I recently purchased my first bass boat. I live in upstate NY right on the Canadian border. During the winter I plan on having the boat shrink wrapped and winterized in October. Would it harm my soft plasics to be stored in the boat over the winter in the freezing temperatures? 

Take your tackle and lures out of the boat.

Tom

I’d take the lures, rod n reels, and other tackle out of the boat, especially if it’s going to be stored outside. If it was stored inside somewhere then you could probably leave it in there but outside being exposed to potentially extreme cold I wouldn’t chance it.

I'm 99.9% sure your plastics will be just fine. 

Toss a few packs in the freezer now and pull them out in October....if they look/feel fine you should be good to go...if they feel weird you have you answer

My boat is stored inside an unheated garage all winter and I leave everything - rods, reels, lures, plastics, etc locked in the boat and have never had a problem.  We get below zero frequently... 

9 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

My boat is stored inside an unheated garage all winter and I leave everything - rods, reels, lures, plastics, etc locked in the boat and have never had a problem.  We get below zero frequently... 

Ya, my canoe is also stored in an unheated garage - Fry and I live close to each other - and I haven't had any issues either. Not only do we get below zero - sometimes we stay below zero for days, not even going above for the daytime high.

They'll most likely be fine. I live in New Hampshire and I store my plastics in an unheated garage with no issues. 

 

As for your new boat, I'd be most concerned about mice. Dryer sheets are my favorite way to keep them out.

11 minutes ago, PourMyOwn said:

They'll most likely be fine. I live in New Hampshire and I store my plastics in an unheated garage with no issues. 

 

As for your new boat, I'd be most concerned about mice. Dryer sheets are my favorite way to keep them out.

I also put two of the mice repelling “buzzers” in my boat all year long.  Doesn’t keep mice out of my garage entirely, but more importantly it does seem to keep them out of my boat.  I’m sure they can smell my scented Biwaa plastics and Maxscent stuff but no evidence they’ve ever gotten into my lockers or storage bins.  

For mice use TomCat food blocks around on the deck,  Then all you have to is ick up the dead bodies periodically.

I try not to leave anything in my boat when not in use . I do get careless sometimes , and that's not a good thing .

My boat sits covered in my driveway through the winter. My plastics sty in the boat. Haven’t had any problems as far as the baits go. 

 'It's hard to organize and re-organize your baits 20 times in the winter when they aren't in the house....

3 hours ago, OnthePotomac said:

For mice use TomCat food blocks around on the deck,  Then all you have to is ick up the dead bodies periodically.

Until one dies and you can’t get to it.

They dehydrate and don't smell too bad LOL  They also die pretty fast after eating the stuff.