Guide to boat maintenance

As any seasoned salty boat owner will tell you, best practice in boating is to “keep your boat alive, use it, maintain it and she will always get you back home to port”.

But what does it mean “to keep it alive”?

It's more than merely personifying the human relationship to your boat, it also means machinery cannot be left dormant for too long, nor remain unchecked or unused without the majority of parts starting to deteriorate or become unreliable. 

With the summer boating season just over the horizon and Australia’s fleet of about 990,000 vessels are likely to hit the water in various conditions with many overlooked or neglected for maintenance.

For some weekend captains, the importance of regular boat care, repair and maintenance is well understood.

A split in the fuel line.

For others maintenance is not a priority and that can have severe consequences.

Here are some useful tips you can use to check on your boat before your next trip:

• The state of charge and condition of your battery and all connections to the battery for corrosion and tightness of clamps and cables and battery anchor points.
• Start your engine with water feed and run until warm.
• Check the tilt and trim functionality and look for leaks around the ram seals.
• Do a complete visual check of the hull including the sides, transom and underneath for cracks, dings and holes.
• Check for any weeping around the bung housing, skin fittings and other hull penetration points including the bung plug condition.
• Check the steering for ease of use from side to side.
• Check to ensure the fuel is fresh as fuel loses it octane rating over time and can cause running issues.
• Check oil reservoirs are up to required level if you have a two-stroke engine or check the dipstick level on four-stroke.
• Visually inspect fuel lines and primer bulb and water separator.
• Check functionality of your marine radio and GPS/chart plotter.
• Check navigational lighting.
• Check your safety gear is in good operating condition and within the required dates for flares, fire extinguisher and inflatable life jackets.
• Inspect your trailer coupling, winch mechanism and cable or strap for excessive wear and security of bow eye.
• Check tyre pressures and condition, lubrication of bearings and that wheels are spinning freely.
• Inspect trailer lights and plug.

A general vessel inspection using the checklist above should be carried out by the skipper before each voyage.

A full inspection should be carried out by a professional marine inspector annually or before the main boating season.

A boat being checked by Seaworthy Inspections inspector.

A marine professional can provide a thorough insight in all aspects of your hull, engine, electrical systems, safety equipment and trailer and can identify any defects or items that need rectification before you hit the water.

This could save you not only the heartache of a breakdown, but potentially hundreds of dollars in expensive repairs.

Look for a professional and qualified marine inspector that is a member of the Boating Industry Association.

They have many years of experience in identifying issues on various types of vessels which are not apparent to the everyday boatie.

A specialist using the correct equipment and tools can identify defects and report faults to you for consideration and action.

The key areas a marine inspector will examine for are:

The hull

Recreational vessels are constructed of a variety of materials and each requires a different method to examine for defects.  For example, GRP (fibreglass) boats often contain timber in the construction process which is susceptible to moisture absorption, particularly around the hull penetration points such as engine mounting holes, bungs and skin fittings. Specialist equipment such as an ultrasonic moisture meter is required to identify high moisture content in a transom, hull or flooring. Severe cases may require a transom or floor replacement. Aluminium or plate boats can suffer from electrolysis which can severely degrade a hull. Stress cracks from vibration and work hardening can severely affect hull strength and integrity. Timber boats can suffer from rot and electrolysis rapidly especially in freshwater environments.

A corroded boat engine.

Engine

Boats powered by inboard or outboard engines can be simple or most often complex systems depending on boat size or type. All engines require regular inspection for ease of starting, smooth idle and acceleration, correct lubrication, accuracy of indication or monitoring systems, gearshift operation and most of all, engine cylinder compressions. Regular inspection reports will assist the boat owner to track engine wear and condition closely.

Electrical

The electrical system is the heart of your boat and allows the engine, electronics, instruments, lighting and safety equipment to function reliably. The condition of the power supply and wiring including connections is paramount to the functionality and reliability of your boat's systems. From our experience and data, batteries are the number one failure point on boats. This is often due to an incorrect battery for the application such as an automotive battery or a non-cranking battery such as a deep-cycle battery used to start the engine.  Batteries are a consumable item that require regular testing and replacement with the average lifespan of a battery can be as low as three years. The condition and functionality of pumps of your vessel, particularly bilge pumps are paramount and a valuable part of your safety equipment in an emergency.

Safety equipment

Safety equipment is too often neglected by recreational boaties with many lives lost due to complacency or cost cutting. A regular check of all safety equipment is vital and is a regulatory requirement for all boaties. It is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct safety equipment on board relevant to your size of vessel. This includes current inshore or offshore distress flare kit, a suitable serviced life jacket for each person onboard and must be age and weight appropriate, waterproof torch, anchor, rope and chain, bilge pump and bucket with lanyard, suitable fire extinguisher for the fuel capacity, plus paddles, fresh drinking water, V-sheet, registered EPIRB, horn or warning device where required.

A failed boat trailer brakelight.

Boat trailer

Boat trailers have the very important purpose of safely carting your boat usually at highway speed to and from the boat ramp. Trailers are often neglected and left to marinate with salt residue and sun which is a recipe for corrosion which leads to failure on the best-constructed trailer.  A boat trailer’s components are all critical to road safety with brakes and tiedowns common areas of failure. Boats are often loaded to the hilt with equipment and fuel putting extreme load on your trailer and its components. Few boat owners understand the dangerous impact of an incorrectly balanced trailer which can cause instability at speed and under braking. Good trailer care is vital with particular attention to washing all components with fresh water to remove salt buildup and avoid corrosion. A professional set of eyes from a marine inspector can report on trailer chassis, brake systems, lighting, trailer balance and coupling condition can keep you safe and compliant.

Boat safety and reliability are paramount, so don’t take it for granted.

Story: Michael Fitzallen, CEO Seaworthy Inspections