As a boat owner, understanding how to maintain your marina is nearly as important as knowing how to operate your vessel. Even if you’ve secured the necessary Marina Insurance to protect your property and have plenty of experience in driving and docking your boat, you may be wondering what you need to do to ensure your marina stays clean, functional, and safe. The good news is that marina maintenance is often more straightforward than you may have realized. In some cases, it can be as simple as working through the following basic checklist.
Do a Maintenance Run-Through Once Per Week or More
Perhaps the simplest way you can ensure your marina remains in good condition is by doing a check-in on its condition at least once a week. With more regular maintenance efforts, you may be able to stave off major repairs, costly clean-ups, and even serious disasters. Every week, spend a half hour checking for:
- Presence of dirt, dust, and debris that need to be cleaned out
- Sturdiness of supportive equipment, such as boat lifts
- Water damage in the electrical system
- Structural soundness of the dock
- Wood discoloration, splintering, and rot
Equip Your Marina With Basic Dock Materials and Tools
Part of maintaining your marina is ensuring that it’s fully equipped at all times with the basic tools and materials you need to safely dock your boat and operate the vessel. Although your specific needs may vary depending on the size and age of your boat, there are several basics you should check your marina currently has. These basics include:
- Safety access ladders
- Utility lines
- Dock connections
- A first-aid kit
- Life jackets
- Strong ropes and cleats
Schedule Frequent Cleanings Tailored to Your Marina’s Construction
Finally, don’t forget to clean your marina often. You don’t need to do cleaning sessions by yourself, but you may want to make sure that your cleaning crew comes in at least once a month or so to keep the marina free of clutter and in good shape. It may be particularly helpful to tailor your cleaning approach to the types of materials used in the marina’s construction. For example, you may need to:
- Oil your hardwood decking
- Check your pressure-treated wood construction for potential splinters
- Clean off your composite-material decking and aluminum docks
Even for the most seasoned boat owner equipped with a comprehensive Marina Insurance policy, maintaining a marina may seem complex or time-consuming. Fortunately, you can easily take care of your own marina and ensure it stays safe and in good shape by keeping this guide handy. Doing a rough maintenance check on the marina at least once a week, keeping it equipped with basic materials and tools, and scheduling regular cleanings tailored to your marina’s construction materials are key steps that can help ensure your marina is functional, secure, and able to accommodate your boat in the years to come.
About Mariners Insurance
Mariners General Insurance Group was founded in 1959 to protect boat owners and marine business clients. We are marine insurance experts and insure boats worldwide – in every ocean on the planet. Marine insurance is critical if you own a boat or nautical business. Trust the professionals with all of your Boat Insurance needs – trust Mariners Insurance. Call us at (888) 402-5018 any time you have questions or concerns about insurance for your vessel or marine business.
