Placing a boat in storage during the winter is a lot like parking a land vehicle for some time. In essence, you need to store your boat properly so no damage or issues befall any part of your vessel while it’s not in use. But there are also things you must do to ensure the condition of your boat after months of non-operation. Therefore, when you take your boat out of storage this spring, it’s important to remember to prep and clean your boat before heading out onto the water. Here’s a spring checklist to prevent problems and the need for costly boat repair in Hesperia, CA:
- The fuel system: Check the fuel lines for leaks or damage, like small nicks, cracking, soft areas, unsecured clamps and weak connectors. You should also test your engine and exhaust system for proper function, as well as ensure that all ventilation systems are filtering out dangerous boat emissions.
- The electrical system: First, charge your battery and have it tested. Also inspect for signs of corrosion on electrical connections and see that wires are clean and holding on tight. After you know your battery can hold a charge and that all electrical components are free of damage, you can power up your boat enough to check that dashboard dials and other important devices used to maintain boating efficiency are in good working order.
- Fluid levels: As with your car, trying to power a boat with insufficient fluid levels can result in serious problems, even damage that cannot be fixed. Check levels on the engine’s oil, power steering, coolant and trim reservoirs, and, if you did not change the oil, oil filter and drive lubricants before putting it into storage over winter, now is the time to do so.
- Check belts, hoses and cables: Although you may have taken steps to protect boat belts, cables and hoses prior to storage, it’s not unusual for these components to fall apart in cold, dry winter weather. Look for loose fittings, swelling, cracks, splits and brittleness.
- Boat propellers: Check that the propeller is secured to the boat and replace old or damaged bearings. Also look all around the propeller for warping, distortion, small dings, sizable gouges and pitting of the material. If left damaged, the propeller can vibrate while in motion and cause costly needed repairs to the boat’s drive train.
- The hull and deck: Plan to give your boat a good scrubbing to clean away the reminders of winter storage from the hull and decks. Use an approved cleaning solution so you don’t inadvertently ruin the deck or hull’s appearance, or worse, cause damage to the point of having to fully replace a surface. And blisters, cracks and worn sections are not uncommon issues to discover.
Even after you have inspected your boat’s components for potential problems, you can take extra precaution by letting the professionals at Rezurxn Speed and Marine take a closer look. If it turns out that you need any fixes, you can rest assured that we offer the best service for boat repair in Hesperia, CA.