Beginner Boat Maintenance to Help Keep You Afloat
You know that sinking feeling you sometimes get when you know you’re forgetting something important? If you’ve forgotten to do your boat maintenance, that sinking feeling can become alarmingly literal.
But properly servicing your boat is easier said than done. If you’re a beginner with no idea of how to take care of a boat, it’s easy to feel…well, adrift.
No problem: we’ve got a map for you. In the following guide, we’ll cover what to do to maintain your boat along with how often it should be done so you can visualize an approximate schedule for your boat maintenance.
Follow along to learn how to keep your boat seaworthy.
Of course, the owner’s manual for your boat will be your best resource to help you maintain your boat since it’ll have advice specific to your watercraft. Be sure to refer to it frequently.
Boat Maintenance to do for every ride
There are some steps you should be taking every time your boat goes on an excursion. We’ve divided them into pre- and post-ride sections. Remember that a little mindfulness and observation beforehand can save you time, effort, and money in the future by nipping problems in the bud.
Before taking your boat out
- Ensure your drain plug is in place.
- Make sure you have gas in the tank. (This one’s pretty obvious, but it can cause a massive inconvenience if you forget to do it at the wrong time.)
- Check other fluid levels, like your engine oil, coolant, and power steering. Additionally, verify that you have no leaks in these areas prior to going out onto the water. 1
- Look over your hull and propeller for things like barnacles that should be removed or damage/corrosion that needs to be addressed before heading out. For your propeller, make sure that there isn't fishing line (or anything else) wrapped around it.
- Verify that you have the proper safety equipment on board, like life jackets (the right size and number for everyone on the boat) and fire extinguishers.
- Take a look at your registration or other papers or certifications your boat has to confirm that they’re up to date and complete.
- Make sure that your electrical system is working and that you don’t have things like burned-out lights on your boat—and, of course, replace any parts that need to be replaced.
After you return
- Wash the exterior of your craft. Especially if you’ve been boating in salt water, you’re exposing your boat to all sorts of things in the water that aren’t ideal for its longevity if left on its surface. Plus, if your hull is dirty, it can drive up your fuel expenses by up to 30%.2
- Flush the internal components of your boat. Again, this is extra important if you were in salt water, but even with fresh water this is necessary, as sand and other gritty materials can harm the internals of your craft. Your owner’s manual should have specifics on how to complete this procedure. If you have a boat with a modern outboard engine, this should be fairly simple: attach the flushing system to a hose, use earmuffs to cover your water intakes, and let the water flow through your boat for several minutes. 3
PERIODIC BOAT MAINTENANCE STEPS
Following the above advice is a great start, but there are a few other specific tasks you’ll need to complete from time to time to keep your boat in good shape.
- Thoroughly clean it—inside and out. If your boat has a fiberglass exterior, it contains a gel coating that’s prone to looking chalky if it isn’t properly protected from things like salt, sun, and the weather generally. If you are noticing that chalky cast on your craft’s exterior, it means it’s definitely time to clean it. Use a soft sponge and a soap that’s designed for boats. If you encounter stubborn spots that refuse to wipe clean, you can use a mixture of muratic acid and water and let it sit on your boat for anywhere from a couple of minutes to a quarter of an hour (but no longer than that). Rinse your boat thoroughly. 1
- For the interior, you can use water and a mild detergent along with a soft brush, and don’t forget to dry everything off afterwards. You could also use a vinegar/water solution (three parts vinegar to one part water).1
- Wax it. This needs to be done a couple of times a season. If you don’t do it often enough, it can cause oxidation, and don’t forget to remove any old wax before reapplying.4 (Or, to modify the quote from The Karate Kid, wax off, wax on.)
- Lubricate any components that need it.
- Check your spark plugs to make sure they aren’t corroded. If they look dirty, you can give them a cleaning with a wire brush, but if they’re in bad enough condition, you’ll definitely want to replace them.
- Look over parts such as belts, tanks, and hoses for signs of cracks, leaks, or other damages.
- Make sure the clamps on various components are secure and in good condition. They can be prone to rust. 1
- Ensure you don’t have blocks or damage to your bilge and bilge pump; plus, test your pump to see if it’s still working properly.5
- Protect your electrical components using a silicone spray.1
ANNUAL BOAT MAINTENANCE TASKS
These are other important tasks that you should be doing for your boat, but you likely won't need to do them as frequently as the rest.
- Change your oil and oil filter. Generally this should be done every 50-100 hours3, so depending on how much use your boat gets, you could do it more or less frequently. However, it’s worth making it part of your annual routine at the very least.
- Test your craft’s battery. Keep it in mind that it usually lasts 5-7 years1, so if you’re coming up on that milestone, definitely start planning for a replacement.
- Check your sacrificial anodes. These components are meant to protect other parts of your boat from corrosion, but that means that over time they will begin to disintegrate. Once they're approximately halfway dissolved, you'll need to get them changed. 5
- Winterize your boat properly.
- De-winterizing? We've got you covered with this article on spring boating preparation.
SAIL AWAY SERENELY
While boating can be a great source of stress relief, experiencing a breakdown on the water will have the opposite effect, hence why proper boat maintenance is so crucial.
Hopefully this brief boat maintenance guide will help you to cruise the waves worry-free in the future. If you have further questions, feel free to get in touch with our customer service department. You can also browse our stock of boat parts if you find anything amiss in your inspections or experience a sudden breakdown.
Happy boating!
Need to take care of your other watercraft? Check out our jet ski maintenance guide.
[REVISED 3/2023]
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