According to BoatUS, the most freeze–related claims each season come from where you'd least expect. Nope, not New York, Maine or Michigan. It's California. Boaters in cold weather states tend to prepare better for winter because they're used to the yearly deep–freeze. But in more temperate climes like California, Florida and Texas, occasional cold snaps can do a lot of damage if not taken seriously.

If you live in any state where winter makes an appearance, special precautions must be taken, particularly if you store your boat in the water.

Keep these thoughts in mind:

In temperate states, boat owners must winterize engines and freshwater systems, especially when boats are stored ashore. In deep freeze states, boats stored ashore must be winterized earlier than boats stored in the water.

In our next tips, we'll walk you through the steps to winterize your boat.