Boat Repair and Maintenance

It is a privilege and a joy to have a boat. To be able to hit the water on a picture perfect Saturday, whether cruising the lake, seeing if the trout are biting, or just enjoying nature, is a pleasure. It does not come without some effort, however. Like anything mechanical, a boat requires regular maintenance and occasional repair work. Cared for properly, however, your boat should offer you many years of reliable use.

Every season before putting in, you should take checklist in hand and give your boat a thorough going over. Referring to your owner’s manual, make a list of the recommended maintenance chores and post it where you will see if often during the season, as well as in spring and fall. The list should include checking and replacing worn spark plugs, checking cylinders for compression, replacing the water pump yearly, testing the pressure, performing an oil change (fall), looking for cracks in the fuel line, and greasing the fittings.

Frequently looking at the impeller, which is responsible for cooling the engine with lake water, is definitely advised as sand, grit, and impurities in the water can cause damage and allow the engine to overheat and fail. The last thing you want is to be dead in the water in the middle of nowhere!

If your boat springs a leak for any reason, it should be attended to at once. Although they spend all their time in the water, there are parts of a boat susceptible to water damage. Any leak warrants immediate attention.

Like any engines, sometimes boat engines need parts replaced or have parts that break. Should you need boat repair beyond your capability, you should entrust it to a professional instead of risking further damage by tinkering with it yourself. Sometimes a local car mechanic can handle the repair; sometimes you should call in the nearest service organization.

Depending on how you treat her, your boat can be your biggest joy or your greatest headache. Wise boat owners stay on top of maintenance and needed repairs.