How to Keep Your Boat Smelling Fresh Through Winter Storage
To keep a boat smelling fresh through winter storage, get it clean and fully dry first, then place odor control in each closed space before the cover goes on. Boat owner Jamie puts one jar of Kanberra Gel in the bow and one in the stern of his 2003 MasterCraft X2, then opens it up to a clean smelling boat in spring.
Every October in upstate New York, Jamie puts his 2003 MasterCraft X2 away for the winter. It's 41 degrees, the leaves are turning, and the boat is headed into the garage until spring. He's done the engine, the water lines and the cover enough times to have a routine. The last step is the one that decides what the boat smells like when he pulls the cover off in April.
He filmed it. It takes about a minute.
Jamie winterizing his 2003 MasterCraft X2, upstate New York, October
Read the video transcript
Hey everyone, my name is Jamie. I'm just here winterizing my 2003 MasterCraft X2. We had a great summer, but it's October in upstate New York. While it looks great behind me, you might see the leaves are changing, the blue sky, it's 41 degrees today. So a nice, beautiful, but cold fall day. It's that time to put the boat away. The last thing I do when I'm putting the boat away for the winter is make sure that I don't get any mildew, certainly no mold. Got to keep the rodents out. Best way to do that, Kanberra Gel. It's an all natural product, very simple to use. Buy a couple canisters, put one in the front, one in the back, one in the bow, one in the stern, and it'll take care of that for you. One set will last the entire winter. Very easy to use. Just simply open it up, take the cover off. There's a nice gel in there. Replace this cover, it's kind of a time release. And there we go. So that's all there is to it. When I open this thing up in the spring, it'll smell great. The other thing you can try, Kanberra Spray, just a quick little spurt, makes it smell great as well. So that's it. I gotta get back to work and get this thing in before the snow flies. Thanks.
Why boats come out of storage smelling musty
A covered boat is a sealed box for five or six months. Whatever moisture is left in the cushions, carpet, lockers and bilge stays there, and every warm afternoon followed by a cold night adds a little condensation under the cover. There's no airflow to carry any of it away. That's where the stale, damp smell you get on the first spring uncover comes from.
So the fix is two parts. Take out as much moisture as you can before storage, then keep the air in those closed spaces from going stale while the boat sits.
Before the cover goes on: a quick odor checklist
- Clean the interior. Wipe down vinyl, vacuum carpet and get food crumbs and fish residue out of livewells and coolers.
- Dry everything. Let cushions, carpet and storage compartments dry completely on a warm, dry day before covering.
- Take soft stuff home. Towels, life jackets, ropes and anything that holds water should come off the boat.
- Prop lockers open. Leave hatches and compartment lids cracked so air can move inside the cover.
- Use a breathable cover. A vented cover lets moisture escape instead of trapping it.
- Place odor control last. This is Jamie's step, below.
Jamie's last step: one jar in the bow, one in the stern
- One in the bow, one in the stern. Or as Jamie puts it, one in the front, one in the back, one in the bow, one in the stern. Same two spots, he just likes to cover everyone who's not sure which end is which. Two jars, one at each end, and the whole boat is covered.
- Open the jar. Unscrew the lid and take off the inner cover so the gel is exposed.
- Put the lid back on. In Jamie's words, it's kind of a time release. The gel works slowly through the storage season.
- Cover the boat and leave it. No plugging in, no batteries, nothing to switch on.
- Refresh in spring. When the cover comes off, a quick spray of Kanberra Spray on cushions and carpet finishes the job.
"When I open this thing up in the spring, it'll smell great." Jamie, 2003 MasterCraft X2 owner, upstate New York
Which jar goes where
The Kanberra Gel Winterization Kit comes with four empty jars. Put the two 8oz jars where Jamie puts his, in the bow and the stern, then use the two 4oz jars in the closed storage spaces that sit shut all winter.
| Spot on the boat | Jar size |
|---|---|
| Bow (front), Jamie's first spot | 4oz |
| Stern (back), Jamie's second spot | 4oz |
| Ski locker or in floor storage | 4oz |
| Under seat storage, rope locker or the head | 4oz |
As a general guide, Kanberra recommends about 1oz of gel for every 100 square feet of enclosed space.
Will one set last all winter?
Jamie says one set lasts his whole winter. How long a jar lasts depends on temperature and airflow, and Kanberra Gel typically lasts 30 to 90 days in normal use. A cold, covered boat is on the slow end of that, but storage seasons run long. Check the jars once in midwinter if you can get to the boat. When the gel looks like a small green emerald at the bottom of the jar, it's time to top it up.
That's why the kit includes a 33.8oz refill pouch. It fills all four jars (24oz total) and leaves about 9.8oz for a midwinter top up.
What's in the Winterization Kit
- 1 x Kanberra Gel Refill Pouch, 33.8oz
- 2 x 8oz empty Kanberra Gel jars
- 2 x 4oz empty Kanberra Gel jars
Kanberra Gel is made with ATTIA Certified Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil. No heavy perfume or fake fragrance, so the boat smells clean, not covered up. The jars are refillable, so next fall you only need a refill pouch. The same kit works for cabins, seasonal homes and classic cars that sit closed up for the winter.
Get the kit Jamie's routine is built around
Two for the bow and stern, two for the lockers, plus a refill pouch.
Shop the Winterization KitBoat winter storage FAQs
+ How do I keep my boat from smelling musty over the winter?
Clean and fully dry the interior, remove towels, life jackets and other damp items, prop lockers open, use a breathable cover, then place odor control like Kanberra Gel in each closed space before covering the boat.
+ How many jars of Kanberra Gel does a boat need for winter storage?
Jamie uses two on his 2003 MasterCraft X2, one in the bow and one in the stern. The Winterization Kit adds two more for storage lockers. Bigger boats with a cabin and several lockers may need more. As a guide, plan on about 1oz of gel per 100 square feet of enclosed space.
+ Where should I put odor control in a stored boat?
Start with the bow and the stern, one jar at each end. Then add smaller jars to closed storage like the ski locker, in floor storage, under seat storage, rope locker or the head.
+ How long does Kanberra Gel last in a covered boat?
Kanberra Gel typically lasts 30 to 90 days depending on temperature and airflow, and cold storage is on the slower end. Check it midwinter and top it up from the refill pouch when the gel shrinks to a small green piece at the bottom of the jar.
+ Does Kanberra Gel have a strong scent?
No. There's no heavy perfume or added fragrance. It's made with ATTIA Certified Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil and is meant to leave the space smelling clean rather than scented.
+ What else can I use Kanberra Gel for over the winter?
Anything that sits closed up for the season: RVs, classic cars, holiday cabins, seasonal homes and garages.
Getting the boat back out in spring? Read our springtime readiness guide for cabins, boats and RVs. Got a bigger boat? See the Medium and Large Boat Bundles, or check the Kanberra FAQs.
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