Boat Winterization & Shrink Wrap on Lake Lanier, GA

Winter on Lanier

Lanier stays open all year, and many owners keep their boats in the water through winter. Others pull them out and store them on trailers or lifts. Either way, any water left in the engine, manifolds, pumps or plumbing can freeze on a cold night and crack something. The plan just looks a little different depending on where the boat spends the winter.

Boats staying in the slip

A boat that stays in the water still needs its engine and water systems protected. The lake keeps the hull a bit warmer, but the engine compartment and plumbing can still freeze in a hard cold snap. A bilge heater adds protection on the coldest nights, and a good wrap or cover keeps rain and leaves out of the cockpit so drains do not clog.

Boats coming out of the water

Boats stored on trailers or lifts are fully exposed to cold air, so winterization matters even more. Shrink wrap keeps rain, leaves and sun off the boat until spring. If you need help getting the boat out of the water, ask about boat transport on Lake Lanier.

What we protect

• Engines and generators.
• All water systems: tanks, lines, sinks, showers and heads.
• Batteries, checked so the boat starts in spring.
• Shrink wrap, if you want it.

Lake levels often run lower in fall and winter. If your boat sits in shallow water, check that it will still float freely if the level keeps dropping.

Checking on an in-water boat in winter

If your boat spends winter in the water on Lanier, check on it every few weeks, and after any hard freeze or big storm. Look at the lines and fenders, make sure the bilge pump is working and the batteries are holding a charge, and check that the cover or wrap has not collected water or leaves. A quick visit catches small problems before they turn into a sunk or damaged boat.

Spring on the lake

When spring comes to Lanier, everyone wants their boat ready at once. Booking recommissioning in late winter beats the rush. We unwrap or uncover the boat, bring the engine and water systems back into service, check the batteries and bilge pump, and look the boat over. If the lake level has come up or down over the winter, we also check lines, fenders and the dock position before the first trip.

What affects winterization

Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:

• Whether the boat stays in the water or comes out.
• Engines, generator and water systems on board.
• Shrink wrap or cover.
• Bilge heater setup, if needed.

Before the first cold snap

Cold snaps can arrive early on Lanier. If yours is booked for later in the fall, watch the forecast. If a hard freeze is coming first, call us to talk through quick steps that protect the boat.

Book early, then plan for spring

Calendars fill up fast once the weather turns, so call early in the fall. In spring we reverse it all, so the boat is ready for the first warm weekend. That is also a good time for service through engine repair on Lake Lanier or a detail on Lake Lanier.

Owners near the shop can see winterization in Buford or Flowery Branch, and boaters on the Forsyth side can see Cumming. Our main winterization and shrink wrap page covers the details. Contact us to book.