Spring Maintenance for Your Boat

Performing maintenance on your boat is an important part of keeping it running smoothly. When you take your vessel out of storage this spring, you’ll want to perform some maintenance tasks before you hit the water. Read on to learn what you can do to keep your craft in good working condition. If you want any more tips, reach out to Club Royale today. We are located in Waterford, Michigan, and we proudly serve those in Rochester too!

The Engine

The first maintenance step to take this spring is to check on your craft’s engine. Cold weather can hit this part of your craft especially hard.

Belts, Tanks, and Hoses

Start with the belts. Make sure they are in good condition by gently pressing down on them with your hand. If there’s a lot of give, it may be time for a replacement. 

Next, check on the tanks and hoses. Make sure there are no leaks. Hoses can crack and split in the cold, so you’ll need to inspect all hoses and tanks for any damage. If you do find a crack, replace the hose immediately!

Fluids

Now that you’ve established that there are no leaks, it’s time to check on the fluids themselves. Hopefully you stabilized your vessel’s fuel or emptied the tank entirely before storage. If you didn’t, you’ll need to empty it now. If fuel is left alone for a long period of time, it can degrade, go stale, or cause corrosion. That’s why checking on your fluids is an important part of boat maintenance. Once you establish that the tank is empty and free of damage, fill it up and you’re good to go!

Coolant is another important fluid in your vessel. Ideally you also emptied the coolant before storage. Make sure there is no damage, then empty the strainer and fill up the tank. This is also a good time to check on your craft’s oil.

Battery

One more important maintenance task to do this spring is inspect your boat’s battery. Batteries are particularly bad at dealing with cold weather, so ideally you removed yours and hooked it up to a trickle charger before storing it. Before hitting the water this spring, test your battery. Check the volts and amps and ensure that it can still hold a charge. If it won’t charge at all, you’ll need to replace it.

We hope these simple tips help you keep your boat running at its full potential! As your local marine dealer, we are here to help you with your boating needs. Give us a call today at our Waterford, Michigan location near Rochester and our team will be happy to answer any questions. We look forward to getting you on the water in your perfect vessel!