Winterizing your boat, SoCal style

SAN DIEGO —Our mild SoCal climate, with temperatures in the 90s in November and 80s in December and only a hint of rain, can be deceptive, deluding us harsh winter storms will never come. While the current long-range forecast calls for La Niña conditions with lower than normal rain, we should remember long-range weather forecasts for the last two years were wrong. Two years ago forecasters predicted a strong El Niño season, with extra rain. Arv and I altered our boating plans because of such dire predictions. After one or two strong storms, the rain petered out. Last year forecasters promised us a dry La Niña year. Instead we were pelted with “atmospheric rivers,” causing dangerous flooding and mudslides. So, how should boaters prepare? Winterize our boats, but, unlike the full-scale winterization required in colder climes to help boats to survive hard freezes, we need to protect our vessels against high winds and heavy rains. First and foremost, look for and seal water leaks. If you’re not sure whether your hatches and window frames are tight, take a hose and run water around them to check for possible penetration. Try a high pressure hose at different angles since sometimes near-horizontal wind-driven rain can...