3 Helpful Tips For Taking Your Boat Out Of Storage
Spring is in full swing, which means much warmer days are on their way. Before summer hits, boat owners all across the country will be taking their boat out of storage in order to enjoy some outdoor fun on the water. If this is the first time you've ever used boat storage, there are some things you'll want to remember when it comes to taking it out of storage.
Here are three helpful tips for taking your boat out of storage.
1. Inspect Your Boat
While it's true that your boat probably didn't receive any damage while in storage, you should still inspect it before taking it out. Doing so will help to ensure that you won't be surprised by any malfunctions while on the water, which will help to keep you and your boating passengers safe.
While inspecting your boat, some things you'll want to do include:
- Make sure there are no cracks or other types of damage on the exterior
- Make sure that any moving parts have not dried out and that they work as they should
- Make sure all the lighting on the boat works correctly
- Make sure there is no corrosion around the electrical connections
You will also want to check your hoses, hinges, hatches, and spark plugs. If you notice anything that needs to be replaced, you should do it before hitting the water.
2. Refill the Fluids on Your Boat
Before putting your boat in storage, you probably drained all of the fluids out of it. When taking it out, it's time to fill them all back up again. These fluids include:
- Engine oil
- Drive oil
- Power steering fluid
Along with putting these fluids back in, you'll also want to change the oil filter and grease all your moving parts, such as the trim/tilt pivot points and the trailer bearings.
3. Clean Your Boat
One of the last things you'll want to do before taking your boat out on the water is to make it nice in clean. It may have gotten dusty while in storage, so now it's time to make it shine again. When cleaning your boat, you'll want to choose a soap that is environmentally friendly. In order to do this, find a biodegradable soap that contains a natural pH factor.
When cleaning, it works best to start from the top and work your way down. You can also wax your boat, which will help to protect the fiberglass. Besides cleaning the exterior, you'll want to vacuum the inside and clean the windows and/or windshield as well.
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