Boat Maintenance & Dewinterizing
Summer is already well underway and if you haven’t gotten your boat out yet, it’s time to do so! There are so many recreational opportunities that await you, from fishing to watersports to simply sunbathing and relaxing with the family in the middle of a peaceful lake. Don’t spend another weekend on dry land!
After many months of storage, it’s likely you’ll have some simple maintenance tasks you need to perform. This guide to boat maintenance should help you get your boat ready for the season. If you encounter tasks you need professional help with, visit Holzhauer Pro Motorsports. We are located in Nashville, Illinois and also serve those in Carbondale and Mount Vernon.
First Inspection
As soon as you take your craft out of storage and remove its cover, a thorough inspection is necessary. Walk around the outside of your boat, looking for any damage to the hull you might have missed. Check the interior for signs of disrepair, like mold and mildew, or pest infestation. Rhese issues will need to be addressed before you set sail. Hopefully, you cleaned up debris and trash in the fall, but you’ll probably need to sweep the deck and wipe down the console due to a season’s worth of dust buildup.
Check The Engine
Your boat’s engine and electrical functions are vital to its performance. Read the owner’s manual for your particular model to learn what the right start-up procedure is. You should check the battery over carefully for signs of wear. You may have put it on a trickle charger during winter to keep it fresh, but corrosion could have built up on the posts. Make sure that its wire connections are strong when it’s hooked up and test the function of lights and signals so you know it’s working.
When inspecting the engine, you should look for leaks around gaskets and engine heads before starting it up. Check all the fluid levels and replace the oil. Your spark plug casings should be whole and each plug should fit snugly. Drain any fuel in your tank and replenish it with fresh fuel that doesn’t have more than 10% ethanol content. If you feel like something is amiss with the engine that you can’t address yourself, contact the service department here at Holzhauer Pro Motorsports so we can help you out.
Inspect Safety Gear & Registration
Make sure that every piece of safety equipment that belongs on your boat is both present and in good condition. Replenish the first aid kit with new supplies and medications as necessary. Check your toolkit to make sure you have everything you need for minor repairs. Make sure that every life jacket and personal flotation device is intact and not sun bleached or torn, and stock these safely in an easy-to-access location. Check your boat’s registration and insurance papers, making sure they’re up-to-date. You’ll also want to stock some emergency supplies on board, like signal flares, an emergency hand-crank radio, laminated charts, a GPS, fire extinguishers and anything else that may be useful in a crisis. It pays to be prepared to handle any eventuality when you’re on the water, so having all your ducks in a row now can save you some stress later on.
We hope our boat maintenance guide is useful when you’re getting your boat ready for its first summer cruise. Searching for boats near St. Louis, Missouri? Come into our Nashville location to check out our inventory of new and used boats for sale. If you have need for any boat repairs, then contact our service department to schedule an appointment. Holzhauer Pro Motorsports also proudly serves the cities of Carbondale, Mount Vernon and Salem, Illinois.
