Sadly for many people, the time has come — temperatures are dropping, trip time is cashed out and it’s time for the boat to retire to its annual winter hibernation spot. Earlier than you place your boat up for the yr, although, there are some things you’ll need to do to arrange your onboard marine electronics for the upcoming inactivity.
1. Verify cables/wiring.
Verify any uncovered cables or wiring for corrosion or worn spots earlier than storing your boat. That is important to keep away from any potential injury to your boat throughout its winter relaxation. Make sure you cowl any digital contact factors and, if desired, apply dielectric grease to the ends of plugs.
2. Clear electronics.
It’s additionally clever to scrub electronics earlier than being away out of your boat for an prolonged interval. Merely use a microfiber material to scrub the display and any buttons which will have some open publicity. If there’s any saltwater constructed up on the display, you should utilize bottled water to scrub it off.
3. Take away electronics.
If potential, take away your electronics. That’s not an possibility for everybody however whether it is, it’s ultimate to carry your marine electronics inside for the winter. Though Garmin chartplotters are examined to resist extraordinarily chilly temperatures, being in a managed local weather and setting could also be preferable.
Should you select this route, it’s a good suggestion to doc the wiring setup so you’re feeling assured about reinstalling within the spring. Our items are intuitive and use coloration coding for set up, however it’s by no means a foul thought to put in writing it down simply in case.
4. Cowl all the pieces that continues to be on board.
In case your electronics can’t be eliminated, make certain to cowl them up. This is applicable to every other devices on board, in addition to the cockpit. If snow melts and refreezes, it expands once more and will trigger injury. Securely cowl something that may’t be eliminated with canvas and remember to tie it down properly.
By sticking to only a few greatest practices, you’re extra seemingly to have the ability to hit the water shortly as quickly because the temperatures start to rise once more in a couple of months. And should you stay in a spot the place your boat doesn’t have to enter hiding throughout the colder months? Fortunate you! Listed here are some Garmin marine electronics you’ll need to play with whereas the remainder of us are caught indoors.
