7 Ways to Prepare Your Dock for Winter
Lake of the Ozarks lovers hates to hear when
summer is officially over but that time is upon us. Even though there are
several great days of boating ahead of us this fall, it’s time to start
thinking about preparing your dock for the winter months. Learn more in this week’s blog from Firstmate Controls, the
finest wireless electronic equipment for the recreational marine industry.
The fall is the perfect time to have your dock
inspected especially for second homeowners to ensure the dock is ready to
endure the cold months ahead of us. Many Lake of the Ozarks locals know that
Ameren prepares for the winter drawdown usually around the first of the year.
The drawdown prepares the lake for flooding possibilities with spring rains.
The drawdown can be a problem for homeowners who haven’t prepared their dock
for winter.
- Pull all the
water toys out of the water and the boat, remove all the air, dry them
out, and store them in your dock locker.
If you have furniture on the dock, make sure you secure the
furniture or remove it from the dock.
Remove the dock ladder from the water and make sure it is
secure.
- Check to
make sure your dock is repelling water.
You can do this by scrubbing the surface of the dock with a deck
cleaner to remove debris, algae, and fungus. Then spray the dock with water to see if
the water beads on the wood. If the
water does not bead, you may want to reseal the wood on your dock.
- Visually
inspect your dock. Make sure no
bolts or fasteners are missing.
Take a look at the welds on your docks to ensure you have no
cracks. Check your dock cables, if
they are frayed or rusted you may want to have a new cable installed. Look around the dock to make sure there
are no limbs or stumps that will not allow your dock to move up and down.
- Lengthen
your dock cables to prepare for the drawdown at the beginning of the
year.
- Raise your
boat lift to make sure it is holding air.
Check your lift for any missing bolts or breaks in the
structure.
- If you are
in shallow water or if the weather is calling for a very cold winter, you
will want to install dock de-icers.
The size of your dock and the depth of the water will determine the
number of de-icers you will want to place around your dock.
- If you have
water lines or pumps on your dock, you must make sure all the water
is drained from the lines.
If you are a second homeowner and have a
full-time neighbor near you, ask them to keep an eye on your dock through the
winter and call you if they see any issues. You can also hire a dock company to
walk the dock periodically to make sure everything is in good shape.
As boaters ourselves, we want to make sure
your dock is prepared for the winter, so once spring comes around you can hit
that button on your FirstmateRemote Control and go out for the first boat ride of the year. To learn more about our state-of-the-art remote controlboat lift visit our website www.FirstmateControls.com.
Boat Lift Controls You Can Count On!
Firstmate Controls
130 Century Commerce Loop
Labadie, MO 63055
Phone: (866) 570-9707
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