Boat Winterization in Maryland

Properly winterizing your boat is the single best thing you can do to protect your investment between seasons. Freeze damage to engines, water systems, and electronics costs thousands to repair — and all of it is preventable. At Maryland Boat Sales, our factory-trained technicians winterize boats of every size at our Middle River facility, with packages that include engine service, shrink-wrap, and optional storage.

What’s Included in Our Winterization Service

• Engine winterization — Freshwater flush, antifreeze, fogging oil, fuel stabilizer, oil change
• Water system prep — Drain and pink-antifreeze protection for freshwater systems, heads, and A/C units
• Battery service — Disconnect, clean, and store properly
• Fuel treatment — Stabilizer added and system run through
• Drive unit service — Lube and lower unit oil change
• Pre-winter inspection — Spot any issues to address before spring

Engine Winterization by Type

Outboards: Flush, fog, fuel stabilizer, gear oil change on the lower unit. Typical service on Yamaha, Mercury, Suzuki, Honda outboards.

Sterndrives (I/O): Block drain or antifreeze, fogging, gear oil on the drive, fuel treatment, U-joint/bellows inspection.

Inboards: Full raw-water flush, antifreeze throughout cooling circuits, oil change, fogging, fuel treatment, and transmission service.

Shrink-Wrap Services

Professional shrink-wrap keeps snow, ice, and critters out of your boat all winter. We frame the cockpit properly so there’s no sag, add vents for airflow, and include an access zipper if you need to check on the boat mid-season. Shrink-wrap is available as a standalone service or bundled with winterization and storage.

Storing with us for the season too? Winter boat storage is $34.00 per foot for 2026 — haul out, bottom power wash, blocking, and spring launch included — and you can sign your storage agreement online.

Spring Commissioning Package

Most customers bundle winterization with spring commissioning. When your boat comes out of storage, we handle: battery reconnect, engine start-up and sea trial, water system flush, bottom paint touch-up if needed, and a general safety check. Book the combo and you save versus booking each separately — plus your boat is ready for launch day without you lifting a finger.

Why Winterize with a Pro

A cracked engine block from freeze damage on an outboard can run $5,000+. A freshwater system that wasn’t properly drained can cost $2,000+ to repair in leaking fittings and damaged fixtures. Professional winterization typically costs a fraction of that — and comes with a second set of eyes catching issues early. Our technicians also document exactly what was done, so when you come back in spring, we know the boat’s history.

Common Winterization Mistakes

• Skipping the engine flush — salt or old coolant corrodes through winter
• Not draining the water system fully — freeze cracks PEX and fittings
• Leaving fuel untreated — stale fuel gums up carbs and injectors
• Poor shrink-wrap ventilation — trapped moisture causes mildew
• Leaving batteries connected — parasitic drain ruins battery life

Book Your Winterization

We start booking winterization appointments in September each year and the calendar fills up fast. To lock in your spot, call us at 410-574-3988, email mmiceli@mdboatsales.com, or send us a message. Let us know your boat make/model and whether you want full winterization, shrink-wrap, storage, or the complete package.

Pricing

Winterization pricing depends on your engine type, boat size, and which services you bundle. Expect significant savings when you combine winterization + shrink-wrap + storage as a single package. Contact us for an exact quote for your boat.

Related services: Boat storage · Boat service and repair · Full-service marina