What You Need to Know When Winterizing

Like it or not, it's getting to be that time of year where we tuck away our boats and dream of spring days. Let it be clear: we are by no means encouraging you to put away your boat now. But when you're ready to winterize, here are some tips you might keep in mind.

1. Treat your battery like a million bucks.
Batteries are what you need to get going each time you crank that engine, so make sure you give those babies a little TLC before tucking them in for the winter. Charge the battery, and then remove the negative cable. Let it rest for several hours before checking on it. A fully charged battery should read 12.5 volts. Between now and your boat's big unveiling in the spring, check the charge monthly. Also, don't believe that myth that says storing batteries on a concrete floor shortens their lives!

2. Make sure your tarp stays put.
Sharp edges and things that stick out wear holes through tarps. Prevent this by covering sharp places with strips of old carpet or rags, and use duct tape to secure them. When tying down a tarp, crossing lines under the boat works, but that makes it tough to get inside the boat for any projects during the winter. An alternative is to fill one-gallon jugs with sand and hang them from the tarp. When you need to get into your boat, just lift a jug or two to remove the tension. To prevent those sags that hold water and rip, use a stepladder, placing it on the deck to support the low spot. Stretch a big cotton T-shirt over outboard cowls to protect glossy finishes from flapping tarps. Hate the critters that move into your boat over the winter? A battery-powered AM radio left tuned to a talk station will deter creatures from shacking up.

3.  Make a list, check it twice.
Use a handy dandy checklist like this one from iBoats to make sure you follow all of the necessary steps while winterizing your boat. You don't want to get distracted and miss a key step, only to regret it in the spring!

Not so much a do-it-yourself-er? Then check out our winterizing coupons and make an appointment with us today.

When are you winterizing your boat? What are some winterizing tricks you like to make use of every winter?

Top 100 Dealer... Again!

We are honored to have been chosen as one of Boating Industry's Top 100 Dealers in North America for the second year in a row! 

Boating Industry's editor in chief, Jonathan Sweet, had this to say about this year's awardees:

This group of dealers truly represents the elite of the boating industry, companies that are excelling in customer satisfaction, service and overall business success. From thousands of dealers in North America, these 100 companies stand out as the best of the best.

Thank you to all of our amazing customers, colleagues and supporters for making Austin Boats and Motors such a great place to be!

Here is the press release for more information about the Top 100 program and other awardees:

Boating Industry announces Top 100 Boat Dealers in North America

Boating Industry magazine
November 15, 2012 

Press Release

Legendary Marine named Dealer of the Year

Orlando, Fla., November 14, 2012 – Boating Industry magazine, the leading trade publication for marine dealers, has announced its annual list of the Top 100 Boat Dealers in North America at a gala event here tonight.

“This group of dealers truly represents the elite of the boating industry, companies that are excelling in customer satisfaction, service and overall business success,” said Boating Industry editor in chief Jonathan Sweet. “From thousands of dealers in North America, these 100 companies stand out as the best of the best.”

Topping the 2012 Top 100 list, earning the coveted Dealer of the Year award, was Legendary Marine of Destin, Fla.

“When evaluating Legendary Marine, we were impressed by the company’s rapid growth, strong financials and heavy investments in marketing, education and service,” Sweet said. “It’s clear that Fred Pace and his team have made the right choices to guide Legendary through the recession and into the recovery.”

Boating Industry also recognized eight other dealers with Best in Class Awards.

• Best Website: Action Water Sports, Hudsonville, Mich.
• Best Place to Work: Port Harbor Marine, South Portland, Maine
• Best Boat Show Strategy: The Sail & Ski Center, Austin, Texas
• Best Events: Parks Marina, Okoboji, Iowa
• Best Industry Advocate: Buckeye Marine, Bobcaygeon, Ontario
• Most Innovative: WakeSide Marine, Elkhart, Ind.
• Best Marketing: BMC Boats, Longwood, Fla.
• Best Service Department: Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, Fontana, Wis.

Along with the Top 100, Boating Industry inducted a new company into the Top 100 Hall of Fame: Prince William Marine Sales, Woodbridge, Va. Prince William joins the two previous inductees, Galati Yacht Sales and MarineMax. Companies are inducted into the Hall of Fame after twice being ranked as the top dealer.

The complete Boating Industry Top 100:

• Action Water Sports, Hudsonville, Mich.
• Advantage Yacht Sales, Newburyport, Mass.
• Atwood Lake Boats, Mineral City, Ohio
• Austin Boats and Motors, Lakeway, Texas
• B&E Marine, Michigan City, Ind.
• BMC Boats, Longwood, Fla.
• The Boat Shop, Tafton, Pa.
• Boat Town, Austin, Texas
• Boaters Exchange, Rockledge, Fla.
• Boats Incorporated, Niantic, Conn.
• Bosun’s Marine, Mashpee, Mass.
• Breakwater Marine, Surrey, British Columbia
• Breath’s Boats & Motors, Bay St. Louis, Miss.
• Bryan’s Marine, Vidalia, La.
• Buckeye Marine, Bobcaygeon, Ontario
• Candlewood East Marina, Brookfield, Conn.
• Castaway Marina, Queensbury, N.Y.
• Causeway Marine, Manahawkin, N.J.
• Clark Marine, Manchester, Maine
• Cleveland Boat Center, Cleveland, Tenn.
• Colorado Boat Center, Loveland, Colo.
• Davey Marine Center, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Deep Creek Marina, McHenry, Md.
• Desmasdon’s Boatworks, Pointe au Baril, Ontario
• Don’s Marine, Lodi, Wis.
• Dry Dock Marine Center, Angola, Ind.
• Farm Island Repair & Marine, Aitkin, Minn.
• Fogarty’s Lake Flower Marina, Saranac Lake, N.Y.
• Gage Marine, Williams Bay, Wisc.
• George’s Marine & Sports, Ottawa, Ontario
• Glencove Marina, Lake Ozark, Mo.
• Gone’ Fishin Marine, Dixon, Calif.
• Gordon Bay Marine, Mactier, Ontario
• Gordy’s Lakefront Marine, Fontana, Wisc.
• Grande Point Marina of Lansing, Dimondale, Mich.
• The Great Outdoors Marine, Lavelette, W.V.
• Hagadone Marine Group, Couer d’Alene, Idaho
• Hall Marine Group, Lake Wylie, S.C.
• Hampton Watercraft & Marine, Hampton Bays, N.Y.
• Hayes Marine, Appling, Ga.
• Hoffmaster’s Marina, Woodbridge, Va.
• Hurst Marina, Manotick, Ontario
• Irwin Marine, Laconia, N.H.
• Jet Ski of Miami & Fisherman’s Boat Group, Miami
• Kelly’s Port, Osage Beach, Mo.
• Lake Union Sea Ray, Seattle
• Lake Viking Marine, Gallatin, Mo.
• Laurel Marina, Bristol, Tenn.
• Legendary Marine, Destin, Fla.
• Lodder’s Marine, Fairfield, Ohio
• Lynnhaven Marine, Virginia Beach, Va.
• M&P Mercury Sales, Burnaby, British Columbia
• Maple City Marine, Chatham, Ontario
• Marina Fortin, Saint-Paul-de-l’lle-aux-Noix, Quebec
• Marine Center of Indiana, Indianapolis
• Marine Sales of Pickwick, Counce, Tenn.
• Marine Specialties Boat Sales & Service Center, Sparks, Nev.
• Miami Nautique International, Miami
• N3 Boatworks, Indianapolis
• North Texas Marine, Gainesville, Texas
• Oak Hill Marina, Arnolds Park, Iowa
• Omaha Marine Center, Omaha, Neb.
• Paris Marine, Peterborough, Ontario
• Parker Boat Company, Orlando, Fla.
• Parks Marina, Okoboji, Iowa
• Port Harbor Marine, South Portland, Maine
• Port Sandfield Marina, Port Sandfield, Ontario
• Pride Marine Group, Bracebridge, Ontario
• Quality Boats of Clearwater, Clearwater, Fla.
• Rambo Marine, Hazel Green, Ala.
• Rayburns Marine World, Kelowna, British Columbia
• Reed’s Marine, Delavan, Wis.
• Regal & Nautique of Orlando, Orlando, Fla.
• Russell Marine, Alexander City, Ala.
• Russo Marine, Medford, Mass.
• The Sail & Ski Center, Austin, Texas
• Sea Ray of Cincinnati/Sea Ray of Louisville, Cincinnati
• Seattle Boat Company, Seattle
• Shipyard Marine, Green Bay, Wis.
• Short’s Marine, Millsboro, Del.
• Singleton Marine Group, Buford, Ga.
• Ski & Sports, Rogers, Ark.
• Skyline Marina, Orillia, Ontario
• South Austin Marine, Austin, Texas
• South Florida Mastercraft, Boynton Beach, Fla.
• South Shore Marine, Huron, Ohio
• Spicer’s Boat City, Houghton Lake, Mich.
• The Sportsman, San Benito, Texas
• Spring Brook Marina, Seneca, Ill.
• Strong’s Marine, Mattituck, N.Y.
• SunDance Marine, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Texas Marine, Beaumont, Texas
• Tobler Marina, Hayden, Idaho
• Town & Country Marine, Lakefield, Ontario
• Traverse Bay Marine, Traverse City, Mich.
• Vallely Sport & Marine, Bismarck, N.D.
• Vincent Payne Marine, Point-au-Baril, Ontario
• WakeSide Marine, Elkhart, Ind.
• Wayzata Marine, Wayzata, Minn.
• Woodard Marine, Hydeville, Vt.

The Top 100 will be featured in the December issue of Boating Industry and online at www.BoatingIndustry.com.