• Why boat dealers should downshift as storage & winterization ramp up

By Mitch Belter, Trucordia Marine, an MRAA Platinum Partner

As the sales season winds down and storage and winterization pick up, the tempo inside boat dealerships often does the opposite — it speeds up. Yard moves stack up, trailers cycle in and out and service bays fill with winterization tickets. That’s exactly when risk spikes. Slowing down — and enforcing strict, repeatable procedures — protects three things that matter most: your physical inventory, customers’ boats in your care, custody or control (CCC) and your people.

The biggest losses in our industry routinely trace back to hurried movements and inconsistent processes: boats bumped or dropped, trailers unlatched or unchocked, units stored improperly and service shortcuts that lead to failed winterizations. When winterization and storage demands increase, use these tactics, processes and checklists to avoid chaos and messy shortcuts and keep things slow and steady for your team this fall.

Why ‘slow’ is actually faster

Taking an extra minute to verify a coupler pin or to double-check a winterization checklist is cheaper than days of rework, angry calls, insurance deductibles or a workers’ comp claim. For example, a deliberate pace reduces:

• Physical damage to inventory and customer boats (yard dings, transom and lower-unit impacts, trailer tongue drops)
• CCC exposure from preventable mishaps and undocumented pre-existing damage
• Employee injury from line-of-fire incidents, slips, crush points and heat-gun burns
• Service errors — missed drains, wrong antifreeze concentration, forgotten batteries or seacocks — that cause failed winterizations and spring comebacks

Non‑negotiables for moving boats & trailers

Codify a Yard Movement Protocol and train to it. Additionally, post it where moves begin and empower anyone to stop a move if something feels off.

Before any move (60–90 seconds):

• Walk‑around: note pre-existing damage; confirm prop covers, antennae/biminis stowed and loose gear secured.
• ID & documentation: match hull/trailer to the work order or storage ticket; snap time‑stamped photos.
• Clear path: plan route, check overhead clearance and pinch points; assign a spotter with radio/hand signals.

Trailer hookup (the ‘Hitch-5’):

1. Correct ball size matches coupler
2. Coupler latched and pinned/locked
3. Safety chains crossed, not dragging
4. Breakaway cable attached to the tow vehicle (not the chain)
5. Lights/brakes checked; jack up and fully stowed

Unhooking & staging:

• Chock wheels (use wheel chocks, not blocks) before unhooking — front and back on slopes
• Lower tongue jack to firm ground; use a jack pad on soft surfaces
• Never place any body part under a trailer tongue or hull without proper stands/cradles

During movement:

• Yard speed limit (e.g., 5 mph) and no blind moves without a spotter
• No riding on trailers or ladders; maintain three‑point stance dismounts
• Only trained, authorized operators run forklifts, travel lifts or yard tractors

Storing boats right the first time

A Storage Layout Plan (SLP) eliminates improvisation:

• Map the yard: assign rows, aisle widths, swing radii and clear fire lanes; mark overhead hazards
• Stands/cradles: inspect, tag by capacity, chain stands together; align with manufacturer’s support points
• Wind & weather: position bows into prevailing winds; secure covers; vent shrink-wrap to prevent moisture/heat buildup
• Batteries & fuel: disconnect and tag batteries per SOP; follow fuel stabilization guidelines; control key access with a log or lockbox

Winterization: a disciplined checklist pays for itself

Fast winterizations are often the most expensive. Build a color‑coded, two‑signature process:

Service & winterization checklist (high level):

• Drain blocks, manifolds, raw-water circuits; record each drain point

• Antifreeze type and documented refractometer reading for each engine/gen (write it on the ticket)
• Fogging, oil and filter changes, gear lube, fuel stabilization as applicable
• Open/close seacocks to SOP; tag positions
• Battery disconnect/maintenance charge; note serials if stored
• Run/test to temperature where appropriate; verify no leaks; final visual on hoses/clamps
• Two‑tech verification (or tech + service advisor) and sign‑off before shrink-wrap or storage

Simple visual controls:

• Tags on each helm/engine:
  • Green = drained
  • Blue = antifreeze verified
  • Yellow = fogged
  • Red = battery disconnected
• A “Final Seal” initial box on the shrink-wrap indicating all check steps are complete.

CCC protection: condition reports & communication

• A check-in condition report with photos, customer initials and exceptions noted (docks rash, gelcoat chips, prop nicks)
• A movement & key log: record who moved it, when and why
• Clear storage terms acknowledging environmental risks, access limits and cover responsibilities

Keep people safe so the work stays on track

• Five‑minute start‑of‑shift huddle: today’s hazards, weather, yard pinch points and unusual moves
• Stop‑work authority: anyone can pause a task without penalty
• PPE basics: eye protection, gloves, slip-resistant footwear and hearing protection around grinders and travel lifts
• Heat‑gun protocols for shrink wrap: distance, shields and fire extinguisher within arm’s reach
• Near‑miss reporting: a one‑page form; celebrate submissions to learn before losses happen

Measure what matters (weekly scorecard)

• Yard incidents per 100 moves
• Rework rate on winterizations (% of jobs reopened)
• Failed winterizations (freeze damage) per 100 jobs
• Near misses reported and closed with corrective actions
• Checklist compliance rate from random audits

Quick reference: moving a customer’s boat (sample mini‑checklist)

• Verify unit vs. work/storage ticket; photos taken
• Assign spotter, test radios/hand signals
• Walk‑around: gear secured; clearances confirmed
• Hitch-5 completed; jack stowed; safety chains crossed; lights checked
• Chocks ready; path clear; speed ≤ yard limit
• Park: chock wheels before unhooking; tongue jack down and stable
• Final condition check; update movement log

Slow, steady & deliberate

Bottom line: Fall is not the season to “make up time.” It’s the season to make fewer mistakes. A deliberate pace, backed by checklists and visible controls, lowers CCC exposure, preserves inventory, prevents injuries and reduces spring rework. Slow and steady doesn’t just win the race — it keeps your boats, your customers and your team whole for next year.

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