Sailing the Med Episode 8: Winterizing Our Sailboat: Haul-Out Prep & Off-Season Tips

In this behind-the-scenes episode, we walk through the critical steps of winterizing and hauling out our sailboat. As the Mediterranean sailing season comes to a close, it's time to protect the boat from harsh weather, moisture, and mechanical wear. We begin by motoring into the boatyard and prepping the vessel for lift. From flushing the engine and topping off antifreeze to inspecting the hull and cleaning the waterline, we show every step. If you're new to seasonal boat care, this episode offers a detailed yet simple breakdown. We also share tips on how to choose a reliable yard, what supplies to have on hand, and how to avoid costly mistakes. Watching your boat rise out of the water is emotional — a reminder that sailing is both a dream and a responsibility. For cruisers planning long-term trips or storage between seasons, this video is a must. Winterizing properly can extend the life of your boat and reduce future headaches. Please like, comment, subscribe and click the bell icon for notifications to keep in touch! So appreciated! Incidentally, I gave you a checklist of our process from servicing the engine, generator and outboard, moving all bedding away from the hatches and skylights, washing the outside deck etc. to remove all incrustation of foreign matter, cleaning and lubricating the bow thrusters and winches, Sealing up or discarding the pantry staples, covering all Nav stations, chart blotter, wheels and winches, removing and storing all outdoor cushions, running fresh water through the heads, lining all hatch areas (and nav table) with towels for UV and water intrusion, laundering all sheets and towels etc., covering all instruments inside and out, Washing down fenders and put on deck or store them, remove batteries from all devices so they don't leak, defrost the frig and freezers, pull out the transducers so they're not damaged in the lift, exercise all the sea cocks, put pillows, blankets etc in plastic, remove sails and send for washing and/or seasonal repair and storage, run messengers to the halyards, coil all lines and store, remove biminis and on and on and schedule trouble shooting for anything mechanical that went wrong during the voyage that we couldn't fix!!! For a better look at the checklist, check out our episode called "Up the mast" as I literally did a screen video of the actual excel checklist. https://youtu.be/1HjPMJy77Ug at 00:33 00:00 What to Expect 00:40 On screen checklist items 01:11 Lifting the Boat from the Water 01:15 Washing and Inspection 02:29 More checklist advice