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Time to get ready for boating by Terry Duffy
Hard to believe with the turns in Western New York’s wacky weather of late, but we are actually in the season of spring and warmer days are surely a coming. While most of us typically equate the start of “fun” things to do outside on the WNY scene with a Memorial Day timeframe, for boaters, preparations for this outdoors fun usually starts much earlier. In fact, for the thousands of area residents having boats still winterized, shrink-wrapped and/or stowed away in the garage from last fall, it’s time-due to start thinking about all those boating preparations prior to our getting out to enjoy that all-too short season on area waterways. But wait, there’s still all those ice floes in the river. Water temps are in the 30s, the docks still need to go in. “What’s the rush?” you ask. Well, depending on how well you winterized your favorite toy last fall, or didn’t, has a major impact on what you’ll need to this spring to get things all ship-shape. The Basics … Let’s start with some of the basics – your boat’s engine and its components – that hopefully you addressed last fall. A typical winterizing package, done by yourself or your favorite mechanic at the marina usually consists of an oil/filter change, draining the engine’s fresh-water cooling system and adding marine anti-freeze, lubing the gears and linkages in the out drive or the boat’s stern drive, filling the fuel tank and adding a gas stabilizer for long-term storage, and using an oil fogging spray on the push rods, valves and interiors of the engine and along with an oil coating on the engine’s exterior to prevent moisture and rust. Other tasks before shrink-wrapping can include, but certainly are not limited to: removing the boat’s battery and hooking the unit up to a slow trickle or float charger for winter storage; removing your boat’s propeller, cleaning and storing it; plus lubing the assembly linkage (I/Os and stern drives). Hopefully as part of the “fall cleaning” you also removed that vast assortment of “toys” from inside the boat that may fall victim to the ravages of winter, especially if the boat had to remain outside – life jackets, boat cushions, sound systems, marine radios, the depth finder, GPS unit, the fish finder, fire extinguishers, emergency gear – the list goes on and on. And hopefully you gave the hull a good cleaning, even a good waxing before putting it away. If you answered “yes” to most of the above tasks – you’re probably in good shape to start your spring prepping. If not, well, let’s not even go there. Spring Check List Taking a look at what you should now be considering for in order to get all set for a May season-opening launch, let’s crawl under the trailer and start with the hull. How’s it look? Any bumps, dents, cracks or bruises under the water line? How’s the under-the-boat water intake (if so equipped) for the engine’s cooling system doing? Any worn gaskets either under the boat or inside the bilge area in the engine compartment? Anything loose with the boat plug assembly on the transom? And how’s the body looking down there? How’s the gel-coating holding up? Or the anti-fouling? Does it need another coat? All these items need to be considered. A good first start is to give your boat a good wash with a hull cleaner. Get rid of the scum, algae, rust stains, etc., from last year. Next inspect, inspect, inspect for all of the aforementioned items. Patch, repair and replace where needed and give a good coat of wax. Then check again on the gel coating and anti-fouling, Repair and recoat where needed. Next, climb aboard and check the condition of the inside. How’re the carpets, the vinyl upholstery, the boat covers or any metal or wood trim looking? How about the various fittings? Anything need cleaning, repairing or replacement? Again if you did it right last fall, a lot of this shouldn’t be a problem. If not, get it done now. More Check List Items Where possible, check out the electrical system on the boat to make sure things are in working order. Reconnect the battery, check the lights, horn, the wipers (if so equipped) and the various accessories. Turn the bilge pump on for a minute. Everything work? If not, now’s the time to get it repaired/replaced and in working order, not when you’re at dockside ready to cast off. While you’re at it, how’re your ropes, the dock lines, life jackets, side bumpers, etc., holding up? The anchor and rode kit in good shape? If not replace it now. Now it’s time to return our thoughts down below to the engine. Even if you faithfully winterized the beast last fall, there’s still likely a host of items to consider. Before you take it to the marina for the spring start-up, I’d start with a good visual check of the various components on the engine things like the fan belts, hoses, wires, etc. If they look aged or dry, best to replace them now rather than in the middle of the river when they quit. Speaking of replacing, when’s the last time you replaced such items as the spark plugs, ignition wires, distributor (if so equipped), etc. How about the fuel filter on the carb? And how’s the carb or fuel injection system doing? Any performance problems from last summer that you remember? Ready for E-10? Speaking of performance issues, are you ready for E-10 gas? Thanks to us boaters now having to contend with using that “lovely” ethanol blended gas (E-10 or even E-85) as our fuel, we have a whole new list of new things to think about. Do you have a fiberglass fuel tank for one? If so, check it out very carefully for any blisters, weak spots or even weeping on the sides or bottom of last year’s fuel. If there’s any problem, you’ll most likely have replace the entire unit – a very pricey venture. It’s also best advised to replace both the fuel as well as the water separation filters right off, and then start stocking up and learn how to replace both while on the water. Thanks to that wonderful capability of ethanol gas of attracting water directly into your boat’s open fuel system from the air, you now have to think about water in your gas. Then there’s the ability of ethanol of cleaning the insides of your gas tank – all that gunk – and sending it into your engine’s fuel system. Ah, the wonders of ethanol – all those headaches and at nearly $4 per gallon to boot. But don’t despair. Boating is supposed to be fun, remember? As you ready your vessel, keep in mind all these preparations and many more. Make sure the registration is current; renew your boat insurance; make sure you and all your intended drivers take a boater’s education course; get a courtesy vessel safety check done if possible; get all the safety gear – life jackets, fire extinguishers, emergency flares, the marine radio, etc., back on board. As you embark on the water, keep in mind your float safety plan; refamiliarize yourself with safe operating on the water, and remember, don’t mix drinking and boating. But do get out and have fun. That’s why you bought that “toy” in the first place, remember?
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