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Winterizing the Boat

Warm days are now a rarity along the Missouri River. Boats and jet skis are being tucked away for the season.

"It`s a crazy time of the year for us. Everybody`s trying to get their boats winterized for the winter season. And it`s just a very hectic and busy time," said River City Sports Service Manager Larry Haisley.

Sealing up the house has become Zach Gietzen`s priority. Which means, he`s had to put at least one toy on the market. His Lund fishing boat.

"I guess it`s late in the year and I could use a little extra money for the house and stuff."

If you`re shopping for a used boat, there`s a couple ways you can save. One is obviously the sticker price. The second is by doing some of the work yourself. In the case of Gietzen`s Lund, it might just need the carpeting replaced.

"Thought it`d be fun, because you can customize your own storage," he said.

A potential winter project if you have the time and the space. And don`t count on leaving it on the street for five months.

"That`s a critical mistake," Haisley said.

Technicians at River City Sports say if you`re done fishing for the season, one of your first jobs should be winterizing your watercraft.

"It`s crucial, it can be very, very expensive and if it`s not done properly, you can freeze your block. You can be talking several thousands of dollars to repair it," Haisley said.

Whether you plan to store your boat indoors or outdoors, finding storage after September is another challenge.

"The phone starts ringing pretty quickly," said Bismarck Storage Office Manager Nita McDonald.

McDonald says Bismarck Storage is booked solid. Many people have been on waiting lists for months.

"I do feel for people out there trying to find these things, because it`s tough."

If you absolutely can`t find a place to shelter your boat or jetski, cover it up. Most sell for a few hundred dollars. After all, it`s your investment, protect it. A way you can save a little change in your pocket until warm weather returns

If you know what model of boat you`re in the market for, you can compare prices to the NADA Marine Appraisal Guide, which is available online.