
Winterizing your boat before off-season storage in Burnet is the most impactful maintenance step in the Highland Lakes boating calendar and one of the most frequently skipped. The reasoning behind skipping it is usually the same: Central Texas winters are mild, the boat will be out of the water for only a few months, and nothing serious can happen in that time. The reality that most Burnet County boat owners learn the hard way is that even a mild Texas winter creates the conditions for expensive engine, fuel system, and hull damage in a boat that was not properly prepared before storage.
This guide walks through every winterization step that matters for boats stored near Burnet, Bertram, Marble Falls, Llano, and Kingsland — covering what to do, why each step matters, and how to sequence the process before the boat goes into storage for the off-season.
Engine System Winterization — The Steps That Protect the Most
Cooling System Flush and Antifreeze
The cooling system is the most critical winterization priority for any inboard or stern-drive engine. Water left in the cooling passages during a freeze event expands as it freezes, cracking engine blocks, heat exchangers, and raw water pump housings in ways that are expensive and sometimes not repairable. Even in Burnet County, where hard freezes are infrequent, the temperature history of the past several winters makes cooling system protection a sound investment.
For outboard engines, the process is simpler — flush with clean fresh water to remove any salt, mineral, or biological residue, run the engine for two to three minutes to clear the passages, and the cooling system is adequately prepared for a Central Texas winter. For inboard and stern-drive systems, flush with fresh water and then run antifreeze rated for the expected temperature range through the system per the manufacturer's specification.
Engine Oil Change
Changing the engine oil before storage — not after — is one of the most important and most overlooked winterization steps for Highland Lakes boat owners. Used engine oil contains ...
Habib Ahsan
June 23rd, 2026