My XMAS shopping was done last July.
What can I say, I'm extra efficient and get things done way ahead of time. I'll get in the spirit with Hot Cocoa and candy canes watching "A Christmas Story"

Anyway, while others are out slugging for great bargains, I reserve this day for some quiet time with my boats by putting them down for the winter.

Having owned four 1:1 scale sailboats, and had been active in the boating community for a number of years, I learned the value of winterizing your boat for it's long sleep to insure no issues come Spring Commissioning.

For safety reasons, I will NOT sail when the local water temps drop below 50°F. I could NOT care less if you do, that's your choice. As a 57 y/o American male w/typical health issues, I'm well aware of issues that can arise from entering the water at this temperature to retrieve an errant model that is highly valued.

SO I made it mandatory to decommission my Fleet on this day as to not risk temptation of sailing.

With all that, I thought I'd share my checklist, and hopefully see some responses as to what you all do. If anything.

The following is tailored to my style, and boat design, yours of course will be different as most of you operate with a SubDriver or some other brand of "Water Tight Cylinder".

What's important here is NOT what floats YOUR boat, but that you do some sort of winterization in climates where the boat goes "offline" for a number of months.

Dave I'm sure has a copy for the cylinder user after decades of experience.

A) Required Tools
1) Hand tools as required
2) CorrosionX Oil
3) Dynamite Marine Grease Gun
4) Self-amalgamating tape (Atomic Tape)

B) POWER Service Procedure
1) Disconnect main 12VDC SLA Battery connections.
2) Check Battery electrical connections for corrosion.
3) Re-connect, apply CorrosionX and seal 12VDC SLA Battery connections.
a. Seal semi-perm Automotive style connectors with self-amalgamating tape.
4) Open POWER Compartment(s).
5) Check ALL electrical connections.
6) Check ALL electrical Components.
7) Check compartment for wear, cracks
8) Check Gasket seal for damage and uniform
9) Apply Marine Grease and Secure POWER Compartment Lids(s).
10) Pressure test Compartment(s).

C) COMMAND AND CONTROL Service Procedure
1) Open COMMAND AND CONTROL Compartment(s).
2) Check ALL Internal electrical connections.
3) Disconnect ALL external electrical connections.
a. Check ALL external connections for corrosion.
b. Re-connect, apply CorrosionX and seal connections.
c. Seal semi-perm Automotive style connectors with self-amalgamating tape.
4) Check ALL electrical Components.
5) Check ALL Mechanical Components.
6) Check ALL Thu-Hull Seals (Mechanical, Antenna, etc).
7) Lubricate ALL Linear/Rotational Thu-Hull Seals using Marine Grease.
8) Check compartment for wear, cracks.
9) Check Gasket seal for damage and uniform.
10) Apply Marine Grease and Secure COMMAND AND CONTROL Compartment Lids(s).
11) Pressure test Compartment(s).

D) BALLAST Service Procedure
1) Vent all remaining gas from onboard cylinder.
2) Check gas plumbing for wear, seal integrity, kinks.
3) Check gas solenoid valve and solenoid electrical connections.
a. Disconnect ALL external electrical connections.
b. Check ALL external connections for corrosion.
c. Re-connect, apply CorrosionX and seal connections.
d. Seal semi-perm Automotive style connectors with self-amalgamating tape.
4) Check LPB plumbing for wear, seal integrity, kinks, and debris.
5) Check LPB pump and pump electrical connections.
a. Disconnect ALL external electrical connections.
b. Check ALL external connections for corrosion.
c. Re-connect, apply CorrosionX and seal connections.
d. Seal semi-perm Automotive style connectors with self-amalgamating tape.
6) Check Vent Valve for wear, cracks, and debris.
7) Check Vent Valve solenoid and solenoid electrical connections.
a. Disconnect ALL external electrical connections.
b. Check ALL external connections for corrosion.
c. Re-connect, apply CorrosionX and seal connections.
d. Seal semi-perm Automotive style connectors with self-amalgamating tape.
8) Check Ballast Tank for wear, cracks, and debris.

E) PROPULSION Service Procedure
1) Open PROPULSION Compartment(s).
2) Check ALL Internal electrical connections.
3) Disconnect ALL external electrical connections.
a. Check ALL external connections for corrosion.
b Re-connect, apply CorrosionX and seal connections.
c. Seal semi-perm Automotive style connectors with self-amalgamating tape.
4) Check ALL electrical Components.
5) Remove Shaft(s) from Shaft Seal Unit(s).
6) Check Shaft(s) for corrosion/pitting.
7) Flush Shaft Seal Unit(s) with CorrosionX.
8) Lubricate Shaft(s) using Marine Grease.
9) Re-install Shaft(s) into Shaft Seal Unit(s) while carefully filling void between cup seal using CorrosionX.
10) Check compartment for wear, cracks.
11) Check Gasket seal for damage and uniform.
12) Apply Marine Grease and Secure PROPULSION Compartment Lids(s).
13) Pressure test Compartment(s).

F) AUX Service Procedure
1) Open AUX Compartment(s).
2) Check ALL Internal electrical connections.
3) Disconnect ALL external electrical connections.
a. Check ALL external connections for corrosion.
b. Re-connect, apply CorrosionX and seal connections.
c. Seal semi-perm Automotive style connectors with self-amalgamating tape.
4) Check ALL electrical Components.
5) Check ALL Mechanical Components.
6) Check ALL Thu-Hull Seals (Mechanical, etc).
7) Lubricate ALL Linear/Rotational Thu-Hull Seals using Marine Grease.
8) Check compartment for wear, cracks.
9) Check Gasket seal for damage and uniform.
10) Apply Marine Grease and Secure AUX Compartment Lids(s).
11) Pressure test Compartment(s).

G) HULL Service Procedure
1) Watertight Compartments secure
2) Mechanical/Electrical equipment is secure.
3) Electrical connections are sound.
4) Servo output arm push-rod connectors are sound.
a. Lubricate ALL mechanical linkages using Marine Grease.
5) Air Induction connections are sound
6) Antenna cable/connections are sound
7) Propeller shaft(s):
a. Verify in good working order free of debris and binding.
b. Perform lubrication of main shaft bearing(s).
c. perform lubrication of main shaft seals(s).Check ALL electrical Components.
8) Verify all that foam flotation blocks are secure.
9) Verify all that ballast weights are secure.
10) Hull structure is sound, clean, and free of debris.
11) Verify all Mast’s and Antennas are stored properly.

I) Ongoing Battery Maintenance
2) Set monthly reminder to Float charge SLA Batteries