Comprehensive Care and Maintenance Guide for Boat Owners

It’s time to get out on the water! But before you head off for a day of fun and adventure, remember that keeping your boat in peak condition requires a bit of maintenance.

But do you have a plan to keep your boat in top condition? With proper care and maintenance, your boat can last for years — saving you money and ensuring a safe and enjoyable boating experience.

To ensure your boat remains safe, seaworthy and reliable, here’s a comprehensive care and maintenance guide for boat owners.

Boat Maintenance — How Often Should You Do It?

Maintaining a boat is very much like maintaining a car. Regular servicing and upkeep are essential, especially if you use your boat frequently. 

If your boat is among the more than 11,838,188 recreational boats registered in the United States, it’s important to have a professional inspect and service your boat at least once a year. But, before you go in for a big service job, there are some things you should be doing regularly.

For that reason, your boat maintenance should include both regular inspections and routine care.

Regular Maintenance

Depending on the type of boat, the frequency and nature of your regular maintenance will vary. Generally speaking, you should inspect your boat quickly every time you go on the water.

As soon as you return to the dock, check all areas, including the engine, batteries, fuel system and interior.

For more detailed regular maintenance, you should check your boat’s fuel, oil and other fluids as often as every couple of weeks.

Here’s a checklist of regular maintenance routines you should take:

#1. Clean and Wax the Hull and Deck

Regularly clean your boat’s hull and deck with mild soap and finish it off by waxing. This will help protect the finish from salt water, sun damage and other pollutants.

The basic maintenance tip is to wash, wax and lubricate your boat at least once every season. Washing will eliminate dirt, grime, salt and other pollutants that can damage the exterior of your boat.

On the other hand, waxing will help protect the finish and keep it looking its best.

#2. Lubricate Moving Parts

Some things keep the boat moving — and they need to move smoothly. For maximum efficiency, regularly lubricate any moving parts on your boat. Regular lubrication will also help prevent corrosion and rust.

#3. Inspect and Maintain the Engine

Inspect your boat’s engine regularly, looking for any signs of wear or damage. Change the oil, check fluid levels and inspect the belts and hoses. After every outing, flush or desalt the engine with fresh water and check for any signs of leakage.

#4. Check Fuel Pressure and Level

Ideally, you should check the fuel level and pressure before every outing, but especially after each outing. You want to check the pressure and the level before you hit the waves again.

Similarly, always go for quality marine-grade fuel. Ethanol-free fuel is your best bet for a smoother ride and fewer engine troubles, but E10 fuel can also work. Avoid E15 and E88 fuel for longer boat life as they are ethanol blend fuels. This can lead to corrosion, so it is not recommended for marine-grade engines.

#5. Inspect and Lubricate the Propeller

Sometimes, fishing lines can get entangled in the propeller. While your boat is in the water, these discarded lines can find their way into the propeller shaft and create problems.

These lines can be a nuisance, from weakening the prop shaft seal to causing water to leak into the engine. So make sure to inspect the propeller regularly and lubricate it with quality grease to ensure smooth operation.

#6. Inspect the Steering System and Rudder

Test the steering by turning the wheel as you would when out on the water. If it doesn’t work as it should, you’ll need to get it serviced or repaired. While at it, keep an ear open for unusual sounds or clunks that indicate something is out of place.

Also, check the rudder for any loose parts or excessive play, as this can affect your boat’s handling out on the water. You don’t want to be caught off guard out there!

#7. Inspect the Bilge

Your boat’s bilge is like your boat’s heart, and it needs to be kept clean. Over time, all sorts of debris can find its way into the bilge, such as diesel and oil, which can cause damage to your boat’s engine.

It’s important to check the bilge pump regularly to ensure it’s operating properly and also clean out any debris that may have accumulated.

#8. Check Electrical and Mechanical Systems

This step requires a finely-tuned approach, as even the slightest error can bring about massive repercussions.

Before going out to the water, it is essential to evaluate all electrical and mechanical components, including communication and navigation systems, lighting fixtures, navigational lights, and bilge pumps.

Make sure to check for any loose wiring or frayed cables and any rust on the parts exposed to the elements.

#9. Replace Anodes

Anodes are a necessary part of your boat’s protection system. They are sacrificial pieces of metal that are placed on the hull and act as a shield, protecting your boat from corrosion.

Anodes will wear down over time, so check on them every now and then; and replace them as soon as you notice their effectiveness is reduced. This will help protect your boat from corrosion damage and extend its life on the water.

Seasonal Maintenance

Boating seasons are exciting, and everyone looks forward to them. But each season does come with its own set of maintenance requirements.

For instance, before the boating season starts, you want to ensure your boat is in tip-top shape and ready for the water. This is called de-winterizing — and it’s a task you must do since you stored the boat all through the winter months.

De-Winterizing Your Boat

Before you launch the boat for the first time in the season, check that all the necessary equipment and supplies, such as life jackets, flares, fire extinguishers, engine, fuel system, steering and navigation equipment, are in working order.

So, how do you de-winterize? Here’s how:

#1. Remove Your Boat’s Protective Cover

You probably put a tarp over your boat when storing it for the winter. Now that it’s time to get it out on the water, remember to remove the cover and run a quick inspection of your boat to ensure it’s in good condition.

#2. Check the Engine

After the winter months, you want to make sure your engine is still in good condition. If the engine hasn’t been used for a while, check the battery and test it to know if it has enough charge.

Also, inspect all the other parts of the engine — the fuel system, oil levels, coolant levels and more — to ensure they’re in working order. Remember to change the fuel filter and spark plugs and replace the oil if necessary.

#3. Clean the Boat

Even if you did a thorough clean before storing it, it’s always a good idea to give your boat a thorough cleaning again to ensure there’s no dirt or debris on board. This is pertinent as three or four months of winter storage can cause dirt and grime to accumulate.

#4. Check Fluid Levels and Fuel Tanks

Check the oil, coolant and fuel levels. Ensure the fuel tanks are refilled, and check for any leaks or signs of corrosion in the fuel system. Top off all the other fluids as well.

If you have gas tanks, check them for any deposits and clean them if necessary. If your boat has a diesel engine, check the fuel filters and replace them if needed. This is also a good time to refill the coolant and oil reservoirs.

#5. Check Your Boat’s Batteries

Batteries are the lifeblood of any boat, and they need to be in good condition for the boat to function properly.

If you’re storing your boat for the winter, it’s important to charge the batteries periodically, so they don’t run out of power.

If you haven’t used your boat in a while, it’s also a good idea to check the electrolyte level in your boat’s batteries before taking it out on the water.

Generally, when de-winterizing your boat, start by changing the boat’s oil and filter, flushing out the engine with fresh water, lubricating all moving parts, checking belts and hoses, tightening bolts and other connections, and replacing worn spark plugs if necessary.

Finally, perform a safety check for all navigation and emergency equipment, ensuring they are all in good working order.

Winterizing your boat

At the end of the long boating season, when the weather starts getting colder, it’s time to winterize your boat again.

Winterizing is essentially a process of shutting down and protecting your boat from the cold weather, as well as any possible damage that could occur during storage.

• First and foremost, you want to ensure your boat is free of water, which means draining all the onboard water tanks, freshwater system and engine.
• Next, you’ll want to use an antifreeze solution to protect any pipes and hoses that contain water from freezing. Clean the boat as much as possible, so the dirt doesn’t accumulate.
• Finally, cover the boat with a tarp or boat cover to protect the exterior from dirt, sun and rain.

By winterizing, you can effectively protect your boat during the off-season and ensure it’s ready to hit the water when the next boating season begins. It helps to keep pests away, too — trust us, you don’t want an infestation of rats onboard.

Safety Maintenance

Your boat obviously has recommended safety equipment, but you must ensure that these are performing optimally. All this should be inspected regularly, from life jackets, fire extinguishers and flares to navigation lights, radios and GPS systems.

But more than having and inspecting them, you should also know how to properly use and maintain safety equipment on board the boat in an emergency.

Fire Extinguisher

For the fire extinguisher, examine the pressure gauge; if it’s reading below a certain level, you should replace it. Assuming it is reading at the right level, check the nozzle and ensure it is free of any blockage.

Navigation Lights

When inspecting navigation lights, ensure all bulbs are working, wires are not frayed, and the connection is properly secured. Ensure that all navigation lights, such as running, anchor, and stern lights, are working properly.

Flares

In the case of the flares, periodically check the expiration date and make sure to replace them if necessary.

Radios and GPS

Finally, regarding radios and GPS systems, ensure all the components are working properly. Test them out in the water to ensure they have a clear signal.

Life Jackets

For life jackets – inspect them for any rips or tears. Also, check the straps and buckles to know if they have enough buoyancy to keep the boat’s passengers afloat in an emergency.

Since the recommended number you must have on your boat is dependent on the size, it’s best to double-check with your local maritime regulations and make sure you have enough life jackets for everyone onboard.

At the end of the day, your safety and that of your passengers should be your top priority. You want to ensure that you and everyone aboard can enjoy a safe and fun boating experience!

Transporting Your Boat Safely

Like any other vehicle, you may need to transport your boat at some point. Whether for repairs in another city or moving it to a new home port on the other side of the country — transporting your boat can be a hassle and overwhelming for some, especially if it’s the first time.

So, what are your options?

The most common way of towing a boat is with a suitable vehicle, which means having the right towing capacity and the correct equipment, such as a trailer or tow-bar. However, you may not have the necessary equipment or even adequate towing capacity. Plus, it might not be the safest option for transporting a large, heavy and bulky boat — so, why put your vehicle and boat at risk?

The best and safest option to ship your boat over land is to hire a professional boat transportation service. This way, you don’t have to worry about the hassle of towing a boat, and your vehicle is safe from the risk of damage.

CitizenShipper can help you find the perfect professional transport service to move your boat safely and securely. Our platform makes it easy to connect with reliable, insured shippers who can get the job done for you. On the platform, you can easily compare rates and read reviews and ratings to ensure you make the right decision.

The platform also offers competitive pricing through an easy bidding system that allows qualified and interested transporters to bid for your job.

So why not make sure your boat is transported in the safest and most secure way possible? CitizenShipper can make it happen for you! All you need to do is prepare the boat for transport — transporters on CitizenShipper take it up from there.

Conclusion

Like the thousands of American boat owners, you don’t want to find yourself in an uncomfortable situation when out on the water. That’s why you must follow a comprehensive care and maintenance guide and consult professionals and the boat’s manual when necessary.

If you need to transport your boat, CitizenShipper is here to help. Our platform connects you with reliable, insured shippers who can move your boat safely and securely — all at competitive rates. So, post a free listing for boat transport on CitizenShipper today and find the perfect professional transport service for your boat!