Owning a boat can be an exciting experience. But it’s also a lot of responsibility and upkeep. Unlike taking care of a car, a boat requires constant maintenance to keep it in proper operating condition.

Boat maintenance isn’t complicated but it’s necessary to make sure that your fishing boat remains safe enough to be out on the water. Knowing what your boat needs and when to perform the proper upkeep is something every boat owner needs to learn.

Let’s take a look at some of the top maintenance tips you should know for keeping your boat seaworthy.

8 Boat Maintenance and Care Tips to Keep Your Boat Running for Years to Come

If you own a boat and want to keep it running for years, proper maintenance is important. Read on to learn the top boat maintenance and care tips.

1. Take Care of Your Battery During the Off Season

There is a tendency among boat owners to take their boat battery for granted. After all, it’s an easy piece of equipment to ignore. And yet it’s also one of the most important parts of your boat. Without it, you won’t have lights and you won’t be able to start your engine. A dead battery means you’re dead in the water.

The key is to care for your battery in the off season. This means keeping it clean, keeping it charged, keeping the metal terminals lubricated, and storing it somewhere safe and dry.

2. Protect Your Boat Against Mold

There’s nothing attractive about mold. It’s ugly and annoying, and it’s something every boat owner has to deal with eventually. Drying off your boat after each use is the quickest and easiest way to prevent mold spores from growing. But we also recommend using a mixture of white vinegar to kill mold without hurting your paint.

3. Check Your Propeller Regularly

Your propeller takes a lot of abuse and thus needs good care to avoid serious damage. It’s a good idea to pull the boat out of the water with your boat trailer to remove the propeller and inspect it for any obvious damage. Also check for debris such as fishing line or any other type of gunk that might have gotten tangled.

Also inspect the propeller for dents or rust. And if you have any serious concerns, take it to a repair shop for an expert opinion on getting it repaired or replaced.

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4. Keep and Eye Out For Corrosion

One of the biggest enemies for a boat is corrosion. It will attack the metal of your boat like a virus, and do serious damage quickly if you don’t pay close attention. This is especially true of used boats.

A smart boat owner needs to always be watching out for any appearance of corrosion, especially when exposed to salty water. Check all metal components and attachments, including your engine. Keep everything as dry as possible, and don’t hesitate to replace items that have begun to show signs of rust.

Keep in mind that all types of moisture are bad for your boat if allowed to linger. We recommend raising your boat out of the water after each use. This helps prevent both mildew and waterline stains.

5. Always Check Your Engine

When it comes to boat maintenance, never assume that everything is fine. This includes your engine. Because once you’re out on the water, it’s a bad time to discover engine problems.

Make an engine checklist and go over it thoroughly prior to each and every time you use your boat. Look for leaks, and check the hoses and bilge. Check your fuel and water coolant levels, as well as your oil. Then start the engine and let it run for a few minutes to make sure everything appears to be running smoothly.

During your engine check is a good time to check the wiring and engine mount as well. Make note on your checklist of anything that appears out of the ordinary or things that might need to be replaced soon.

6. Keep an Oil Schedule

Every engine is different, with oil requirements specific to that model and engine type. Regular oil changes are vital to the health and running condition of your engine. You can do this on your own, or take it to a pro to have it serviced, but don’t trying changing it yourself if you have no idea what you’re doing.

Just make sure to keep a log of oil changes so that you know when it’s due for its next servicing.

7. Manage the Gelcoat

Proper maintenance of your boat’s gelcoat is one of the keys to keeping it looking its best. Gelcoats are strong, but using the wrong cleaners can lead to long-term damage.

When the gelcoat is in good shape, you can be more aggressive scrubbing away stains. But as it begins wearing down, you’ll no longer be able to remove all stains. Thus proper care from the beginning is vital.

8. Proper Fuel Management

Believe it or not, there’s more to boat fuel than just making sure you have enough. It’s important to check the specific type of fuel your engine requires, because some fuel types require fuel additives.

It’s a good idea to keep your fuel tank topped off whenever possible so that moisture can’t get in. And during the off season when the boat will sit idle or in dry dock, it’s wise to either add a protective fuel stabilizer or simply drain the fuel.

Keeping Your Boat in Top Condition

A boat is a major investment and one that you take great pride in. So you want to know that you will be able to enjoy it for many years. Proper boat maintenance is vital to the safety and longevity of your boat.

A little preventative maintenance can go a long way toward keeping small issues from becoming big problems down the road. This list of boat maintenance tips should help ensure that you are able to have a great time on the water for decades to come!

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