Boating in Eastern Ontario boating is just around the corner. You have been waiting all winter for this, and the spring brings with it promise of summer fun ahead. What you don't want is to make choices that could give you serious headaches or reduce your time on the water. You made it through the cold and the snow, you deserve this time!
- Not Topping it up! The fuel in your boats tank has been sitting there for at least 6 months and maybe more. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you should "use it up" before topping off the tank. When you launch, or when your marina launches for you, make sure that first run of the season is on as much fresh fuel as possible. Fill the tank off with ethanol free gasoline (usually premium or mid-grade fuel). The fresh fuel will help stabilize the older fuel and reduce the likelihood of water or solids contamination.
- Dirty Terminals! Batteries should be charged up, tested, and all connections and terminals cleaned. Use a load tester after charging to make sure your battery is not going to leave you stranded. Take a wire brush or 120 grit sandpaper to all wire connections and terminals at the battery. If your starting (cranking) battery is four years old or more consider replacing it regardless. Summers are short and your battery won't be reliable for ever.
- Making Assumptions! We hear it all the time: "that (blank) worked fine in the fall". Truth is, components that sit unused can corrode or just stop working after sitting for so long. Check all your critical systems: navigation lights, bilge blowers, bilge pumps, horns, gauges, switches, etc. Knowing if something needs to be repaired now will save you grief on the water when the really nice weather hits. Check to make sure all hose fittings are tight and there is no sign of rot or cracking in fuel lines, coolant hoses, belts, etc. Another thing to look for is leaves or mice nests blocking bilge pumps or vents. How is the charge in the fire extinguisher(s), and if you have flares on board, are they expired?
- Not Double Checking for Water! After you launch and lake test your boat the first time, check all areas of the bilge for water. Many boats have multiple through hull fittings, drain plugs, etc. Search all hull storage and access areas for signs of water entry. You may not remember what you took out, or something may have broken or rusted through. Whenever I launch a boat I check it at the ramp, then check it after 2-3 minutes of operation, then one last time back at the dock. I have found a leak enough times on that third check to know that first runs will stress your equipment enough to warrant multiple verifications.
These are the most crucial items of boat servicing to check before and during your launch process. There are lots of other areas that you can pay attention to. You really should wash and wax the hull, clean the canvas and vinyl, etc. Here is a great link courtest of Boat U.S. to a full checklist if you want specifics to check at spring commissioning. Discover boating has one here also. If you keep your boat at a full service marina, they likely have all this covered for you. Best to check first though!
This is such an important topic, we tend to write on it every year. Here is a link to last year's post.
Have fun out there on the water!