Boat maintenance preparaton

With the fishing season just a few months away, I usually start preparing my boat for the long hours on the water ahead. This time of year is a great time to take your boat in for service, its usually slower at the dealerships so you can get your rig in and out faster. By mid February, the dealer's business is starting to pick up with new customers looking at buying new boats or trading them in, (those trade in boats will take up time in the shop getting ready for resale) and existing customers are taking their boats in for maintenance. That is especially important to know if your preferred dealer is smaller, a lot of times the owner or sales staff are also mechanics. I am also very picky when it comes to maintenance on my boat. I might go a little overboard sometimes with that I have done each year but, this is what I usually have done and why. First, is the main motor. I have a 2-stroke E-tec but its really the same items no matter what brand of motor your own. I always check the oil reservoir to make sure that oil is being picked up from the tank properly. I check the hoses for leaks and make sure that there are no leaks in the reservoir itself. I change the oil in the lower unit each year regardless. You never know whether moisture gets in there or and type of obstruction that could cause damage. I.e. metal shavings, dirt, etc.) I also, check the prop and the prop shaft to make sure that it hasn't been bent somehow. Another item that I check is the thermostat, I will put the ears on the motor and run it at idle to make sure that it is working properly. That is especially important if you fish early in the season when the water is cold. You can check all of the same things if you have a 4-stroke except the engine oil checklist is a little different. I do all of the same things with my kicker and its a 4-stroke. I am able to keep my boat in a garage, so I don't have to worry about winterizing. If you cant, store in a garage you might have to wait a little while longer to start this process. And I also store the boat with SeaFoam in the fuel tank with ethanol free fuel. Once I am satisfied that my main and kicker is good to go, I move on to the boat itself. I will visually inspect the hull, and everything that I can see to look for punctures, peeling gel coat or anything like that. If there are no punctures, I will wash the entire thing and put a fresh coat or two of wax on it to preserve the gel coat and the shine. The type of wax is more personal preference than anything but I like to use the Boat Bling line of products, based on their ease of application and finish results. After that. I love on to the electronics and trolling motor. I will open up the boxes and make sure that everything is wired correctly, and nothing has become disconnected from running in the rough water or trailering. I will take the batteries out and test them as best I can, and put them back in the boat. About once a month while its in storage I will hook the batteries up to the charger and let them sit for a day or so, just to make sure that there is always a charge in them. From there I will check the trolling motor itself for any obstructions on the prop or in the shaft, check for bends, and check the universal sonar puck (if it has one) and make sure that everything is operating properly. After I get through all of that I check the trailer. I will check the bunks to make sure they are not warped or broken, I do a quick light test, and then check all the tires for leaks and make sure they are filled with air. Finally, I will check the hubs, put grease in as needed. I usually have the bearings repacked every couple years. Once all of these are done, you are set for the water. While, this might cost some money, I know its less expensive than repairing a major problem and its much less of a headache than missing a day on the water!