Photo courtesy BoatUS It's so easy to just set it and forget it when it comes to winter boat maintenance. However, as Mike Edick pointed out in the November issue of PropTalk, you can't let your boat just hibernate in your backyard all winter. And you have to follow up on maintenance and make sure work is done correctly if someone else is winterizing your boat. It's not an easy process. BoatUS recently posted a tick list to help cover your boat whether it's on the hard or still in the water. While it's all pretty obvious, we love lists, and this one makes some good suggestions. If your boat's in the water: Take a close look at the waterline. Is there a change? If the boat looks lower on its lines than the last time you saw it, or if it's down at the bow or the stern, check for water in the bilges when you get aboard. If your boat's stored ashore: Make sure the cover hasn't been tied off to the jackstands -- a strong wind could get underneath the cover and yank the jackstand out from under the boat. If the boat is stored on dirt or gravel, the jackstands should have plywood under them to keep them from sinking into the ground. If you see any problems with a jackstand, don't try to adjust it yourself; contact marina personnel. Onboard: Does the boat smell moldy? There could be a portlight or hatch leak. Other smells, such as gasoline, propane, or vermin, need to be investigated right away. If you leave your 12-volt or AC electrical system on (the only things that should be on over the winter are the battery charger, bilge pump/highwater alarm, and smoke alarms), sniff for any electrical odors. It's possible that a circuit could be overloaded or shorted, or the battery is being overcharged. Find the source. For the full article, and to get started on your own boat, click here.