Some Additional Thoughts on Spring Prep Although Jimmy from Suffolk Marine offered some excellent tips for getting your boat ready to splash, I will also offer a few added thoughts based on my 50+ years of coastal boating •Check your primary mooring and throw lines before getting your boat over to the marina. I always like to replace these at least every other season, of if they are show- ing accelerated wear and tear. •Check the cosmetic and functional condition of your boat’s PFDs (personal flota-
tion devices). If any are getting worn out, replace them. As a charter operator, I am required to employ Type-1 USCG approved floatation for myself and my passengers and suggest to all my customers that they do the same on their recreational boats. How much is your life or the lives of your friends and family worth? If you can afford to keep a boat in the water, you can also afford to spend $80-to-$100 on a Type-1 life jacket. Some day you will think me for this suggestion. •Put a charge into all your vessel’s 12v/24v batteries before the season starts and reinstall on your boat. Replace any batteries that are not taking/holding a charge. I recommend having one (starting) battery for each engine, plus a separate (deep cycle) house battery for the marine electronics, with the appropriate switching to both isolate and/or parallel the batteries in case of emergencies Check your primary mooring and throw lines before getting your boat over to the marina. I always like to replace these at least every other season, of if they are showing accelerated wear and tear. •Check the cosmetic and functional condition of your boat’s PFDs (personal flotation devices). If any are getting worn out, replace them. As a charter operator, I am required to employ Type-1 USCG approved floatation for myself and my passengers and suggest to all my customers that they do the same on their recreational boats. How much is your life or the lives of your friends and family worth? If you can afford to keep a boat in the water, you can also afford to spend $80-to-$100 on a Type-1 life jacket. Some day you will think me for this suggestion. •Put a charge into all your vessel’s 12v/24v batteries before the season starts and reinstall on your boat. Replace any batteries that are not taking/holding a charge. I recommend having one (starting) battery for each engine, plus a separate (deep cycle) house battery for the marine electronics, with the appropriate switching to both isolate and/or parallel the batteries in case of emergencies. •When swapping out primary gasoline fuel filters, add fresh gas to the empty can to prevent any potential hard starting and/or vapor locks. •Change the batteries in all your safety gear like flashlights, strobes, portable GPS units, electronic rescue flares, handheld VHF radios, etc. If these run off rechargeable NiCad or LiFePO4 battery packs, be sure to give them a full charge before starting the season. •Check all primary electronics to ensure functionality before splashing your boat, including VHF radio antenna connections. Repair or replace accordingly to make sure that everything works up to expectations. Work each breaker on your accessory panel to ascertain if the attached unit is getting clean 12v power. Check the grounding wire for the main electrical panel for a solid connection. •Be sure to check your boat trailer for proper tire pressure and grease all hubs, rollers and bearings. Check trailer lights for operation.
•After hooking up the appropriate water source, start your boat before trans- porting it down to the marina or the launching ramp. •Remove the shrink wrap boat cover and recycle. Now it’s time for the annual washing, waxing and bottom painting ritual for your vessel’s fiberglass and metal. Have fun
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