Harris, Reed & Seiferth Insurance Group
  • Home
  • Quotes
    • Property >
      • Home Quote
      • Condo Quote
      • Mobile Home Quote
      • Renters Quote
      • Personal Vacant Property Quote
      • Landlords Quote
      • Flood Quote
      • Personal Inland Marine Quote
      • Personal Vacant Land Quote
      • Builder's Risk Quote
    • Vehicles >
      • Auto Quote
      • Motorcycle Quote
      • Snowmobile Quote
      • ATV Quote
      • Motor Home/RV Quote
      • Golf Cart Quote
      • Scooter Quote
      • Roadside Assistance Quote
    • Life >
      • Life Insurance Quote
    • Medical >
      • Health Quote
      • Dental Quote
      • Vision Quote
      • Critical Illness Quote
      • Disability Quote
      • Medicare Supplement Plan Quote
      • Long Term Care Quote
    • Business >
      • Business Quote
    • Specialty >
      • Boatowners Quote
      • Umbrella Quote
      • Travel Insurance Quote
      • Private Horse Owner Liability Quote
  • Products
    • Property >
      • Learn about Home Insurance
      • Learn about Condo Insurance
      • Learn about Renters Insurance
      • Learn about Mobile Home Insurance
      • Learn about Personal Inland Marine Insurance
      • Learn about Vacant Land (Personal)
      • Learn about Vacant Property
      • Learn about Flood Insurance
      • Learn about Builder's Risk Insurance
      • Learn about Landlords Insurance
    • Vehicles >
      • Learn about Auto Insurance
      • Learn about Classic Car Insurance
      • Learn about Motorcycle Insurance
      • Learn about Snowmobile Insurance
      • Learn about ATV Insurance
      • Learn about RV Insurance
      • Learn about Golf Cart Insurance
      • Learn about Scooter Insurance
      • Learn About Roadside Assistance Insurance
    • Life >
      • Learn about Life Insurance
      • Learn about Guaranteed Issue
    • Medical >
      • Learn about Health Insurance
      • Learn about Dental Insurance
      • Learn about Vision Insurance
      • Learn about Critical Illness Insurance
      • Learn about Disability Insurance
      • Learn about Long Term Care Insurance
      • Learn about Medicare Advantage Plans Insurance
    • Business >
      • Learn about Business Insurance
      • Learn about Commercial Marine Insurance
    • Specialty >
      • Learn about Boatowners Insurance
      • Learn about Aviation Insurance
      • Learn about Umbrella Insurance
      • Learn about Travel Insurance
      • Learn about Private Horse Owner Liability Insurance
  • Service
    • Report a Claim
    • Update Contact Info
    • Policy Changes
    • Proof of Insurance
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Free Home Inventory Checklist
    • Free Disaster Preparedness Plan
    • Refer a Friend
  • About
    • Insurance Carriers
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Contact
  • Home
  • Quotes
    • Property >
      • Home Quote
      • Condo Quote
      • Mobile Home Quote
      • Renters Quote
      • Personal Vacant Property Quote
      • Landlords Quote
      • Flood Quote
      • Personal Inland Marine Quote
      • Personal Vacant Land Quote
      • Builder's Risk Quote
    • Vehicles >
      • Auto Quote
      • Motorcycle Quote
      • Snowmobile Quote
      • ATV Quote
      • Motor Home/RV Quote
      • Golf Cart Quote
      • Scooter Quote
      • Roadside Assistance Quote
    • Life >
      • Life Insurance Quote
    • Medical >
      • Health Quote
      • Dental Quote
      • Vision Quote
      • Critical Illness Quote
      • Disability Quote
      • Medicare Supplement Plan Quote
      • Long Term Care Quote
    • Business >
      • Business Quote
    • Specialty >
      • Boatowners Quote
      • Umbrella Quote
      • Travel Insurance Quote
      • Private Horse Owner Liability Quote
  • Products
    • Property >
      • Learn about Home Insurance
      • Learn about Condo Insurance
      • Learn about Renters Insurance
      • Learn about Mobile Home Insurance
      • Learn about Personal Inland Marine Insurance
      • Learn about Vacant Land (Personal)
      • Learn about Vacant Property
      • Learn about Flood Insurance
      • Learn about Builder's Risk Insurance
      • Learn about Landlords Insurance
    • Vehicles >
      • Learn about Auto Insurance
      • Learn about Classic Car Insurance
      • Learn about Motorcycle Insurance
      • Learn about Snowmobile Insurance
      • Learn about ATV Insurance
      • Learn about RV Insurance
      • Learn about Golf Cart Insurance
      • Learn about Scooter Insurance
      • Learn About Roadside Assistance Insurance
    • Life >
      • Learn about Life Insurance
      • Learn about Guaranteed Issue
    • Medical >
      • Learn about Health Insurance
      • Learn about Dental Insurance
      • Learn about Vision Insurance
      • Learn about Critical Illness Insurance
      • Learn about Disability Insurance
      • Learn about Long Term Care Insurance
      • Learn about Medicare Advantage Plans Insurance
    • Business >
      • Learn about Business Insurance
      • Learn about Commercial Marine Insurance
    • Specialty >
      • Learn about Boatowners Insurance
      • Learn about Aviation Insurance
      • Learn about Umbrella Insurance
      • Learn about Travel Insurance
      • Learn about Private Horse Owner Liability Insurance
  • Service
    • Report a Claim
    • Update Contact Info
    • Policy Changes
    • Proof of Insurance
  • Resources
    • Blog
    • Free Home Inventory Checklist
    • Free Disaster Preparedness Plan
    • Refer a Friend
  • About
    • Insurance Carriers
    • Accessibility Statement
    • Contact

Harris, Reed & Seiferth
​Insurance Group Blog

Spring Checklist: Preparing Your Boat for the Summer

4/30/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture

​Memorial Day is just a few weeks away, which means boat season is upon us! It’s now time put some work into getting your vessel ready to launch. Below we’ve compiled de-winterization steps you’ll need to take to get your boat ready, as well as more general safety and maintenance tips.
​
Before reading this it is important to note that there are many types and sizes of boats, as this will cover a lot of steps for preparation, you should create your own spring checklist based on the complexities of your particular vessel; just be sure to consult your Owner’s Manual if you are a do-it-yourselfer.




For starters, safety first!
  • Inspect your life jackets to make sure they are in good condition and do not need to be replaced.
  • Make sure each person that gets on the boat with you wear a life jacket that is their size and is made for their exact body weight.
  • Check the fire extinguishers present in your boat to determine if they are the correct class for your boat. Ensure they are charged and placed in their proper location on the boat.
  • Make sure the carbon monoxide detectors are installed in all enclosed and partially enclosed areas on your boat. Ensure they work properly.
  • If you do not have one already, you should invest in an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), as they are useful in the event you get lost at sea.

Now let’s get into some pre-launch maintenance and inspection
  • Ensure the shaft seal is not wet when you dock your boat.
  • Examine deck fittings, hatches, and portlights. You are looking for displaced caulking, dirt, water trails, and green corrosion. If you find any leak, you need to re-caulk them.
  • Examine the GPS and VHF antenna connections. Disconnect, spray it with a moisture displacing lubricant, and reconnect.

Docked Boat Inspection
  • Change the plastic fittings close to the waterline with Marelon or bronze.
  • Examine the outdrive, anodes on the shaft, and trim tabs, replacing any that have become worn out.
  • Examine the props for distortion, pitting, and dinging. Ensure the cotter pins are secure. Move the shaft by holding the prop and if it is loose, replace the cutlass bearing. Inspect the rudderstock to ensure it is not bent.

Fuel System Inspection 
  • Check the engine, ventilation, and exhaust systems to ensure they proper functioning.
  • Do not pump until you fill your tank with fuel. The fuel should not contain over 10 percent ethanol because it will cause malfunctioning.
  • Examine the fuel system for damage or leaks. Check out the connections, tank surfaces, and fuel hoses for leaks. Brittleness, softness, and cracking are all evidence of a fuel hose that needs to be replaced.
  • Replace components if necessary and double check to ensure the clamps and fittings are secured.

Engine and Other Systems Inspection

  • Change engine oil and check the fluid levels in the transmission, coolant, and hydraulic steering fluid.
  • Examine belts for wear and tension.
  • Examine the outer jacket. You are looking for swelling and cracks. If you find cracks and swelling, you need to replace the cable. You can apply waterproof grease at the ends.
  •  Gasoline lines should state “USCG Approved, J1527” because if they do not, replace them.
  • If the raw water impellers are more than a year old, you need to replace them.
  • Inspect freshwater and raw-water for seepage. If you find seepage, you need to replace a gasket.
  • Look at exhaust manifolds. You are looking for water seepage and corrosion. If you find either one of those, you have a blockage. If you find an issue with it, you need to remove the exhaust manifolds.
  • Replace fuel filters and clean or replace the air filter.
  • Replace the gaskets located at the heat exchanger. You should replace them each year, as doing so, prevents corrosion. By replacing it, you can check for gunk that clogs up the stacks.

Topsides, Hull, and Deck Inspection

  • Apply antifouling paint. It is not a good idea to use copper-based paint to paint your running gear without applying a barrier coat first and do not paint your transducers.
  • Only wash non-skid areas, not wax them.
  • Remove the tarp off your boat. Dry, fold, and keep it away. If you have covered your board using shrink-wrap, you can recycle it.
  • Apply antifouling paint. It is not a good idea to use copper-based paint to paint your running gear without applying a barrier coat first and do not paint your transducers.
  • You can also use an electric buffer. Examine the pad, removing debris from it. Keep moving the electric buffer because if you continue to use it on one area of the boat, it may create problems.
  • You need to wax your boat’s topsides with a marine paste-wax. Marine paste-wax will make your shine and protect it. Plus, in comparison to other products, it lasts longer.
  • You should place the drain plug before you take your boat out on the water.

Whether you are relatively new to the sea or a seasoned skipper, you need to have a game plan for getting your boat ready – from basic spring boat maintenance to tackling projects reserved for out of the water.

Photo: The huge yacht parked in the water of Trogir by Marco Verch under Creative Commons 2.0 with banner added
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    ATV
    Boats
    Business
    Dental
    FAQs
    Financial
    Flood
    Golf Cart
    Health
    Home
    Insurance
    Life
    Local
    Motorcycles
    RV's
    Safety
    Snowmobile
    Trailer

    Archives

    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    September 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017

    RSS Feed

Connect With Us

Contact Us

Click Here to Email Us

Navigation

Homepage
Insurance Quotes
Policy Service
Insurance Products
Contact Us

Share This Page

Florida
6650 W. Indiantown Rd.
Jupiter, FL 33458


(561) 768-8176

Texas
11811 North Freeway, 
Houston, TX 77060

(713) 487-5538

Website by InsuranceSplash
© 2023 by HARRIS, REED & SEIFERTH INSURANCE GROUP, INC.
Photos used under Creative Commons from Ian Sane, allesopdemotor.nl de meest informatieve motor site, Carl Johan, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, Jim Larrison, martinrstone, Gamma Man, onnola