HOW TO YOUR PONTOON

After a sad wave goodbye to warm weather, it is time to take out your check-list so that you can take excellent care of your pontoon boat for the winter. It is important that your investment is well-protected—this is not the time for shortcuts. Of course, the number of items you’ll have to do depends on the winter weather conditions where you are storing your pontoon.

The first step is to efficiently get your boat out of the water and into storage. For larger boats, such as pontoons, you may need a boat trailer to accomplish this task. Once the boat is out of the water, remove plants or mussels; doing so now is easier than it will be later when they’ve dried. You should also rinse and then dry the pontoon thoroughly to reduce mold or mildew growth.

Once your boat is out of the water, you will need to drain all water and the coolant from your engine, and replace it with propylene glycol based antifreeze. Any water left in your motor engine can expand and result in expensive damage to your motor.

Clean the floor and cushions thoroughly. Even though this will remove most food crumbs, you should still leave a few mouse traps and mothballs to ensure rodents don’t make a nest in your pontoon. Remove valuables and electronics that can either be stolen or damaged from the cold winter weather. When possible, store furniture, ladders, and other accessories at room temperature.

For warmer climates a boat cover is needed to cover your pontoon. A good cover should have a snug fit and the ability to expand and contract as temperatures change to avoid ripping. You should always check that there aren’t any holes in the cover because it is an easy entry point for rodents.

The biggest thing that you have to worry about in open air conditions is a pooling effect on the cover. Special care must be taken to support the cover. A collapsed boat cover that traps water keeps the deck and furniture damp. The massive weight of pooled water can break railings, seats, and even cause the pontoon logs to succumb to the enormous weight, creating flat spots or ruptures. If your boat isn’t in your driveway, you’ll want to make several off-season visits to ensure the weather conditions haven’t caused the support you’ve chosen to shift or retract.

Another option that works just as well as a pontoon cover is shrink wrap. Shrink wrap ensures that there is no space for water to pool or leak in, and it’s disposable so you don’t have to worry about damage to the pontoon cover that you probably use throughout the year. A shrink wrap kit can be purchased yearly to meet your winterizing needs, and you can either do it yourself or pay for a professional service to handle it.

Your battery should be stored in a dry and room temperature environment. Make sure that the battery is fully charged prior to storing it. In cases of uncertainty, take the battery to a marina or auto center for testing and subsequent charging, if necessary.

Manitou Pontoon Boats is a leading manufacturer of technologically innovative pontoons. There are styles and boat sizes to accommodate everyone’s needs and tastes, from those who want to fish to those who just want to show off their speed. Once you choose your function, you can choose your floor plan and color. Learn all about Manitou’s advanced technology at or call

The close to a beautiful season on the water is bittersweet, but there is always next year. While some steps may not be as necessary as others depending on where you store your boat, carefully winterizing your pontoon is a crucial process to ensure your boat is in top condition for your next adventure.