An engine is the single most expensive item aboard a recreational boat and every fall boaters should take steps to protect it from freeze-related damage. Whether you do-it-yourself or pay someone else to do the job, BoatU.S. Marine Insurance claims files show that engine winterization mistakes are sometimes made. This can lead to the complete loss of the engine.

Unfortunately, most boat insurance policies won’t compensate the owner as this kind of damage is considered a maintenance issue. If you’d like a little peace of mind this winter, consider adding “freeze coverage” insurance to your boat’s policy.

Freeze coverage insurance generally covers damage to the engine and a boat’s systems as a result of freezing water. Even a small amount of ice in an engine block can exert tremendous pressure, cracking cylinder walls or other internal engine passageways.

Jim Nolan, vice president BoatU.S. Marine Insurance, said, “Marinas and yards have a lot to do in the fall and potentially hundreds of boats to winterize. Sometimes an engine winterization job slips through the cracks or doesn’t get done in time. Owners who perform this task can also inadvertently make an honest mistake.” he added.

Freeze coverage may also appeal to trailer boaters who occasionally travel south for vacations or fishing trips. “When your return home, any water left in the wrong place can freeze,” added Nolan.

The coverage costs very little (BoatU.S. policyholders pay about $20 extra). Check with your insurance company about freeze coverage and cold weather deadlines for purchase. The deadline to purchase BoatU.S. freeze coverage is October 31 – after that it unavailable until the following season.

BoatU.S. – Boat Owners Association of The United States – is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 620,000 members with a wide array of consumer services including a marine insurance program that insures nearly a quarter million boats; the largest fleet of more than 500 towing assistance vessels; discounts on fuel, slips, and repairs at over 825 Cooperating Marinas; boat financing; and a subscription to BoatU.S. Magazine, the most widely read boating publication in the U.S. For membership or insurance information visit http://www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.

How To Avoid The Six Most Common Winterizing Mistakes

Free BoatU.S. Winterizing Guide Available

2. Failure to drain water from sea strainer: Like an engine, the seawater strainer must be winterized or residual water could freeze and rupture the watertight seal. Sometimes you don’t know it’s damaged until spring launching and water begins to trickle in.

3. Failure to close seacocks: For boats left in the water, leaving seacocks open over the winter is like going on extended vacation without locking the house. If a thru-hull cannot be closed the vessel must be stored ashore – the sole exception are cockpit drains. Heavy snow loads can also force your boat under, allowing water to enter through hulls normally well above the water line.

4. Clogged petcocks: Engine cooling system petcocks clogged by rust or other debris can prevent water from fully draining. If it’s plugged, try using a coat hanger to clear the blockage or use the engine’s intake hose to flush anti-freeze through the system.

5. Leaving open boats in the water over winter: Boats with large open cockpits or low freeboard can easily go under by accumulated snow. Always store them ashore.

6. Using bimini covers as winter storage covers: A cover that protects the crew from the sun does a lousy job protecting the boat from freezing rain and snow. Unlike a bonafide winter cover, biminis tend to rip apart and age prematurely by the effects of winter weather.

To get a free copy of the BoatU.S. Winterizing Guide full of tips to help you prepare your vessel for the winter, go to http://www.BoatUS.com/Seaworthy and click on “Winterizing Your Boat,” or call 800-283-2883.

BoatU.S. – Boat Owners Association of The United States – is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 620,000 members with a wide array of consumer services including a group-rate marine insurance program that insures nearly a quarter million boats; the largest fleet of more than 500 towing assistance vessels; discounts on fuel, slips, and repairs at over 825 Cooperating Marinas; boat financing; and a subscription to BoatU.S. Magazine, the most widely read boating publication in the U.S. For membership information visit http://www.BoatUS.com or call 800-395-2628.

With Hurricane Emily sweeping across Caribbean waters, boaters along the Texas coast may have to start preparing for the worst; last year’s hurricanes caused over $300 million in damages to recreational boats alone. To help owners protect their vessels, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.) has some free tips and “tools” available.

The BoatU.S. “Hurricane Center,” a storm-related Web site located at http://www.BoatUS.com/Hurricanes includes a hurricane preparation worksheet, in-depth Guide to Preparing Boats and Marinas for Hurricanes, and a checklist for what to do after a hurricane strikes. All are free and easily downloadable.

The worksheet is a planning guide on steps to take prior to a hurricane, whether you plan on keeping your boat ashore, on a mooring or in the slip. It also lists gear a boater will need for any hurricane preparations – items that could be sold out just before a hurricane hits.

The 12-page Guide goes into greater detail about how hurricane damages to boats usually occur, gives tips on what boaters should expect, and includes information and diagrams on how to prepare marinas and boats. Also included is a hurricane tracking chart and valuable information on post-storm recovery. The post-storm checklist can help eliminate any further damages to your boat and help you get back on the water quicker.

Also at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes, boaters can see up-to-the-minute storm tracking tools with live satellite images and a new “spaghetti” tracking model that shows multiple forecasters’ predicted paths on the map. Also included are landfall strike probabilities, NOAA advisories and wind band information. Over a million boaters used the site last year.

New this year on the Hurricane Center is a Hurricane message board for boaters to share their experiences. In addition, a “links” section at BoatUS.com/Hurricanes leads boaters to other forecasts, a storm photo gallery, historical storm data and much more.

Boaters can also view hurricane-related questions posted by BoatU.S. members and answers provided by loss prevention experts Bob Adriance and Chuck Fort at the new “Ask the Experts” section at http://www.BoatUS.com (click on “Ask the Experts,” then “Damage Avoidance”).

BoatU.S. – Boat Owners Association of The United States – is the nation’s leading advocate for recreational boaters providing its 600,000 members with a wide array of consumer services including a group-rate marine insurance program that includes automatic hurricane haul-out coverage that will pay up to $1,000 to remove a vessel from the water in advance of a hurricane. For more information, go to http://www.BoatUS.com/insurance or call 800-283-2883.

Often left unattended in a backyard or storage lot, bass boats can be ripe targets for vandals. Glittering gel coat, plush seats, expensive outboards, fishing gear and electronics make appealing targets for thieves and hooligans. But before you condemn wayward teenagers for any damages, you may be surprised to learn that the vandals are more likely to be of the four-legged type than two, according to BoatU.S. marine insurance, one of the nation’s largest bass boat insurers.

In a recent study for its damage avoidance program, the BoatU.S. Marine Insurance Division analyzed hundreds of bass boat claims over several years. While damage to outboard engine lower units were the leading reason for all claims, researchers also found that bass boats are 25% more likely to be damaged from critters such as raccoons, squirrels and mice than from humans.

“Bass fishing is largely a rural activity and many bass boats are stored in back yards or areas which put them right in the heart of critter country,” said BoatU.S. Damage Avoidance Program Director Bob Adriance.

Adriance points out that bass boats, with their seductive fishy smells embedded into carpets, decks and live wells, can be a strong lure for four-legged creatures. Once aboard, these animals often select soft materials – upholstery, life jackets and seat foam – for bedding materials. “An animal will often set up a nest aboard, chewing on anything to make its home more comfortable,” he added. Some critters, such as squirrels, will even chew on hard materials such as fiberglass to maintain their teeth.

Unfortunately, most boat insurance policies do not cover this kind of damage so prevention is key. To combat the animal problem, Adriance recommends a thorough cleaning before you store your boat, especially if the vessel is being put away for a long period. Frequent visits and commercial repellants can also work, such as fox urine, but a large jar with ammonia (with holes punched at the top) or mothballs can also be a deterrent. In the most serious cases of recurring unauthorized boardings, a low voltage electric pet fence may be necessary.

BoatU.S. Marine Insurance is a service of the nation’s largest organization for recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatU.S.). All BoatU.S. bass boat policies feature “agreed value” coverage for boat, motor and trailer – meaning in the event of a claim these items aren’t subject to the full depreciation normally associated with “actual cash value” policies usually offered for boats this size.

Additionally, BoatU.S. bass boat insurance provides for automatic cruising area extensions – perfect for those who put a lot of miles on the road in search of great fishing spots – and the policy also protects fishing gear with $1000 in added coverage. Tournament coverage is also automatically included.

All BoatU.S. policies include 24-hour emergency dispatch, fuel spill liability and a quarterly damage avoidance newsletter, Seaworthy, with safety tips taken from actual claims. For more information or for a free quote, call 800-283-2883 or apply online at http://www.BoatUS.com