Where Do You Keep a Boat in Winter on Watts Bar Lake?

Every boat owner moving to a lake asks the same thing sooner or later. Where does the boat live from late fall to spring?

On Watts Bar Lake the answer is friendlier than it is up north. Winters in East Tennessee are mild. But mild does not mean it never freezes, so you still need a plan. Here is how storage and winterizing work on this lake, and what to sort out before you buy.

Do you have to pull your boat out for winter on Watts Bar Lake?

Not necessarily. It depends on the boat, where it is kept and how you want to use it.

The lake stays open all winter. Some owners keep boating on the good days. Others shut the boat down until spring. Both are normal on a mild-winter lake. If you are coming from the Midwest or the Northeast, this is not a haul-out-in-October kind of place.

One rule holds either way. A boat left in the water still has to be protected from a hard freeze.

What are the storage options?

There are four common ones on a lake like this. Which of them you can use depends on the marina and on your community's rules.

At Tennessee National. The community has a full-service marina with 140+ boat slips. This page does not list winter storage options, slip sizes or fees, because they can change. Ask the marina directly. Start at boat slips.

At home. Gated communities commonly have rules about boats and trailers parked where they can be seen. Ask what the rules say before you plan on the driveway.

At your own shoreline. A private dock on a TVA lake needs TVA approval, and community rules apply too. Marina slip or private dock explains the difference.

What does the winter lake level change?

A little, and it matters most in shallow water.

TVA holds Watts Bar Lake at a summer pool of about 740 to 741 feet and lets it drop to a winter minimum of 735 feet. That is about 5 to 6 feet. It is a small change next to tributary lakes such as Norris or Douglas.

Shallow coves and fixed docks feel it first. Floating docks ride up and down with the water. If you are judging a spot for a private dock, look at it at winter level, not just in July. TVA posts the current level on its lake levels page at tva.com. Watts Bar lake levels and TVA covers what buyers should check.

How do you winterize a boat in a mild-winter climate?

Lightly if you keep using it, fully if you shut it down. Either way, follow your engine maker's instructions. This list is general. Your owner's manual is the authority.

• Protect the engine and plumbing from freezing. Water left inside can freeze and crack parts. Your manual says what to drain or treat.
• Keep the battery charged. Cold snaps and long gaps between outings are hard on batteries.
• Treat the fuel if the boat will sit for more than a few weeks.
• Cover it and let it breathe. A cover with airflow keeps out rain and helps prevent mildew in damp weather.
• Check lines and fenders. Winter fronts bring wind.
• Have someone look at it. If you are away, arrange for regular checks.

If you are not sure, pay a marine mechanic to do it once and show you how. It is cheaper than a cracked engine.

What should you ask the marina before you buy a home?

Ask where the boat will live in January. Get the answers before you close, not after.

1. Are slips offered by the season, by the year or some other way?
2. Is there a wait for a slip that fits my boat?
3. Which winter services are offered: winterizing, haul-out, storage?
4. Is there power and water at the slip in winter?
5. How do the docks sit at winter lake level?
6. Who keeps an eye on boats when owners are away?
7. What do the community rules say about a trailer at home?

The longer list is in the marina checklist. If you will be gone for weeks at a time, lock-and-leave living covers the house side.

The honest part

• Mild winters cut the work. They do not end it. One hard freeze can ruin an unprotected engine.
• Options and prices belong to the marina. They change, which is why they are not printed here.
• Dry storage takes a phone call. Ask the marina and other Watts Bar marinas what is open before you count on a space.

Sort out where the boat lives before you close on a home. After that, winter on Watts Bar Lake is mostly a matter of picking your days. More on boating here is at marina and lake life.

Facts about Tennessee National come from the community. Lake facts come from TVA. Rules, taxes, loans and insurance change, so confirm anything that affects a purchase with the right office or professional before you buy.