Winterization &
Seasonal Care.

What Happens When You Skip Winterization

New York winters are real. Skis that sit in an unheated garage without being properly prepped come in every spring with the same issues: corrosion on electrical connections, dead batteries that won't take a charge, cooling systems with residual water that cracked a fitting when it froze. Most of these problems are completely avoidable with a proper end-of-season service.

We see it every April and May — riders who put the ski away in October thinking they'd deal with it later, and now it's May and the ski won't start. Sometimes it's a simple fix. Sometimes skipping winterization let a small problem turn into a big one over the winter months.

What a Full Winterization Service Includes

Cooling system flush — Salt and minerals build up in the cooling passages over a season of riding. We flush the entire system with clean water and antifreeze to make sure nothing is left behind to corrode over winter or crack when it freezes.

Engine fogging — Fogging oil sprayed into the intake and cylinders while the engine is running coats all the internal surfaces and prevents corrosion on cylinder walls, piston rings, and valves during storage. This is non-negotiable if the ski is going to sit for months.

Fuel stabilizer — Modern ethanol-blended fuel goes bad quickly. Phase separation happens and the fuel absorbs moisture, which leads to gummed injectors and carburetors by spring. We run stabilizer through the fuel system and top off the tank to prevent moisture accumulation.

Battery service — We check battery health, clean terminals, and put the battery on a maintenance charger or store it properly. A battery that sits discharged through winter typically won't recover. This is an easy and cheap thing to handle in November rather than replacing the battery in April.

Lubrication — Grease fittings, steering cables, throttle cable, and all pivoting components get lubricated. Things that seize over winter usually seize because they were dry going into storage.

Spring Recommission Service

When riding season comes around, we get the ski back on the water the right way. Fresh oil and filter, new spark plugs if they're due, coolant check, battery charge, inspection of all seals and hoses, cooling system test. We go through it top to bottom before it goes back on the water so you're not getting stranded on Jamaica Bay your first weekend out.

Most riders bring the ski to us in October or November for winterization, and then again in April or May for spring recommission. We book up fast in both windows — call ahead if you want a specific timeframe.