by Joyce Deaton
It’s finally here. After a long and uncommonly dismal winter in the Piedmont, spring has come with its daffodils, cherry trees and – best of all – glorious days for boating. It’s time to get your boat back on the water. But first, take a half-day or so to make sure it’s ready for action.
Pilot talked recently with Hop Chandler, general manager of Badin Lake Boating Center in New London, to find out what should be on your spring commissioning checklist. You may have taken care of many of these items when you winterized last fall. If you didn’t winterize fully, however, be sure to complete these chores for a trouble-free boating season.
• Engine – Change the oil and replace the water impeller. Replace spark plugs if you haven’t recently, and replace fuel and air filters. Check the lower gear lube and gear housing for water or debris. Drain and refill the system with new gear oil. If your engine is an inboard-outboard, check the trim fluids. Check all belts to be sure they’re not cracked or frozen. When you fill up with fuel, add an ethanol treatment to protect the engine’s rubber hoses from damage.
• Pumps and lines – Put water in the boat to test the bilge pump. Pump some fuel into a clear container and be sure there’s no water or debris. Check all lines to be sure they’re not cracked or brittle.
• Steering – Lubricate the steering system, especially if the wheel is difficult to turn.
• Battery – Be sure the battery is full of water and fully charged. If you’re a fisherman, don’t forget the trolling motor. “This winter has been so cold that there are going to be a lot of dead batteries,” says Chandler. Crank up your engine on land, using a flushing attachment so the engine cranks in water. This way you’ll get a heads-up on any problems before you hit the water.
• Propeller – Slide the prop off and check for fishing line or other debris. Lubricate the shaft with anti-seize compound. Check for dings or nicks in the prop that can harm your engine’s performance and damage the internal components of the gear housing. File these down or send the prop to the shop for repairs before the season begins.
• Hull – Early spring is a good time for a thorough cleaning and waxing. A clean, smooth boat provides better performance and fuel economy.
• Interior – Give all upholstery a good cleaning with Chandler’s favorite 303 Aerospace protectant or a similar product to protect against cracks through the season.
• Safety equipment – Be sure life jackets, flotation cushions and rings are in good condition, and check out your first aid kit and fire extinguisher.
• Trailer – Check to be sure tires are at recommended levels of inflation. Put two or three good squirts of grease in grease fittings. Dry bearings will cause tire wear and use more fuel to carry your boat. Test the lights.
Chandler recommends trying all the boat’s systems while you have it at home or at the storage yard. “Just start at the trailer tongue and work your way to the prop and check every system,” he says. “Things are a lot easier to fix before you’re on the water.”
You can do most of these spring checkup duties yourself, he adds. But if you have questions or want to save time and have your boat shop do them, start early. “Everybody gets booked up as soon as it turns warm,” he explains. “You don’t want your boat tied up waiting for a part when you’d rather be on the water.”