With Spring officially starting later this week and Easter just two weeks away, it won’t be long before its time to put your boat in the water! It’s time to perform your spring maintenance on your boat so it can be in tip-top shape for boating season and the warm weather that’s soon to come! Don’t worry! We here at Boat Lift Warehouse have a full checklist to ensure your boat is ready for all your 2018 adventures!
Should Have, Could Have, Would Have
The amount of maintenance you have to perform in the Spring will depend on how much maintenance you performed to prepare your boat for winter. Items, like changing the engine oil and filter, replacing your fuel filters, stabilizing your fuel tank, and servicing your battery, should have been on your winter checklist for maintenance. Doing these items should have prevented your boat from getting “sit-itis” where your boat systems that were working before the Winter no longer work in the Spring.
If you didn’t complete these items hopefully your boat will still be fine!
Ready, Set, Prep
Batteries| First things first let’s make sure our batteries are intact. Charge all batteries and install them and clean the terminals and cable-end. Ensure that you replace the wing nuts with stainless steel lock nuts to prevent cables from loosening up. Remember Coast Guard regulations require that batteries are properly secured and battery posts are covered.
Electronics| It is so important to inspect and check the operation of all electrical items and electronics. This includes, but not limited to, all helm and cabin switches and don’t forget to note the items that are not working properly. Next, if your boat has a battery switch, turn it off and ensure the automatic bilge pump float switch is functioning properly.
Water Systems| If your boat has a water system onboard first remove the antifreeze. Pressurize the system and open each faucet/shower head one at a time until clean water flows out of them. This same process should be done for the transom or anchor wash faucets.
Engine| Next you must make sure your engine and all of its components are working correctly. In the engine room or compartment, you’ll need to check the engine oil level, inspect the bilge area for fluid leaks, check the coolant level, the power steering fluid, and the transmission/lower unit or outdrive oil. While still in your engine room perform a visual inspection of all fuel lines for external cracking and flexibility. Every other boating season you need to service your engine “seawater pumps”. If you can’t remember the last time you did, it’s time to do it!
Start Up| If you haven’t pulled out your operator’s manual yet, this may be a good time. Reading the operator’s manual will tell you the proper start-up procedure. If your engine runs on a hose install the ear muffs pf or water hook up. Just be aware that there are some engines where you will need to supply water in more than one location.
Next, to start up you will need to check the control cables, condition, and operation. If your boat runs with an electric fuel pump you will need to prime the fuel system before you turn the key. Then place the shifter in the neutral position and check the safety/kill switch.
Crank That Engine
After all these steps have been taken you are ready to start your engine! If you see smoke when you start your engine don’t panic! This is fogging oil from winterizing and will coat the spark plugs. Once your boat is cranked go to the engine and look for running water from the exhaust or telltale. If you see none stop the engine and recheck your hose connections. In the engine, area be sure to inspect for any fluid leaks and listen for any exhaust noise like a loose belt or hose.
While your boat is still running check the steering system for tightness or looseness. Ensure that the propeller is clear and shift into forwarding, neutral and reverse. Remember while doing this to listen and feel for anything abnormal. Next, shut down the engine, using the safety stop lanyard if your boat has one to see if it is working, then turn off the ignition key. Remove it and do one final inspection of the engine area.
We here at Boat Lift Warehouse want to ensure that you and your boat are ready for a terrific boating season! For a full list of items that should be on your maintenance checklist, the good folks at boat safe have a great one you can check out! If when you’re doing your spring maintenance and notice that your boat or boat lift needs replacement parts we’ve got you covered! Stop by our website for all your boat lift needs!
