If you want to keep your boat in great condition for years to come and without any complications, regular maintenance is crucial. Given how it is constantly exposed to water and other natural elements, it can easily sustain damages.
How to do maintenance on a boat? We will take you through the ins and outs of boat maintenance, step by step.
Boat maintenance: The boat’s hull and exterior
Naturally, the exterior of a boat must be cleaned regularly in order to avoid damages to the paint and to prevent rust from forming. Don’t forget that with regular maintenance, your boat will also maintain its stunning physique!
If you use your boat in salt water, it is very important that you hose down your boat with fresh water every time you take it out, in order to remove all of the salt from the surface. This is how you will prevent the formation of rust.
To wash the exterior of your boat, you will need a soft bristle brush and quality soap. Some soaps are specially made for gelcoat boat surfaces; we do recommend using these. As a last resort, you could always use laundry detergent or car wash soap as well.
During your boat maintenance, it is important to pay special attention to hard to reach places. You will also want to watch out for traces of rust, fissures or cavities. If needed, use a rust remover in order to stop rust in its tracks, or find a dealership that can help you with exterior touch ups.
Maintenance on your engine and mechanical systems
Just like cars, boats require oil changes. The frequency of your oil changes will depend on your boat model; you should check in your user’s manual for more detailed information about oil changes on your boat. Most of the time, this should be completed once a year.
If you would like to complete to the oil change yourself, you will need a few tools:
- An oil change pump extractor
- An oil key
- A few rags
- An absorption pad placed under the engine
Before you proceed, start the engine for about 5 minutes in order to heat the oil. If your boat is not in the water, you will want to pour a bit of cooling water in the water intakes.
Turn off the engine and remove the gauge, then place the extractor tube on the gauge tube so that you can pump the oil. Next, change the oil filter and fill the boat with new clean oil that you can pour into the oil filling hole.
The user’s manual will be of great help, giving you detailed information on exactly how to proceed for your boat model!
Among the mechanical components, you will also want to pay attention to the propeller; it should be devoid of bumps, cuts and notches. These could affect your boat’s performance significantly.
You will also want to regularly check that there are no fishing wires wrapped around the propeller. Should this be the case, don’t delay; make your way to your dealership as soon as possible.
Electronic and electrical systems
Contrary to cars, boats are often stored and left unused for several months at a time. This is something that must be taken into consideration, especially for battery maintenance, given that it should not be left uncharged for too long.
Take out the battery and clean it, and make sure to charge it fully before storing it. You will want to check on charge levels once in a while. If your boat often has trouble starting, your battery could be nearing the end of its life and might need replacing.
As for the electronic systems, you can check on how they are working by turning on all of the screens and trying all of the different features. You can also turn all of the lights on to ensure that everything is working properly. Make sure there is no water in the different systems.
Maintenance for the interior of your boat
For proper maintenance on your boat, you also have to think of the interior! For most floors, soapy water is sufficient. While cleaning, do not forget the storage spaces under the floor and other hidden spaces. Use a degreaser if needed.
For a really thorough and efficient clean, you could also opt for steam cleaning!
If you have a teak surface or any other wooden surface, you will have to treat it with greater care. Make sure you clean it gently, with a non-abrasive sponge. You will also have to sand or buff the wood and oil the teak.
As for vinyl surfaces, when they are very dirty, you can clean them with a hard bristle brush. In any case, make sure you wipe the cleaning solution with a clean and humid rag before it dries.
Boat Maintenance: Take a Look at the Services we Offer!
Whether you decide to complete your boat maintenance yourself or would like help from our team of professional, Estrie Marine is here for you! You can trust in our expertise for your boat maintenance, and quick and efficient service.
We can also replace defective parts or offer new accessories, depending on your needs.
Come and meet us in person in Sherbrooke and have your boat –and needs- taken care of, from A to Z, or order your parts and accessories online! Do not hesitate to contact us to find out more.
