Short answer: Harbor Marine winterizes and shrink wraps boats at Flowery Branch docks, on lifts and at our nearby Buford shop. Call or text (770) 967-8495 to book early.
Winter plans for lakefront boats
In Flowery Branch, a lot of boats spend winter right where they spent summer: at the dock below the house or in a marina slip. Others go up on a lift. Each setup needs the engine and water systems protected before the first hard freeze. Boats on lifts sit fully in the cold air, so they need the most protection.
What we winterize
- Engine cooling passages.
- Generators.
- Freshwater tanks, lines, sinks, showers and heads.
- Batteries, checked for spring.
Boats that stay in the water
If your boat stays at the dock, a bilge heater can add protection on the coldest nights, along with a winterized engine and plumbing. Keep an eye on the lake level through winter. Make sure lines have enough slack, and that the boat is not settling onto the bottom in a shallow slip.
Shrink wrap
A shrink wrap keeps leaves, rain and pine needles out of the cockpit and drains, and shades the boat from winter sun. For lift and dock boats under lakeside trees, that means far less spring cleanup.
Check on the boat through winter
If your boat winters at a Flowery Branch dock or on a lift, a quick check every few weeks goes a long way. Look at the wrap or cover for tears or pooled water, make sure the bilge pump works and the batteries hold a charge, and check the lines as the lake level changes. After a hard freeze or a strong storm, take a look sooner.
Booking with other fall work
Fall is a good time to bundle work. Many owners have the drive inspected, the boat detailed and the engine winterized in the same window. One plan for the off-season means the boat is ready to go in spring without a rush.
Lift boats and winter wind
A boat on a lift at a Flowery Branch dock sits higher and catches more wind than one in the water. A loose cover can flap and scuff the gel coat, and a wrap that is not tight can tear in a winter storm. Shrink wrap, fitted snugly and supported, holds up well. Check the lift itself too, so the boat stays secure through winter weather.
Before spring, plan recommissioning early, so the boat is ready when the first warm weekend arrives.
What affects winterization
Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:
- Number of engines and whether there is a generator.
- Water systems on board.
- Shrink wrap, and the boat size.
- Whether the boat stays in the water or goes on a lift.
Dock power and heaters
If your Flowery Branch dock has power, a bilge heater or battery maintainer can run through the winter. Make sure cords are rated for outdoor use and kept out of the water. If the dock has no power, we will plan around that.
Spring, and nearby
In spring we unwrap, recommission and check the boat over. It is a good time for engine service in Flowery Branch or a detail in Flowery Branch. See all our Flowery Branch services.
Next door, see winterization in Buford, or for in-water boats around the lake, winterization on Lake Lanier. Our main winterization and shrink wrap page covers the full checklist. Contact us to book.