Boat Winterization in Raleigh, NC
Raleigh, North Carolina
As winter starts to sneak up on us, we all know that means the end of the boating season. With cold weather right around the corner, it is important to get your boat's winterization service scheduled. Don't wait until the freezing weather is here and risk having your boat unprepared for the weather. For more information on why you should winterize your boat, and what makes us different than the rest, keep reading. Ready to schedule your service now? Use the buttons below to either schedule your service online via our portal or give us a call.
Why Your Boat Needs Winterized
Unlike your car which uses air to cool the engine and additional components, your boat takes advantage of water to cool these systems. While this is extremely efficient, it does have one downside when it comes to freezing weather. Without properly having your boat winterized, you fun the risk of water inside of your boat's cooling system freezing. The issue is, when this water freezes it starts to expand. When the water expands too much it will cause for hoses, fittings, or even the engine itself to crack and bust. While this might seem extreme, we can assure you it has happened before, and isn't an inexpensive repair compared to getting your boat winterized.
Does Only My Engine Need Winterized?
Yet another common question that we encounter every year! While the answer does vary depending on what type of boat, the simple answer is no. Whether your boat is equipped with a fresh water system (sinks, toilet, showers), or a ballast system, these systems use water as well. When they are no longer in use the water will remain in the system until it is physically removed and replaced with antifreeze during the winterization process.
Ditch The Lake Call Fees!
If your boat is located within 40 miles of our facility, the lake call fee is on us! Don't believe us? Give us a call or schedule your service online today! Our 40 mile free lake call radius covers all of Falls Lake, and Jordan Lake. If you aren't sure if you're within the 40 mile radius, give us a call or send us a message and we will be happy to help
What Brands Do We Service?
Our marine service team in Raleigh, North Carolina has a diverse set of skills and qualifications which allow for them to work on a wide variety of fresh water and salt water boats. At SouthTown Watersports we are a certified to service and perform warranty work all Mercury, Suzuki, and Indmar engines. In addition, we also service a wide variety of outboard engines from brands like Johnson, Yamaha, Honda, Evinrude, and much more. As for inboard and stern-drive engines, we service a wide variety of additional brands such as MerCruiser, PCM, Ilmor, Volvo, and much more.
Additionally, our team is certified to service Supra Boats, Moomba Boats, Premier Pontoons, Coach Pontoons, and Xcursion pontoons. In addition to these brands our team also frequently services boat from manufacturers like Nautique, MasterCraft, Centurion, Malibu, Crest, Bennington, Berkshire, Harris, and much more! If you have questions about any of the other brands we frequently service, or if our team has experience with your specific boat, give us a call!
What Areas Do We Service?
Our Raleigh service department offers both on-site and at your dock service. Our facility is easily accessible via I-540, directly on Capital Boulevard. As for our mobile service, we frequently service the surrounding areas of Durham, Apex, Cary, Falls, Wilsonville, Wake Forest, Chapel Hill, and much more. Some of these lakes include Falls Lake, Jordan Lake, Hyco Lake, Lake Gaston, and much more.
Our Winterization Guarantee
Schedule At Your Convenience
With modern technology, we have all gotten used to having control right at our fingertips. This is why we have poured a substantial amount of time into giving you the ability to schedule, manage, and pay for boat service directly from your mobile device. With the SouthTown Watersports mobile app you can easily check up on your current service bill, get real time updates on lake calls and job completion, and even check out directly on your mobile device. To schedule your service through our online portal or download our app, click the buttons below.
When to Winterize in North Carolina
Triangle winters are mild, but they are not mild enough to skip winterization. A single hard freeze can crack an engine block, and Raleigh sees freezing nights from November through March. The smart window to book is September and October, before the first cold snap and before the schedule fills. If you run your boat late into the fall on Falls Lake or Jordan Lake, tell us when you book and we will time the service around your last outing. Call (919) 999-6630 to get on the winterization schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I winterize my boat in Raleigh?
Book in September or October. Raleigh typically sees its first freezing nights in November, and engine damage from a single hard freeze costs far more than winterization.
What does winterization include?
We drain and treat the engine and ballast systems with antifreeze, stabilize the fuel, fog the engine where the manufacturer calls for it, and check the boat over so it is ready to store. Ask us about shrink wrapping and storage preparation when you book.
Do you winterize all boat brands?
Yes. We winterize inboard, outboard, and stern-drive boats of all major brands, including wake boats with ballast systems, which need extra care to drain fully.
What happens if I skip winterization?
Water left in the engine, ballast bags, or plumbing expands when it freezes and can crack the block, manifolds, or pumps. It is the most expensive avoidable repair we see each spring.
Ready for spring? See our Raleigh service center and boat and motor repair pages.