Spring is in the air, and for boat owners, in Michigan, that means two things: Dreaming of the upcoming boating season and taking your boat out of storage and de-winterizing it. The amount of work you’ll have to do bringing your boat out of storage will depend directly on how well you winterized it in the Fall. Fear not! If you check over all these things on our Spring dewinterizing checklist, you should be able to spot any issues when bringing your boat out of storage.
How to Prepare Your Boat This Spring
Look Over Your Engine
You should always inspect your engine after a long time in storage. Staring your engine will help you ensure it runs smoothly and allow you to check for unusual noises and vibrations.
Check over Your Fuel System
Make sure everything is secure and tight. Check for any cracks in the lines. If you find any leaks, get them repaired as soon as you can.
Look At Your Fluid Levels
When looking at your fluid levels, you should be checking your coolant levels, power steering fluid, and trim reservoirs. Make sure you don’t have any leaks and yop off any low levels. You should also replace fuel filters and water separator filters.
Check your Battery
Check to see if it still holds a charge. If it can’t, time to replace it. If it can, clean up any corrosion and charge it up. Once it’s connected check all your electrical components. This includes navigation and interior lights.
Bilge Pump
Run the pump to clear out any antifreeze and to make sure that it’s still working properly. Testing it will ensure that water will not build up in your boat’s hull.
General Clean Up
Remove pillows and cushions before you do this for ease of cleaning. Cleaning up debris, scrub any spots that need scrubbing, and clean any carpets that might have old spots and stains from last year. If you want to skip this step you can always hire a professional.
If your boat isn’t your dream boat, don’t keep it around! We’ll buy that boat off of you and give you cash to put towards the next one. Simply fill out our free online form and we’ll give you a price for it. If you like what you see, we’ll take care of the rest.
So happy spring, and happy boating season everyone!