Short answer: Harbor Marine winterizes and shrink wraps boats for Alpharetta owners, at home, in storage lots, at the lake or at our Buford shop. Call or text (770) 967-8495 to book.
Why winterize in north Fulton
Alpharetta winters are mild compared with up north, but the area still sees hard freezes most years. A boat holds water in places you cannot see: the engine block, manifolds, pumps, the drive, freshwater tanks and lines. When that water freezes, it expands and can crack metal and plastic parts. The damage often is not found until spring, when the boat leaks or will not run.
Winterization drains those systems or fills them with antifreeze made for boats, and protects the engine, fuel and batteries through the cold months.
What we do
- Drain or fill the engine cooling system with marine antifreeze.
- Change the oil and filter.
- Add stabilizer and top off the fuel so less air, and less moisture, sits in the tank.
- Service the drive and change the gear oil.
- Drain and protect freshwater, sinks and heads.
- Fog the engine where the maker recommends it.
- Disconnect or maintain the batteries.
Where your boat will spend winter
Tell us where the boat will be: a garage, a driveway, a covered or open storage lot, or in the water at the lake. A garage keeps off weather but can still freeze. A storage lot or driveway needs a cover or shrink wrap. A boat left in the water needs a working bilge pump, charged battery and regular checks. We plan the job around where it will sit.
Shrink wrap
Shrink wrap is a plastic film heated to fit tightly around the boat. Supported by a frame, it sheds rain, keeps out leaves and critters and protects the finish. Vents keep moisture from building up inside, which helps stop mildew. It is a good choice for boats stored outside in a lot or driveway.
Batteries
A flat battery can freeze and crack in cold weather, while a charged one handles cold well. Either remove the batteries and store them somewhere cool and dry, or keep them on a marine battery maintainer. If the boat stays in the water, the battery must stay charged for the bilge pump.
Book before the first freeze
Winterization schedules fill up quickly in the fall. Getting on the calendar in September or early October keeps you ahead of the cold. If a cold snap comes before your appointment, call us and we will talk through quick steps to protect the boat until we get there.
Spring recommissioning
In spring, we reverse the process: reconnect and charge batteries, check fluids, refill water systems, and run the engine with cooling water to check for leaks. A well-winterized boat usually starts the season without trouble.
What affects winterization
Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:
- Engine and drive type and how many engines.
- Water systems on board.
- Whether you want shrink wrap.
- Where the boat is stored.
What freezes first
The parts that hold small amounts of water in thin metal or plastic freeze first: raw-water pumps, sea strainers, exhaust manifolds, washdown pumps and the lines to sinks and showers. The engine block holds more water and takes longer, but the damage is costly when it does freeze. We go through each system on your boat, because every boat is plumbed differently.
If the boat stays at the lake
Some Alpharetta owners leave the boat in a Lanier slip through winter. That can work, but someone needs to check it after storms and cold snaps. Lines should allow for the lake dropping, the cover should not sag and hold water, and the bilge pump must have a charged battery behind it.
Related and nearby
Winter is a good time for drive repair in Alpharetta. A detail in Alpharetta before wrapping keeps dirt from setting in over the winter.
Up GA 400, we also cover winterization in Cumming, and to the east, in Suwanee. For boats kept in the water, see winterization on Lake Lanier, and if you are near our shop, see Buford. Our Alpharetta boat repair page lists everything we do for owners in town, and the main service page covers the details. You can always reach us here.