Tips and Tidbits
Get Your Boat Ready For Spring
As warm spring weather arrives, we all want to get our boats out on the water as soon as possible. But it pays dividends (in terms of safety and the long-term maintenance of your boat) to take the time to properly prepare your vessel for the season ahead. Follow these eight easy steps, and you’ll have your boat shipshape and ready to go:
- Inspect for safety. Visually check all plugs and seals. Then check your hull for cracks or blisters. Also check the condition of your prop. Be sure your safety equipment—your fire extinguisher, life jackets, horn or signaling device, etc.—are in good working order.
- Clean the interior of your boat. Vacuum out any dust, debris, or cobwebs. Wipe down your windshields. Use a trusted vinyl cleaning product to protect and clean the vinyl on your seats and throughout the boat.
- Clean your hull. Spray and scrub with a cleaning agent, then, if you have a fiberglass hull, apply a gelcoat wax to help protect it.
- Clean and protect any wood trim. Use soapy water to clean the wood. Rinse, let dry, then apply teak oil to keep it protected from the effects of sun and water. Polish all metals also.
- Check your electrical system. That starts with the battery; make sure it’s properly charged, its water level is correct, and terminals are clean of any corrosion or buildup. Check all your wires for cracks or abrasions. Then test all your gauges and the blower to make sure they function properly.
- Make sure your bilge is empty. If you find any oil or fuel in the bilge, check for its source and fix the problem. Check your pumps, air vents and limber holes to be sure they have no obstructions.
- Ready your engine. If you stored it with antifreeze, flush it with fresh water, and replace with coolant (unless you have a raw water cooled engine). Change your oil and filters. Also change spark plugs on outboard and some inboard motors, and zincs on most inboards. Test the tension on all belts. Ensure your transmission fluid is clean and at the proper level.
- Check your lines. Make sure your anchor line, throw rope, and tie lines aren’t knotted or chafed.
If you spend just one day doing these things, you’ll assure yourself of many good boating days in the season ahead. For more details, check out the spring checklist.
