Is your boat ready for spring yet? Are you sure?

A quick glance at the calendar tells us we need to start planning for that spring splash now so we don’t run into snags at the last minute.

Have you checked on the boat lately?  Is it full of water and leaves, maybe ice – or did you cover her up? This is a good time to check that no leaves or other stuff made it under the cover and left a mess.  Make sure any storage compartments are clean and mold-free.  If not, sunlight kills the stuff in just a couple hours, then clean up and leave it dry, dry, dry.  Cover it back up, leaving a way for air to circulate to avoid any mold or mildew buildup.

Hopefully you winterized the boat engine(s) and systems.  It’s still possible to get a hard freeze in the Richmond region until late March or early April.  For now, let’s make sure we have everything we need to test run the engine and flush out the systems once the danger of a hard freeze is past.  To avoid problems on the launch ramp or lift, it’s best to test run the engine before we get on the ramp.  You need to make sure that you have plenty of cooling water going into that engine before you try to run it! Check those flush muffs for cracks or other problems – that is, if you can find them!  Same goes for the hose and fittings. Find them, and test run that engine BEFORE you become that guy on the launch ramp for an hour trying to get his boat started, and LOTS of folks in line!

Remember all that gear you took off last winter? Now is the time to find it all and check its condition.  Pay special attention to the PFDs – are they in good condition?  Straps and buckles all working? Give them a pull test, just like your friendly game warden, deputy sheriff or Coast Guardsman is likely to.  Tug hard on those straps to make sure they are not weakened by rot or too much sunlight.  Often the straps will hold but the fabric and/or stitching will give way.  Test them and see before you get an expensive ticket!  Those fancy inflatables are great, but make sure they are serviced according to the manufacturer’s instructions.  Some require annual servicing, so check yours and make sure.  If the device needs service, then it fails an inspection during a boarding.

If you carry distress signals such as flares, check their condition, too.  They should be dry and not swollen.  Look at those expiration dates, too.  Best to replace any that would expire during your boating season so you won’t have to worry about them.  What to do with the old ones?  Don’t just throw them in the trash!  Check with the city or county as those old flares are hazardous waste.  Check with your local Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron flotilla unit; they may be able to use them during a training exercise.  

Depending on your boat, there may be more to your list than just this…the point is to think about that now, before that springtime rush to the mechanic and the launch ramp begins, so you will have a smooth, trouble-free launch in just a few weeks.