FrostList

Boat Winterization: Local Deadlines by City

Haul out and winterize your boat before the first hard freeze — and do not assume a mild state is safe, because freeze claims are common exactly where owners least expect them. Drain the block, add antifreeze, and stabilize the fuel. Each city's first 28°F freeze date is below, from NOAA normals. This paraphrases BoatUS and marine insurers' claims patterns.

Deadlines for the largest cities

CityStateLocal deadline
New YorkNYNov 24View →
ChicagoILNov 8View →
HoustonTXDec 29View →
PhiladelphiaPANov 22View →
San AntonioTXDec 8View →
DallasTXDec 5View →
AustinTXNov 24View →
IndianapolisINOct 25View →
JacksonvilleFLJan 7View →
ColumbusOHOct 27View →
CharlotteNCNov 7View →
Fort WorthTXNov 29View →
DetroitMINov 2View →
El PasoTXNov 24View →
MemphisTNNov 21View →
SeattleWANov 25View →
DenverCOOct 14View →
WashingtonDCNov 13View →
BostonMANov 14View →
NashvilleTNNov 2View →
BaltimoreMDNov 28View →
Oklahoma CityOKNov 4View →
LouisvilleKYNov 13View →
PortlandORDec 13View →
Las VegasNVDec 18View →
MilwaukeeWIOct 25View →
AlbuquerqueNMNov 8View →
TucsonAZDec 23View →
FresnoCADec 17View →
SacramentoCADec 18View →
Kansas CityMONov 4View →
MesaAZDec 12View →
Virginia BeachVANov 18View →
AtlantaGANov 13View →
Colorado SpringsCOOct 9View →
OmahaNEOct 23View →
RaleighNCNov 16View →
MinneapolisMNOct 20View →
TulsaOKNov 6View →
ClevelandOHNov 15View →
WichitaKSOct 30View →
ArlingtonTXNov 26View →
New OrleansLAJan 1View →
BakersfieldCADec 13View →
AuroraCOOct 11View →
St. LouisMONov 8View →
RiversideCADec 22View →
Corpus ChristiTXDec 25View →
Saint PaulMNOct 20View →
Lexington-FayetteKYOct 30View →

Find every covered city for your state in the list below.

Why milder states see freeze claims

Owners in warm states often skip winterizing, then a rare cold snap freezes water trapped in the engine block and cracks the casting. Inboard and sterndrive engines hold the most water and are the most vulnerable. The surprise is the problem, which is why the local freeze dates below matter even where winters are short.

Drain the block and manifolds fully, or run the engine on antifreeze until pink fluid reaches the outlet. Outboards self-drain better when tilted down but still need the fuel system stabilized and the cylinders fogged.

Fuel, fogging, and battery

Top off the tank and add stabilizer to limit condensation and protect ethanol-blend fuel. Fog the cylinders to coat them against corrosion over the layup. Remove the battery, charge it, and keep it on a maintainer. Support the cover so snow sheds and the interior can breathe.

How we set the date

We use each station's median first 28°F freeze and publish a haul-out target about a week earlier. Freshwater engines are at risk closer to 32°F; saltwater a few degrees lower. See the methodology page for the calculation.

Find your state

Alabama

12 cities · deadlines from Nov 7–Dec 23

Alaska

2 cities · deadlines from Oct 1–Nov 1

Arizona

21 cities · deadlines from Oct 2–Dec 28

Arkansas

10 cities · deadlines from Oct 28–Nov 22

California

105 cities · deadlines from Jan 9–Dec 30

Colorado

21 cities · deadlines from Oct 3–Oct 26

Connecticut

15 cities · deadlines from Oct 23–Nov 12

Delaware

2 cities · deadlines from Nov 8–Nov 9

District of Columbia

1 cities · deadlines from Nov 13–Nov 13

Florida

19 cities · deadlines from Jan 3–Dec 29

Georgia

18 cities · deadlines from Nov 12–Dec 19

Idaho

9 cities · deadlines from Oct 6–Oct 25

Illinois

52 cities · deadlines from Oct 17–Nov 8

Indiana

21 cities · deadlines from Oct 21–Nov 13

Iowa

13 cities · deadlines from Oct 11–Oct 25

Kansas

11 cities · deadlines from Oct 22–Nov 4

Kentucky

6 cities · deadlines from Oct 28–Nov 13

Louisiana

9 cities · deadlines from Jan 1–Dec 31

Maine

2 cities · deadlines from Oct 20–Oct 24

Maryland

7 cities · deadlines from Oct 25–Nov 28

Massachusetts

36 cities · deadlines from Oct 11–Nov 14

Michigan

31 cities · deadlines from Oct 16–Nov 2

Minnesota

25 cities · deadlines from Oct 1–Oct 22

Mississippi

6 cities · deadlines from Nov 20–Dec 26

Missouri

16 cities · deadlines from Oct 19–Nov 8

Montana

5 cities · deadlines from Sep 26–Oct 5

Nebraska

4 cities · deadlines from Oct 15–Oct 23

Nevada

6 cities · deadlines from Oct 11–Dec 19

New Hampshire

3 cities · deadlines from Oct 6–Oct 17

New Jersey

22 cities · deadlines from Oct 31–Nov 25

New Mexico

7 cities · deadlines from Oct 9–Nov 17

New York

17 cities · deadlines from Oct 19–Nov 24

North Carolina

22 cities · deadlines from Nov 3–Nov 26

North Dakota

4 cities · deadlines from Oct 2–Oct 7

Ohio

33 cities · deadlines from Oct 19–Nov 15

Oklahoma

11 cities · deadlines from Nov 1–Nov 7

Oregon

14 cities · deadlines from Sep 27–Dec 14

Pennsylvania

13 cities · deadlines from Oct 24–Nov 22

Rhode Island

6 cities · deadlines from Oct 24–Nov 2

South Carolina

12 cities · deadlines from Jan 1–Dec 21

South Dakota

3 cities · deadlines from Oct 5–Oct 17

Tennessee

17 cities · deadlines from Oct 23–Nov 21

Texas

80 cities · deadlines from Jan 1–Dec 29

Utah

19 cities · deadlines from Oct 7–Nov 13

Vermont

2 cities · deadlines from Oct 14–Oct 21

Virginia

17 cities · deadlines from Oct 22–Nov 24

Washington

28 cities · deadlines from Oct 9–Dec 4

West Virginia

2 cities · deadlines from Oct 29–Nov 1

Wisconsin

20 cities · deadlines from Oct 9–Oct 30

Wyoming

2 cities · deadlines from Sep 29–Oct 3

Frequently asked questions

When should I winterize my boat?
Before the first hard freeze, which the table above lists by city. Aim about a week ahead of the median first 28°F freeze.
At what temperature does a block crack?
Trapped water can freeze and crack a block or manifold once temperatures fall below 32°F and stay there. Inboards and sterndrives hold the most water.
Do outboards need winterizing?
Yes — drain so no water sits in the powerhead or lower unit, stabilize the fuel, change the gear oil, and fog the cylinders.
Is fogging oil necessary?
On an engine that sits all winter, fogging is cheap insurance against corrosion, especially in humid or coastal storage.
What does winterization cost?
It varies with engine type and size; inboards cost more than a simple outboard. Doing it yourself costs mainly antifreeze, oil, and fogging oil — far less than a cracked block.
Do boats in mild states need it?
If storage temperatures reach freezing, yes. Freeze claims are common in mild states precisely because owners skip the step.
When do I de-winterize?
In spring, once hard freezes have passed. Reconnect the battery, replace drain plugs, and check hoses before launch.
Fresh water vs. salt water?
Freshwater engines are at risk closer to 32°F; saltwater a few degrees lower. Either way, drain fully and add antifreeze before the freeze.

Data: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals; live outlook by Open-Meteo. Last updated: July 11, 2026.