The start of the new tournament season is upon us, so here is a list of some basic boat maintenance items to check.
From front to rear boat:
Open bow panel and check all electrical connections. Reapply diaelectric grease as necessary.
Check nuts on bow eye for tightness
Vacuum open front panel area and remove dead bugs etc.
Tighten TM mount bolts.
Clean out recess for TM and ensure that the drain is clear.
Clean out vacuum and reorganize all front deck compartments.
Tighten screws that hold lids to deck.
Clean carpets on front deck.
Check windshield screws for tightness and clean under the windsheilds.
Check all under console wires and bundles for tightness.
Reapply diaelectric grease to wire connection as required.
Check and lube hotfoot.
Check center seat storage screws for tightness and clean it out.
Remove seats check all connections in fuel compartment. Clean up tanks.
Remove all items from back deck compartments and clean/reorganize.
Remove rub rail and tighten screws.
Remove seat poles and remove rust or corrosion and lightly lube and reinstall.
torque Power Pole nuts and bolts to spec.
pull prop off trolling motor checking for fishing line and seal integrity.
Pull prop off big motor and check for fishing line.
lube hinges and locks.
compartment lights for operation
Wax boat
Inspect and top off hydraulic steering fluid.
Thoroughly clean livewells, remove screens, and flush the hoses.
Lubricate the livewell control switch.
Check seat poles for the front and rear lightly oil. If the rusted sand a little and apply lite oil and wipe dry with rag.
From front to rear boat:
Open bow panel and check all electrical connections. Reapply diaelectric grease as necessary.
Check nuts on bow eye for tightness
Vacuum open front panel area and remove dead bugs etc.
Tighten TM mount bolts.
Clean out recess for TM and ensure that the drain is clear.
Clean out vacuum and reorganize all front deck compartments.
Tighten screws that hold lids to deck.
Clean carpets on front deck.
Check windshield screws for tightness and clean under the windsheilds.
Check all under console wires and bundles for tightness.
Reapply diaelectric grease to wire connection as required.
Check and lube hotfoot.
Check center seat storage screws for tightness and clean it out.
Remove seats check all connections in fuel compartment. Clean up tanks.
Remove all items from back deck compartments and clean/reorganize.
Remove rub rail and tighten screws.
Remove seat poles and remove rust or corrosion and lightly lube and reinstall.
torque Power Pole nuts and bolts to spec.
pull prop off trolling motor checking for fishing line and seal integrity.
Pull prop off big motor and check for fishing line.
lube hinges and locks.
compartment lights for operation
Wax boat
Inspect and top off hydraulic steering fluid.
Thoroughly clean livewells, remove screens, and flush the hoses.
Lubricate the livewell control switch.
Check seat poles for the front and rear lightly oil. If the rusted sand a little and apply lite oil and wipe dry with rag.
In utility/rigging area
Remove batteries and check battery mounting pans for security/cracks.
Remove lower pan and check all pumps for tightness and for cracks.
Clean out bilge area.
Check rear tiedown bolts for tightness
Check all wires and network connections for tightness and reapply diaelectric grease as necessary.
Check and tighten jackplate bolts. Reapply silicone as necessary.
Check and tighten motor to plate bolts.
Check battery condition and ensure that they are topped off with distilled water.
Reinstall batteries and ensure fresh diaelectric grease is applied.
Remove cartridge pumps and flush all lines.
Check screws on battery trays.
Disconnect or if installed, open water drain for water pressure gauge.
Drop a bar of soap in the bilge area (or put your old soap chips in there).
Trailer items
Check and lube swivel pin, and inspect lock pin on swivel tongue of trailer.
Check Swingaway bolt for proper tightness. Tighten as necessary.
Inspect and tighten bolts on license plate and plate hanger.
Cool Hubs change oil.
Grease hubs, grease wheel bearings or repack.
Check bearing seals for leaks.
Jack up trailer and check wheel bearing play.
Check winch and winch bracket mounting bolts.
Check brake fluid level fill as needed.
Inspect brake actuator and hitch coupler.
Check air pressure in tires and spare.
Rotate trailer tires. Refill with nitrogen?
Re-torque lug nuts.
Check your caliper pins for cleanliness and ensure calipers have freedom of movement. Remove any corrosion or road grime as needed.
If your trailer tires are three years old or older replace them, spare tire as well if its over five.
Apply dielectric grease to trailer plug connection on truck and boat.
Re-apply 303 to rubber on trailer (tires, step pads.)
Remove wheels and really clean the inside of the wheel.
Service all electronics also:
Check all connections, replace any glass fuses with blade style fuses.
Check all Tee connectors on NMEA2000 network for tightness. Anchor all Tee connectors to bulkhead or stringers.
If using older blue style NMEA Connectors, apply dielectric grease to all connections (they are not waterproof like the red or black connectors).
Check transducers for proper angle, check epoxy bond in hull.
Put a fresh dot of paint on top of each connector (power cables, transducer connector, NMEA 2000 cable connector, etc.) to make it quick and easy to line these up.
Other areas to be on the look out for:
Inspect and clean all tools in tool bag, jumper cables, and other emergency equipment.
Inspect mechanisms for inflatable vests. Replace old out of data auto inflators
Inspect anchor and anchor rope.
Generic engine checks:
Lube all locations on motor and bracket (swivel & tilt) and a dab of grease on lift plungers.
Check motor for side to side movement in bracket and tighten as needed.
Drain and refill lower unit.
Grease to the steering bracket that slides where the motor bracket meets the plate above the hydraulic steering.
Remove batteries and check battery mounting pans for security/cracks.
Remove lower pan and check all pumps for tightness and for cracks.
Clean out bilge area.
Check rear tiedown bolts for tightness
Check all wires and network connections for tightness and reapply diaelectric grease as necessary.
Check and tighten jackplate bolts. Reapply silicone as necessary.
Check and tighten motor to plate bolts.
Check battery condition and ensure that they are topped off with distilled water.
Reinstall batteries and ensure fresh diaelectric grease is applied.
Remove cartridge pumps and flush all lines.
Check screws on battery trays.
Disconnect or if installed, open water drain for water pressure gauge.
Drop a bar of soap in the bilge area (or put your old soap chips in there).
Trailer items
Check and lube swivel pin, and inspect lock pin on swivel tongue of trailer.
Check Swingaway bolt for proper tightness. Tighten as necessary.
Inspect and tighten bolts on license plate and plate hanger.
Cool Hubs change oil.
Grease hubs, grease wheel bearings or repack.
Check bearing seals for leaks.
Jack up trailer and check wheel bearing play.
Check winch and winch bracket mounting bolts.
Check brake fluid level fill as needed.
Inspect brake actuator and hitch coupler.
Check air pressure in tires and spare.
Rotate trailer tires. Refill with nitrogen?
Re-torque lug nuts.
Check your caliper pins for cleanliness and ensure calipers have freedom of movement. Remove any corrosion or road grime as needed.
If your trailer tires are three years old or older replace them, spare tire as well if its over five.
Apply dielectric grease to trailer plug connection on truck and boat.
Re-apply 303 to rubber on trailer (tires, step pads.)
Remove wheels and really clean the inside of the wheel.
Service all electronics also:
Check all connections, replace any glass fuses with blade style fuses.
Check all Tee connectors on NMEA2000 network for tightness. Anchor all Tee connectors to bulkhead or stringers.
If using older blue style NMEA Connectors, apply dielectric grease to all connections (they are not waterproof like the red or black connectors).
Check transducers for proper angle, check epoxy bond in hull.
Put a fresh dot of paint on top of each connector (power cables, transducer connector, NMEA 2000 cable connector, etc.) to make it quick and easy to line these up.
Other areas to be on the look out for:
Inspect and clean all tools in tool bag, jumper cables, and other emergency equipment.
Inspect mechanisms for inflatable vests. Replace old out of data auto inflators
Inspect anchor and anchor rope.
Generic engine checks:
Lube all locations on motor and bracket (swivel & tilt) and a dab of grease on lift plungers.
Check motor for side to side movement in bracket and tighten as needed.
Drain and refill lower unit.
Grease to the steering bracket that slides where the motor bracket meets the plate above the hydraulic steering.
RSS Feed