Spring is here and summer is only around the corner. Finally, its time to bring your boat our of hibernation and into the water. If you have stored your boat for some time, you may have some work to do to bring it back up to speed. Check out our handy tips for getting your boat ready for summer fun and blasting out those cobwebs. If you have followed our previous boat maintenance and storage posts, you should be in a great position to spring out of winter and into summer waters.
Records of Maintenance
Now spring is here, bring out your maintenance records to refresh your memory on what you may have done before hibernating your boat. Whether fibreglass or aluminium, you should always have records of the maintenance completed on your pride and joy. Maintenance records allow you to show any professional who needs to handle your boat, the things you have done, so they can adjust their investigations or repairs accordingly.
Why can’t I just hit the water?
Your boat has been sitting for potentially months, maybe more. Unused, not moving, everything on your boat starts to settle. Be it the fuel, battery, oils or even just to give the boat a good scrub before taking her out. You also need to check all of your safety equipment, to ensure nothing has deteriorated over the winter. No one wants to be stuck on the boat ramp with a seized engine.
Safety First
Check all of your safety equipment once you have finished giving the boat a fresh wash. Make sure you have the right number of life jackets, flares and or extinguishers and ensure they are all in date.
It’s the Little Things
Once you have checked the safety items ensure all your nuts and bolts are in place and tight. Give the glass or Perspex a quick clean over and make sure no debris has settled anywhere on the exterior of the boat. Check your stickers and decals, make sure they are in good condition and can be read from a distance. Check your spark plugs and replace as needed, and while you’re there, check the date your engine is next due for a service.
Getting Started
Check your battery is fully charged or replace it if the battery is dated. You don’t want to be out on the water unable to start the engine due to a flat battery. You should also check all of your lights and pumps on the boat, but also the lights on your boat trailer. Storage is harsh on the trailer too.
Fuel
Aside from the battery, the next big ticket item is fuel. If you have followed our tips for using fuel stabiliser or similar, you shouldn’t have too many issues. If you didn’t use stabiliser, drain the fuel and refill with new fuel, this prevents performance issues. Once you have your fuel sorted, start and let your engine idle for a little while. This will help prevent seizing and allow the engine to fill with the right fluids and oils.
You should now be good to go, enjoy the water and remember if you run aground or otherwise have a mishap contact the Advanced Fibreglass Techniques team for all of your fibreglass repair needs.
Mark, Nigel and the team provide our clients across industrial, private and commercial fibreglass our professional design and development services as part of the project. We enjoy the challenges presented in boat restoration and take great satisfaction in achieving the customer’s desired result. We use the latest techniques to repair your watercraft, whether it be a small cosmetic repair or a structural modification. Contact Advanced Fibreglass Techniques today, on (08) 8182 4877 or drop in for a no obligation free quote.