Got a boat, but don’t know how to maintain that sturdy looking fishing boat? Need tips? Here’s a quick rundown of the most important boat care tips for fishing boat owners.
Having a boat is a lot of fun. You can go fishing with your family and loved ones. But how to take care of your fishing boat is not a lot of fun. You’ll need every little muscle you have because it is a big task. It is better to have a checklist of what to do before you go check the water out with your fishing boat.
Here are some of the tips:
First and foremost, you, being the owner, must know how to clean your boat in a smart way not in a hard way because some owners go beyond when it comes to taking care of their boats. This only means that you should develop a routine effective enough to clean you boat, and be a habit or a ritual before going to the water. They seem to do more time cleaning and polishing the boat than actually spending it on the waters cruising and fishing with their loved ones. It can be said that one important aspect of owning a fishing boat is keeping it clean. You don’t need to spend long, backbreaking hours to keep it looking new. You just need to be equipped with the necessary tools and products that can help you clean your boat efficiently and it must be on a regular basis. It doesn’t hurt having a little bit of the elbow grease because the benefit of this is that you will preserve your boat’s looks and protect your precious fishing boat from the entire ruthless marine setting.
Always do an inspection all throughout the boat. Clean your deck and the entire hull by using a detergent that has a mild cleaning power. A good quality marine wax will do the trick by applying a coat on your boat. Always polish and clean all metal parts of the boat. All hinges, latches and the likes must be lubricated using the best corrosion inhibiting lubricant you can purchase in market.
Your below deck must be checked – like the float switch operation and bilge pump. Not to forget to lubricate and check seacocks.
It must be known that before every trip it is an essential item to check is the batteries. These must be fully charged and the acid is full. Problems only occur because of the over charging of the batteries. The over charging reduces the battery life because it boils out the acid.
Not to forget to throw away wing nuts and junk used lock nuts and the washers on terminals. Check all wiring for deterioration and insulation damage. Always clean, repair or replace all things on your boat. Check gauges and all electrical or electronic units for proper function. Check for extra fuses.
Over a long period of time, bad fuel and oil hoses could cause leaks and let air into the system. By visually inspecting all hoses and connections, you can avoid problems. It is the easiest way to take care of your boat. Just replace the clamp and the hose if any of these come out hard or loose at the connection. When every connection is fixed, pump the fuel and oil bulb up tight and watch out for any drips. The oil line and fuel must be tight.
Before your first trip, always check the engine mounting bolts and steering cables because it is important to ensure they haven’t backed-off. The steering cable should work with ease in both directions. Be sure to grease the cables if it’s difficult to maneuver in either direction. You should change cables if they are still hard to turn even when greased out.
It is good to inspect your lower unit to check for any indications of water in the oil and make certain the oil level is filled.
Haul the propeller and check for any fishing line that may be enveloped around the shaft. This will cause the oil to come out and water to come in because of the cut in the shaft seal. Before you replace the propeller, be sure to lubricate the prop shaft splices.
While on the boat, the very important element to check is the wiring. If it has been eaten by crawling insects, the wiring should need replacing and yet your job is not done, because you can wait for electrical failure or even in a worse scenario, your boat could catch fire if the wires are not carefully checked. Inspect terminals for rust; clean and lubricate.
