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How to Maintain Your Boat

Big or small, basic or souped up, there is one thing every boat needs. Maintenance. Fortunately, routine maintenance and even small repairs aren’t that tough. And in the long run, a little elbow grease will definitely pay off. Follow these steps to avoid costly repairs later.

StepsEdit

1
Wash your boat regularly. And if you boat in saltwater, rinse your boat thoroughly with fresh water after every outing to remove salt residue.
2
Use soaps and cleaners made just for boats to protect your boat’s finish.
3
Change your boat's oil regularly. Four-stroke outboards, inboards and stern drive boats require regular oil changes. The frequency will vary by model, but a good rule of thumb is to change the oil every 100 hours of operation or at least once a year.
4
Check the propeller as part of your pre-launch routine (If you have an outboard or stern drive boat). Use a deep socket to make sure the propeller nut is secure.
5
Remove the propeller several times during the season to make sure discarded fishing line hasn’t become wrapped around the propeller shaft. If it has, have your dealer inspect the gear-case, because fishing line can cause gear-case leaks and gear-case service is not a do-it-yourself job.
6
While you have the propeller off, inspect it for nicks, dents and other signs of damage. It’s OK if your prop is missing paint, but send it out for repairs if you find signs of impact. The smallest dent can cause your boat to lose 10% of performance and will burn more fuel than normal.
7
Put a liberal amount of waterproof grease on the propeller shaft and re-install the propeller and hardware in the same order that you took them off, and tighten the propeller nut to the manufacturers specifications. Do NOT forget to put a new cotter pin in if you have an outboard.

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Community Q&A

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Can I store a boat in a driveway?

Answered by wikiHow Contributor
- Yes, but you may want to cover parts of it. If you have a bimini, avoid storing in direct sunlight as it assists in the deterioration of the canvas. Covering your motor is a good idea. If you live in an area prone to theft, remove the GPS and Sounder head units.
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I want to take the old fuel out of my boat, how do I do that?

Answered by wikiHow Contributor
- Your tanks may have a drain plug. If not then remove the fuel cap and siphon it out.
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TipsEdit

A long-handled boat brush or a spray wand make washing your boat pretty easy, you can find it at your local marine retail store.

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Changing the oil in your boat’s engine is quite easy—in most cases, easier than changing the oil in your car. For directions visit:[[1]]

6 Helpful? 5
Unfortunately, there aren’t any quickie oil change shops for boats, so you have to change your boat’s oil yourself or take it to your local dealer.

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WarningsEdit

If you’re tempted to let the chore of cleaning your boat slide consider this fact: a boat with a clean hull bottom is more fuel-efficient than a hull that’s covered with algae or other aquatic scum. A dirty hall can easily add up to 30% of fuel cost.

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