Did you know that there are over 25 million recreational boats currently owned in the United States?
Whether for travel, fishing, or the simple pleasure of being out on the water, tens of millions of Americans enjoy the benefits of having a watercraft of their own. For navigating lakes or oceans, regardless of size, one can always find just the right boat for the experience you want.
However, a boat is a big responsibility, and there are a few universal boat maintenance and storage rules to keep in mind. If you are a boat owner, then it is important to be knowledgeable about protecting your investment.
This brief guide will break down five important tips you need to know.
1. Flush Engine After Each Use
An essential watercraft maintenance tip to remember is to flush your engine after every time you take it out. To do this, you should cover your engine’s water intake and douse the engine in freshwater.
Doing this will ensure that salt, dirt, and other debris found in seawater or freshwater will not build up and damage your engine.
2. Keep Batteries Clean
Even when no problem has arisen, you will want to make a habit of checking your batteries as often as you can. The last thing any boat owner wants is to be stuck on the water with a dead battery. Therefore, maintaining proper battery levels is absolutely crucial.
Also, among other battery-related boat care tips, you should regularly clean your battery connections to get ahead of battery corrosion before it starts.
3. Use a Quality Window Cleaner
Boats must endure a lot of exposure to the elements, which can take a toll on their windows father than you might think. To keep your boat’s windows from becoming cloudy, weathered, and brittle, never go too long without scrubbing them with a quality window cleaner made.
4. Keep an Eye on the Flooring
Not all boat maintenance tips revolve around prolonging your boat’s lifespan. Some simply involve prolonging yours!
Boats’ surfaces can become slippery very quickly, even due to the buildup of grime when dry. Protect yourself from ugly slips and falls by keeping the deck scrubbed and remembering to clean under whatever carpeting your boat may have.
5. Boat Maintenance in the Offseason
A brunt of the risks to your boat’s long-term health is most likely to come when you’re not even using it.
To protect your boat from cold temperatures, you should winterize it in advance, perhaps even consulting a professional to do so. You may also want to store your boat somewhere that specializes in protecting watercraft through the icier months, like this storage company.
Keep Up With the Latest to Protect Your Investments
Now that you’re equipped with the basics of boat maintenance, you should know that the easiest way to stay ahead of the curve and save yourself money is to stay informed!
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