07-25-2003, 01:33 AM
[font "Arial,Helvetica,Geneva,Swiss,SunSans-Regular"][size 3][size 5]Maintenance key to your boat’s longevity[/size]
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Gladwin County Record[/size]
(NAPS)-Boats are like people: good maintenance can equal long life. There are some things you should do to make sure your boat stays ready for the water.
If you haven’t got your boat out for a summer trip yet, here are some tips to follow when you do.
• Warm up. Coax your boat out of hibernation. If you stored your boat with some fuel in the tank and didn’t use a fuel stabilizer, condition the fuel by adding a conditioner. If you experience no start and the fuel seems stale, take your boat to a qualified dealership where trained technicians are equipped to drain and dispose of the fuel.
• Maintain liquids. If you own a 4-cycle marine outboard, now’s a good time to change the engine oil and oil filter, and drain and replace the lower unit lubricants. Synthetic oils are good because they protect engines and extend engine life. For those who own a 2-cycle marine engine, top off the oil reservoir with fresh 2-cycle oil, change out lower unit lubricants and run engine to flush out all cooling passages.
• Secure loose ends that might trip you up. Check for loose or damaged wiring on the outboard and boat. Check the throttle and shift cables to make sure they’re properly adjusted and work correctly.
• Charge your battery. Charge and reinstall the battery. Some fishing boats, especially bass boats, have internal chargers pre-wired. All you need is to add an extension cord, or test it to make sure it can hold a charge during big jobs, like starting the engine.
• Check support equipment. Inspect your trailer to make sure the trailer lights are working, and then double check the winch cable, tie downs and safety chains. Make sure your state license registration is up to date as well.
If possible, take your boat out on the water for a short run to make sure everything’s working properly.
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Gladwin County Record[/size]
(NAPS)-Boats are like people: good maintenance can equal long life. There are some things you should do to make sure your boat stays ready for the water.
If you haven’t got your boat out for a summer trip yet, here are some tips to follow when you do.
• Warm up. Coax your boat out of hibernation. If you stored your boat with some fuel in the tank and didn’t use a fuel stabilizer, condition the fuel by adding a conditioner. If you experience no start and the fuel seems stale, take your boat to a qualified dealership where trained technicians are equipped to drain and dispose of the fuel.
• Maintain liquids. If you own a 4-cycle marine outboard, now’s a good time to change the engine oil and oil filter, and drain and replace the lower unit lubricants. Synthetic oils are good because they protect engines and extend engine life. For those who own a 2-cycle marine engine, top off the oil reservoir with fresh 2-cycle oil, change out lower unit lubricants and run engine to flush out all cooling passages.
• Secure loose ends that might trip you up. Check for loose or damaged wiring on the outboard and boat. Check the throttle and shift cables to make sure they’re properly adjusted and work correctly.
• Charge your battery. Charge and reinstall the battery. Some fishing boats, especially bass boats, have internal chargers pre-wired. All you need is to add an extension cord, or test it to make sure it can hold a charge during big jobs, like starting the engine.
• Check support equipment. Inspect your trailer to make sure the trailer lights are working, and then double check the winch cable, tie downs and safety chains. Make sure your state license registration is up to date as well.
If possible, take your boat out on the water for a short run to make sure everything’s working properly.
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