and winter sets in, it becomes crucial for boat owners to prepare their vessels for the cold months ahead. One area that often gets overlooked is marine electronics. Properly winterizing your electronics boat can extend the lifespan of your gear, maintain optimal functionality, and save you costly repairs come springtime. In this guide, we’ll explore the best practices for winterizing your marine electronics with a specific focus on navigation and communications.

Understanding the Importance of Winterization

Winterizing your boat electronics is not just a task to check off your list; it's essential for safeguarding your investments. The marine environment can be harsh, and without the right precautions, your electronics may suffer from damage caused by freezing temperatures, moisture, and corrosion. By taking the time to prepare your electronics boat for winter, you ensure that your equipment remains functional and reliable when you hit the water next season.

Assess Your Electronic Equipment

The first step in winterizing your marine electronics is to assess what you have onboard. Make a detailed inventory of all your electronic components, which might include:

• GPS Units - Essential for navigation and charting your course.
• Fish Finders - Useful for those looking to make the most of their fishing excursions.
• VHF Radios - Vital for communication and safety on the water.
• Auto-Pilots - Especially if you have long voyages planned.
• Battery Systems - Power supply is critical for the functionality of all electronics.
• Sonar and Radar Systems - Important for navigation in poor visibility.

Cleaning and Preparing Your Devices

Once you’ve assessed your boat electronics, it’s time to clean and prepare them for winter storage. This step is vital to ensure that corrosive elements don't gather and damage your devices through the cold months.

Cleaning Procedures

Here are some cleaning tips to follow:

• Use a Soft Cloth - Wipe down all screens and surfaces gently to avoid scratches.
• Inspect Connections - Look for corrosion or debris around cables and connectors. Clean them with appropriate electronic contact cleaners.
• Remove Covers and Flush Water - If your devices have protective covers, remove them and ensure any remaining water is flushed out.

Drying Out Your Equipment

Ensure that all devices are completely dry before storing them. Residual moisture can cause significant damage when temperatures drop below freezing. Place the electronics in a warm, dry area for several hours, or even overnight, to ensure they are entirely moisture-free.

Disconnections and Storage Techniques

To properly winterize your marine electronics, disconnection and proper storage are critical. Follow these best practices:

Disconnecting Your Electronics

For most marine electronics, the safest approach is to disconnect them from their power sources. Follow these steps:

• Turn Off All Devices - Ensure all electronics are powered off before disconnection.
• Unplug Power Connections - Disconnect all power leads carefully to prevent any damage.
• Remove Batteries - If your electronics, such as Minn Kota MKR-US2-8, use batteries, remove them for separate winterizing.

Storing Your Electronics Safely

After disconnection, store your electronics in a dry, cool, and protective environment. Consider these options:

• Storage Bins - Use waterproof bins that can protect against moisture.
• Bubble Wrap - Wrapping sensitive devices in bubble wrap protects them from shock and impact.
• Labels - Clearly label storage containers to make it easy to find your electronics when boating season resumes.

Taking Care of Your Batteries

Batteries are one of the most important aspects of marine electronics, and they require their own set of winterization practices. Neglecting them could lead to failures when you try to start your boat next season.

Charging and Maintenance

Follow these battery winterizing tips:

• Fully Charge Batteries - Make sure your batteries are fully charged before storing them. This helps prevent sulfation, which can damage batteries over time.
• Clean Battery Terminals - Use a mixture of baking soda and water to clean any corrosion off the terminals. Rinse and dry thoroughly.
• Store in a Moderate Climate - Ideally, store batteries in an environment where temperatures are kept between 40°F to 80°F.

Checking Battery Levels

Throughout the winter, check the battery levels regularly. If you're storing them for a long period, consider using a maintenance charger to keep them in optimal condition.

Final Checks Before Storing Your Boat

After completing the essential tasks above, it’s time to do a final inspection of your boat electronics. This review is crucial for ensuring everything has been set up for winter storage properly.

Documentation and Manuals

Keep user manuals and any receipts related to your electronics boat on hand. You can refer to these manuals should you need to troubleshoot items in the spring. This will also come in handy in case you have to service the devices.

Review Your Inventory List

Go back to your initial inventory list and make sure every item has been cleaned, disconnected, and stored properly. Double-check that you’ve followed all manufacturer guidelines for storing and maintaining your specific devices.

Protecting Against Frost and Moisture

Winter weather can be unpredictable, and keeping your electronics safe from frost and moisture is paramount. Here are a few preventive measures:

Essential Tips for Winterizing Your Marine Electronics

Winterizing your marine electronics is a critical step to ensure they remain functional and reliable when the next boating season arrives. Cold weather, moisture, and prolonged storage can take a toll on your equipment if proper precautions are not taken. Here, we outline essential tips to protect your investment and highlight products available on bldmarine.com that make the process easier.

1. Thoroughly Clean Your Electronics

Salt, grime, and dirt can corrode sensitive electronic components during the winter months. Start by cleaning all your marine electronics, including GPS units, fish finders, chartplotters, and VHF radios.

• Product Highlight: Use a marine-grade electronic cleaning spray like CRC QD Electronic Cleaner, available on bldmarine.com, to safely remove contaminants from screens and connections.

2. Inspect for Damage

Carefully inspect all devices and wiring for signs of wear, corrosion, or damage. Pay special attention to connectors, terminals, and exposed wiring.

• Product Highlight: Consider using Ancor Heat Shrink Terminals, which are both ABYC and NMEA compliant, to replace worn or damaged connections. These terminals provide a waterproof seal and are ideal for marine environments.

3. Disconnect and Store Portable Devices

Portable electronics such as handheld GPS units, radios, and fish finders should be disconnected and stored in a dry, temperature-controlled environment. Remove the batteries to prevent corrosion.

• Storage Solution: Keep your devices safe with Plano Waterproof Storage Cases, available at bldmarine.com. These cases are designed to protect electronics from moisture and dust.

4. Protect Fixed Equipment

Fixed electronics, like mounted displays and radar systems, need extra protection from the elements.

• Protective Covers: Use Simrad Sun Covers or similar covers to shield screens from dust, moisture, and UV damage during storage.
• Moisture Control: Place moisture-absorbing silica gel packets inside enclosed spaces where electronics are stored. These packets help prevent internal condensation that can damage components.

5. Check and Maintain Wiring

Corrosion in wiring and connections is a common issue during the off-season. Inspect all wiring and apply protective measures to ensure long-term reliability.

• Product Recommendation: Use Ancor Marine-Grade Electrical Tape and Ancor Liquid Electrical Tape to seal and protect exposed wires and connections.
• Dielectric Grease: Apply Ancor Dielectric Grease to connectors to create a waterproof barrier against moisture and salt.

6. Update and Back Up Data

Before winterizing, update the software and firmware on all your devices to ensure they’re ready for next season. Back up your waypoints, routes, and settings to prevent data loss.

• Data Backup Devices: Use a SanDisk Ultra SD Card, which is compatible with most marine electronics and available on bldmarine.com, to safely store your data.

7. Protect Antennas and Sensors

Antennas and sensors, such as GPS receivers and transducers, are vulnerable to ice and snow buildup.

• Protective Solutions: Apply a thin layer of CRC Marine Corrosion Inhibitor to metal components to prevent rust and corrosion.
• Transducer Covers: Check bldmarine.com for transducer-specific covers that shield sensitive elements from ice damage.

8. Control Moisture in Storage Areas

Humidity can wreak havoc on electronics during winter storage. Use a dehumidifier or moisture absorbers to keep storage areas dry.

• Product Recommendation: The Star brite No Damp Dehumidifier is an excellent option for reducing moisture in cabins and storage compartments. Find it on bldmarine.com.

9. Secure a Reliable Power Source

If your electronics remain on the boat during winter storage, ensure they’re connected to a stable power source to avoid battery drain.

• Battery Maintainers: Use a NOCO Genius Smart Battery Charger, available at bldmarine.com, to keep your batteries fully charged and maintain optimal performance.

10. Label and Organize Wires

Before disconnecting any wires for storage, label them clearly to make reinstallation in the spring hassle-free.

• Wire Management: Ancor’s Self-Laminating Cable Labels are perfect for this purpose and can be found on bldmarine.com.

Why Winterizing Matters

Proper winterization of your marine electronics not only protects your investment but also ensures a smooth start to the next boating season. Neglecting these steps can lead to costly repairs, reduced equipment lifespan, and frustration when you're eager to hit the water.

Shop Winterization Essentials at BLD Marine

BLD Marine offers a wide range of products to help you winterize your marine electronics with ease. From cleaning supplies to protective covers and moisture control solutions, you’ll find everything you need in one place. Visit bldmarine.com to shop now and ensure your electronics are ready for whatever the next season brings! Plus, every purchase supports The Fishing Academy, a charity dedicated to educating youth about fishing and marine conservation.