Gear heads, listen up! Even you folks who don’t consider yourselves gear junkies could tune in if you wish.

When last we talked, we commiserated on the endless piles of “stuff” we have cluttering up the garage and the back porch – to say nothing of the looming pile in the bedroom. And the spare room? The one you were going to have as a study once the little ones exited stage left for college? Forget it, you couldn’t put a desk in there if your life depended on it, could you? I didn’t think so.

What is it about all this stuff? Will we ever use it on a camping trip? A day trip? That long- dreamed about expedition (OK, that two-day overnight island trip…)

Since we’re officially into winter now, it’s time to inventory all those piles of gear, get it all into one place, and seriously consider whether this gizmo is ever going to see the light of a campfire or that one will ever get wet on an outing. If there’s a chance, put it in the keeper pile. If not, put it aside. Take another look in a few days, and if you can honestly say gizmo X likely won’t ever leave home, put it in the yard sale heap and sell it next spring.

What’s left after that careful consideration should be examined with an eye toward maintenance or repair. There’s no time like the present to be mending, maintaining, or cleaning up after last season’s neglect.

For boats and paddles, make yourself a list of parts or repairs you may want to do when the weather warms up in March or April. A good cleaning inside and out is the minimum. It wouldn’t hurt to take a close look right now to see if you’ll be needing major parts, say deck lines, rudder cables, or a new back band or hatch cover. Get them ordered now for that day when the weather is good for an outside project. When you do get the part, put it with the boat so you’ll know where to find it come time to do the project.

Life jackets, spray skirts, dry suits, dry tops, spray tops, and spray pants may need a spot cleaning or good wash. Check the hang tags for proper cleaning procedures. You may need to get your hands on the recommended cleaners and treatments such as those made by Nikwax for waterproof/breathable fabrics. Some products, such as 303 Protectant, can be used on fabrics as well as the hull of your kayak to guard against ultraviolet ray damage. Simply spray or wipe it on and remove the excess.

The waterproof zipper on a dry suit may need to be cleaned and lubricated (it should be done frequently during the season). Check your equipment’s instructions. A zipper would welcome a dose of McNett Zip Care Liquid Zipper Cleaner & Lubricant. It has a push-pull brush top that permits you to use the container much like a tooth brush, cleaning out dirt and grit and leaving behind a lubricant that the company says is good for plastic, nylon, and metal zippers. It costs about $4.

There’s also McNett Zip Tech Solid Zipper Lubricant, a high performance lubricant for watertight and airtight zippers that protects against rust, corrosion, chlorine, and salt, is long lasting and contains no paraffin or silicone, the company says. It costs about $7.

Check latex neck, wrist, and ankle gaskets for nicks or tears and plan to replace as necessary. There’s a good tutorial on the NRS Web site: www.nrsweb.com that takes you step by step through gasket replacement. Look for the Repair/Care tab and give it a click and follow your nose to the gear repair category. There’s a sub-category for gasket replacement. With the right materials and a little common sense, I’ll bet you could do it! By the way, NRS recommends regular use of 303 on most of your paddling gear.

If you’ve spent any time on the water and have rubber or neoprene gear, you know it takes constant cleaning to keep it from getting that funky odor. There’s a product called MyraZyme Odor Eliminator that penetrates into the pores of fabric, rubber, and even hard surfaces to eliminate odor naturally. It costs about $8 for 8 ounces. You mix half an ounce in 20 gallons of water and soak your gear in it, then let it air dry.

If you haven’t used your camping equipment for a few months, now’s a good time to drag it out, clean it up, and take inventory. Did the self-inflating air mattress leak last time you used it? You can patch it now before you take that next trip.

How about the stove? Did it live up to expectations on your last outing? Still have that repair kit that came with it? You know, the one with all those little O-rings and tiny little things. Find your instruction manual or download one on line and make that stove perform like new again.

Lanterns need periodic cleaning and maintenance. Do you have spare mantles? If not, now’s the time to purchase new ones. Clean out all those dead bugs that committed suicide last summer inside your globe. While you’re at it, take a soft cloth and some window cleaner and clean up the haze on the glass. If there’s an accessible reflector, give it a dusting.

Flashlights and headlamps run on batteries. So does your emergency strobe light. Next time you’re at the store, pick up a bunch of batteries for them. If your flashlight uses a replaceable bulb, why not pick up a spare? Test your strobe after installing new batteries, and put a little silicone on the gasket to keep it supple.

Cook pots, water bottles, and insulated flasks could be sporting a little bit of that last trip. Give all of these items a good washing in hot, soapy water. Do the utensils while you’re at it. If you use hydration bladders, those rubbery water bladders, they probably need a good cleaning. You might also use a little disinfectant while you’re at it. There are cleaning kits available to get down inside the bladder and hoses. It’s a good time to see whether the bite valve needs replacement.

Your camp kitchen likely needs replenishment. Spices and oils you use regularly are probably in low supply.

Tents and tarps are probably best left for that warm spring day when you can set them up outside for inspection. But now’s a good time to pick up a bottle of seam sealer so when the time comes on that warm spring day you can set up the tent and spot seal areas that might have let moisture seep inside.

Your emergency gear also should be checked. If your VHF radio is in need of repair, it could take weeks. Now’s the time to start, not May or June when you’ll be wanting to have it. Check the expiration dates on your flares. They usually have a three-year time limit. Replace outdated ones. Your life could depend on them working, so don’t skimp in this category. Several years ago when we tested flares with the Coast Guard, we found a few outdated ones that did not function.

I’m sure that with a little imagination and plenty of time for dubbing around with all that gear on hand, the next couple of months will pass like a flash. Before you know it, you’ll be launching your boat or packing that backpack for the season’s first outing knowing your gear won’t fail you!

Polar dip time again

Yes, it is Polar Bear Dip time again. Tess Ftorek of Robbinston, one of the original organizers of the Washington County Community College Polar Bear Dip, launched an e-mail at me recently to remind folks that the time for torture was right around the corner.

WCCC’s Student Senate-sponsored 7th annual Polar Bear Dip will be held noon on Feb. 2 (what an awesome way to celebrate Groundhog Day!) at Pleasant Point in Perry.

As in years past, all of the proceeds will benefit the Ronald McDonald House in Bangor. To date this annual event has raised more than $100,000 for the “House That Love Built” and is their No. 1 fundraiser.

Ftorek said the college “is fortunate to have the incredible support from all the folks at Pleasant Point and also media sponsors WQDY and WCRQ radio stations.”

Since this year marks the seventh dip, students decided it would be a “lucky seven/Viva Las Vegas” theme … or come dressed as Elvis! (For your sake, since the water is guaranteed to be cold, make it Elvis in his later years.)

If you’re the type who needs a little moral support, you are encouraged to form a team and get a little (or a lot) crazy with costumes.

While the dip is meant to be a fun event, it has a serious cause. The Ronald McDonald Houses have served and continue to serve folks (mostly families with children) who need housing near a major medical facility.

Ftorek said it will be warmer this year (she says that every year). Actually, last year it was warm enough to rain, but the ocean wasn’t much warmer than the usual mid to low 30s.

Folks can find pledge sheets on the college Web site at www.wccc.me.edu or can call Darin McGaw at 207-454-1000 for more information. As an added bonus, dippers will receive a commemorative hooded sweatshirt for raising at least $75 in pledges.

Also as usual, there will be bonfires and hot drinks for everyone who comes by. Even for those who choose not to dip as the college needs towel holders, “folks to bring some wood for the fires and cheer us crazies on! There will be some warm blankets, but we advise folks to bring along their own,” Ftorek said.

If you join in the fun, be sure to wear some sort of footwear when you do the dip – the beach is rocky/gravel and tough on bare feet. I highly recommend neoprene booties – and don’t dump the water out of them when you get back to shore until you have dry footwear to change into. I made the mistake one year of dumping the warm water out. The space around my foot was immediately replaced by freezing air! Brrr!

Jeff Strout’s column on outdoor recreation is published each Saturday. He can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.