Ready those boats for a Calif. winter

Ahoy.

First, the squabble around Newport Harbor was about the noise the sea lions were making, and now the harbor squabble is about where the sea lions may have gone. I have not seen any great white sharks or killer whales swimming in the bay, so that can not be the answer; however, it might be that the sea lions took my advice to flee to the Channel Islands.

Did you know that the California sea lion is the only pinniped that barks? I don’t know what would be noisier: a roaring Stellar sea lion or a barking California sea lion. I think that the sea lions simply swam away on a winter vacation.

Speaking of winter, it is time for boat owners to think about winterizing their vessels.

The end of the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade signals the start of the winter season for boaters in Southern California. I am not talking about boats up in the mountains or stored in the high desert, where temperatures reach below the freezing point, but boats in our area that will sit idle until spring or summer.

However, this season of the year is my favorite time to go boating, especially since we are lucky to live in an area where boating is a year-round activity, unlike, say, the Great Lakes. The crowds are gone, the air is crisp and guest facilities have available space for your boat in other harbors. Just keep an eye to the north for any storm or big seas heading our way. However, if the jet stream stays to the north, then most storms will miss our harbor.

My best recommendation for winterizing your boat in our harbor: Use your boat at least twice a month. If the seas are big in the ocean, then go for a nice harbor cruise for a couple of hours or drop your hook in the anchorage for a picnic lunch.

Now, let me clarify -- before I get a flood of reader e-mails -- that you do need to winterize your boat if it will be sitting idle for months, even though we do not get the freezing temperatures. Temperature is a factor in the extent of your winterization.

Breaking news: The harbor’s water temperature governs the ambient air temperature. Therefore, it will be highly unlikely that our air temperature will reach the freezing point long enough to cause any damage from the expansion of ice. Therefore, you do not need to drain your fresh water tanks, nor do you have to add antifreeze to the boat’s plumbing. Do not let foul odors consume your boat, so pump out your holding tanks then add in an odor treatment product during the layup. Remember to dry out your shower’s sump pumps to keep the mold and mildew from growing and, later, the smelly organic gases creeping up and out the drains.

One of the biggest problems is mold, and mold loves to grow in dark, damp areas -- sounds like most places on a boat to me. Wet towels, swim fins, bedding and cushions should be taken off your boat, as should anything else that might promote mold growth. Do not forget the lifejackets, so wash and sun-dry your personal flotation devices while replacing any that are worn or damaged. Electric dehumidifiers work very well if you boat has shore power; you can use dry chemical dehumidifiers, but you will have to empty the containers once in awhile. This is brief list, so do not forget to take care of your engines and properly store your sails.

I gotta go, as I am heading off the dock for a little wintertime cruising up the coast. If you’re in doubt about temperature-related problems, you can pour vodka into your fresh water tank to prevent the lines from freezing and cracking open. In that case, I guess there would be no need to flush your system at spring thaw; just invite all your friends over for a glass of water.

Tune in to my No. 1 boating talk radio show in the nation every Saturday at noon. “Capt. Mike Whitehead’s Boathouse Radio Show” is on KCBQ-AM (1170) or online at www.boathouseradio.com.

Safe voyages.

* MIKE WHITEHEAD is the Pilot’s boating and harbor columnist. Send him your harbor and marine-related thoughts and story suggestions by e-mail to [email protected] or visit www.boathousetv.com.

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