{"id":830,"date":"2015-03-25T08:34:59","date_gmt":"2015-03-25T12:34:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/?post_type=article&#038;p=230"},"modified":"2020-05-07T17:51:59","modified_gmt":"2020-05-07T17:51:59","slug":"maintaining-your-boat","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/maintaining-your-boat\/","title":{"rendered":"Maintaining Your Boat"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Maintaining your\u00a0Boat<\/h2>\n<p>There\u2019s nothing more enjoyable than a day on the water. Don\u2019t let it get spoiled by a breakdown. As a responsible boater, you should always plan\u00a0ahead and properly maintain your boat\u00a0and <a href=\"http:\/\/safety-equipment-by-boat-type\" data-wplink-url-error=\"true\">equipment<\/a>. Inspect your boat regularly, at the beginning of each boating season and before every boating trip. Being familiar with basic repairs will help to ensure your safety and the safety of your passengers.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/03\/Scene1CheckingEngine-01.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-235\" data-original=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/03\/Scene1CheckingEngine-01-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Boater Checking the Engine of his Boat\" width=\"700\" height=\"394\" data-original-set=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/03\/Scene1CheckingEngine-01-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/03\/Scene1CheckingEngine-01-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/03\/Scene1CheckingEngine-01.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Being properly prepared and maintaining your boat and equipment\u00a0will also alleviate unnecessary burden on search and rescue organizations such as the Canadian Coast Guard. You\u2019ll also save time and money by reducing the chance of costly breakdowns.<\/p>\n<p>Remember: The\u00a0<em>Criminal Code of Canada<\/em>\u00a0requires that you maintain your boat and equipment in seaworthy condition.\u00a0It\u2019s the law.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/03\/checklist.pdf\">Click here to download a BOATsmart! Pre-season maintenance checklist!<\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Pre-Season Maintenance<\/h2>\n<p><strong>Recommended inspections\u00a0:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Check the hull and\u00a0bilge\u00a0for any damage including cracks and leaks<\/li>\n<li>Check the condition and operation of the outdrive, including:\n<ul>\n<li>Shafts<\/li>\n<li>Propeller (prop)<\/li>\n<li>Nuts and pins<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Check the operation and condition of all systems including:\n<ul>\n<li>Fuel, electrical and cooling systems<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Check the condition of hoses and lines and replace worn, broken or cracked lines<\/li>\n<li>Check the condition of the throttle control<\/li>\n<li>Check all electrical connections\u2013clean and tighten any corroded or loose connections<\/li>\n<li>Check the condition of all navigation lights<\/li>\n<li>Inspect and clean the engine\u2019s flame arrestor with soap and water<\/li>\n<li>Check and replace engine oil if necessary<\/li>\n<li>Check and replace air and fuel filters if necessary<\/li>\n<li>With the engine running, check the operation of all gauges and alternator for charging capacity<\/li>\n<li>Check the condition of the battery (a fully charged battery should hold its charge for 24 hours)<\/li>\n<li>If unfamiliar with maintenance procedures, you should take your boat to an authorized marine dealer for service.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Winterization and Storage<\/h2>\n<p>When preparing to winterize your craft, be certain to read your owner\u2019s manual. If you are unsure of the appropriate winterization procedure for your type of boat, visit your local marine dealer for advice and service.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/03\/ScaledWinterizationNStorageHero-2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-237\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2015\/03\/ScaledWinterizationNStorageHero-2-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Winterized boat on a Trailer\" width=\"699\" height=\"393\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>The following is an overview of winterization and storage procedures:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Step 1) Use an environmentally-friendly marine detergent or algae remover to clean the hull of your craft.<\/p>\n<p>Step 2) Empty the\u00a0bilge\u00a0of any excess water and clean it using soap and water (or a marine-grade\u00a0bilge\u00a0cleaner).<\/p>\n<p>Step 3) Drain and flush the engine\u2019s cooling system.<\/p>\n<p>Step 4) Fill the boat\u2019s fuel tank.<\/p>\n<p>Step 5) Clean (or replace) the fuel filter.<\/p>\n<p>Step 6) Remove the spark plugs and fog the engine cylinders with a rust inhibitor.<\/p>\n<p>Step 7) Lubricate all moving parts.<\/p>\n<p>Step 8) Clean off any excess grease, lubrication, dirt and marine life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","article-category":[9],"article-tag":[91,102,134,212,30],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v14.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Storing and Maintaining your Boat<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn about boat storage procedures, including maintaining your boat during boating season, and in the off-season with these simple checklists and tips.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow\" \/>\n<meta name=\"googlebot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"bingbot\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/maintaining-your-boat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Storing and Maintaining your Boat\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn about boat storage procedures, including maintaining your boat during boating season, and in the off-season with these simple checklists and tips.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.boatsmartexam.com\/knowledge-base\/article\/maintaining-your-boat\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"BOATsmart! 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