That moment when you start to prepare your boat to get ready for summer is one of the greatest joys of the year. You’ve probably spent months waiting for the moment the weather gets warmer, and when it finally arrives, the water beckons. If you’re wondering how to prep your boat for summer, there are several essential steps that you shouldn’t overlook. Improper preparation can be a safety hazard, and safety hazards can lead to OC boat insurance claims. You can avoid this by following these four vital steps before you set sail this summer.
De-Winterize Your Vessel
Once summer arrives, your boat has probably been sitting for a few months, relatively untouched. It can depend on the climate, but salty ocean air is known to cause dry rotted hoses. Similarly, moisture can corrode the metal components of your boat, so it’s essential to de-winterize as soon as summer hits. You should schedule a tune-up with a technician before summer arrives — usually sometime in spring. This way, you can be ready to hit the water as soon as the weather permits.
Invest In a Tune-Up
When you schedule an appointment with your boat tech, there are a few fundamental issues they should look out for. The first is any damage to the vessel’s thermostat or water pump. If the thermostat is malfunctioning, your engine may not be able to maintain a proper temperature, and this is a significant safety hazard. Similarly, if the water pump has disintegrated during winter, it won’t be able to route water through the motor and cool the engine. A tune-up should check for these issues and proper fluid levels and engine condition.
Check Your Battery
It’s not uncommon to prepare for summer boating and find that your battery keeps dying. Many issues may be to blame, including its age, a problem with the engine’s ability to charge, or a lack of water in the system. Even if you don’t experience any issues with your battery, it’s a good idea to test it before you head out onto the water. You can do so with an inexpensive battery testing tool to measure the battery load.
Replace Any Old Filters
Finally, before you head out this summer, replace all of your boat’s fuel filters. If you’ve been using gasoline blended with ethanol, you may find that it dissolves debris. In hindsight, this might be good. Unfortunately, though, the dissolved material is often routed to your engine. To avoid this and other fuel-related problems, you should remove your fuel filters to check them and replace them regularly.
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.
