How Proper Boat Care Can Extend the Life of Your Boat
When was the last time you cleaned your boat or checked its oil? Do you have a routine for it during the Winter months, or when you reuse it in Summer?
Boating is an incredibly popular pastime in the United States and Canada. According to statistics, over 87 million adults participate in recreational boating each year, but some reduce the life expectancy of their vessel by not providing adequate care.
If you want your vessel to last for years to come, you need to be sure you give it proper boat care. Read on to discover how you can provide the best care for your boat all year round.
Clean Your Boat Regularly
Proper boat care through cleaning is not just about keeping your vessel looking nice, but also preventing it from getting damaged. Even small scratches caused by debris or salt can lead to your boat becoming worn and corroded.
In fact, according to Seaworthy Magazine, around one-third of boats that sink end up doing so due to wear and corrosion.
To avoid this happening to your boat, you need to clean it regularly.
When you clean your boat, you should always try to do it on land. This prevents dirt and debris from falling and polluting the water below. Use fresh water to remove salt and grime from the motor and the sides of the boat. This will prevent corrosion from damaging your vessel over time.
Next, use a wire brush to clean the engine parts. Be sure to also thoroughly clean every part of the boat, including trailers, cooling systems, engine props and any fishing gear.
If you can only clean your boat in the water, don’t use toxic substances like bleach or ammonia.
Use environmentally friendly products which are biodegradable or contain substances like borax, vinegar or baking soda. These are strong enough to remove any grime or dirt but not damage your boat or the environment.
Taking Care of the Engine
The engine is one of the most important aspects of your boat. According to boatsafe.com, the average gasoline engine should run for around 1,500 hours before needing a major overhaul. If you want your boat’s engine to last this long, you need to have good boat care.
After every boating trip, remove the engine from the water and flush it with fresh water. This will prevent build up and reduce corrosion.
Aside from cleaning the engine, check to see if it has a special drain fit to the oil pan. This tube can be pulled out so that the engine can be drained. To find out what your engine needs specifically, check out the owner manual.
Also, check the level of oil in your boat’s engine. It should be changed every 100 hours and the filter needs to be replaced every three months.
Check and clean the boat’s spark plugs and replace any that are defective. Be sure to spray all-purpose oil on all of the electrical components. This will help prevent the build-up of rust.
Changing the Oil
When it comes to actually changing the oil, this can be quite a process. You need to ensure you have the right tools, including an oil extractor pump, an oil wrench, and enough rags so you can catch any drips.
There are several steps that need to be followed in order to change the oil in your boat.
First, start the engine up if your boat is currently in the water. If your boat is on land, supply cooling water into it at the gear case. You can supply water to the engine through earmuffs and a hose fitting.
After waiting around five minutes, turn off the engine. Then, you can remove the dipstick.
Once this has been done, put the oil extractor tube into the dipstick tube. Be sure to slide it in until it stops. Once this has been completed, you can pump out the oil. Don’t worry about losing any oil. It will remain inside the pump until you can discard it at an oil change shop.
Holding a rag around the oil filter, remove it using the wrench. Then, after rubbing oil over the sealing gasket, you can screw on a new oil filter.
Finally, place the dipstick back and fill up the engine with new oil. When putting oil into your boat’s engine, make sure to use marine grade oil. Automotive oil isn’t made to protect marine engines. Therefore, the former is much more effective.
Check the Propeller
Another important aspect of boat care is checking and maintaining the boat’s propeller. Before you take your boat out onto the water, you should always do a quick double-check of your propeller.
With the help of a socket, remove the propeller and make sure no fishing line has become wrapped around the propeller shaft. If it has, you may need to get a professional to inspect the gear case as there could be a chance of this causing gear case leaks.
When the propeller has been removed, check it for any signs of damage, like scratches or dents. If you see any sign of severe damage, you’ll need to get it repaired. Even a small dent can cause your boat to burn excessive fuel and run inefficiently.
Furthermore, a damaged propeller may vibrate. This puts lots of stress on the bearings which can cause even more damage.
Be sure to also put a large amount of waterproof grease onto the propeller shaft. This will aid in preventing corrosion which can cause the propeller to freeze in place. Once this is all done, place the propeller back on and tighten the nut and secure the locking tabs so everything stays in place.
Maintain the Belts, Cables, and Hoses
These are parts that you don’t often think about, but they play an important role in your boat care ritual. Over time, these parts can become brittle and cracked, particularly over winter. As such, routine maintenance on them should be a part of your boat care.
Make sure that all of the belts are fitted tightly over the pulleys they are on. If a belt is worn, you may notice that it is sagging loosely or leaving black residue on or near the pulley. Any belts that look like this should be replaced immediately.
Furthermore, if you notice cracks or swelling on any of the control cables, this could be indicative of internal corrosion and as such, they should be replaced too.
Inspect the Hull
Like the propeller, the hull also needs to be watched for dents and scratches in order to keep up proper boat care. Other problems to watch out for include blisters and distortions which may need to be repaired before your boat can safely return to the water.
When you clean your hull, be sure to use an environmentally safe solution as anything toxic could run off it and into the water below.
Check All Fluid Levels
Along with the obvious ones like fuel and oil, you should constantly check to see if all of your boat’s fluid levels are adequate. These should also include the coolant, power steering fluid, and power trim reservoirs.
This is an important part of boat care as low levels of some fluids can cause severe damage to some parts of your boat as it runs.
Stock Up on Safety Gear
Although you may not realize it, safety gear is the most important thing to bring on a boat and an important part of boat care. After all, it could be the difference between a slightly fire damaged boat and a total wreck. Ensure that your boat is fitted with fire extinguishers of the correct class that are at full capacity and stowed correctly.
Do Annual Winter Inspections
Before you put your boat away for the cold winter months, you need to make sure you prepare it for a long period of storage.
If it is not stored correctly, icy conditions could reduce the lifespan of your boat.
The first steps in this process are to ensure the boat is properly cleaned and the engine has been checked. Flush the engine out with fresh water to get rid of any salt and top up the boat’s antifreeze. Be sure to also replace any cracking hoses and lubricate spark plug holes with oil.
There is a risk of water condensing into the fuel tank, so make sure it has been filled up to at least 90 percent capacity. Also, add some anti-bacterial stabilizing agent to the fuel. This will prevent any bacterial contamination.
As for the battery, make sure it is fully charged and the terminals are clean and greased up. Then disconnect it from the boat and store it in a cool area where it won’t freeze.
To reduce the build-up of dust, cover the boat with a tarp and remove all electronic equipment. Also leave all plugs, faucets, and valves open to avoid water from freezing within them.
By doing all of this during Winter storage, you can be sure your ready to dewinterize your boat in the warmer months!
By Using Proper Boat Care, Your Vessel Can Last For Years
To help maintain your boat, you need to ensure you get advice from the boat experts. They can provide you with everything you need to keep your boat in perfect condition, including new parts and scheduled maintenance services.
For more information and to request a service today, click here!