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The summer season is fast approaching! Your main concern as a boater is to know if your boat is ready for the season. First and foremost, you should know that if you have taken care to properly winterize your boat beforehand, your work will be much smoother and less painful.
To learn how to achieve perfect winterization, check out our article specifically dedicated here!
Over the course of this article, we will see the 5 CRUCIAL steps for the proper preparation of your boat before the start ofthe summer season. The goal is for you to fully enjoy your vessel with no headaches.
External control
It is necessary to check the condition of the hull in order to determine if there is need for a fairing or not (in case of wintering afloat upstream). Remember to check carefully if the gelcoat has not degraded during the months spent in wintering: this may be yellowing of the hull, the presence of impacts or scratches for example. Finally, make sure thefittings, mooring lines and steering system are in good condition.
Engine control
If you have thought about winterizing your engine beforehand, this step is very quick since you won't need to change the oil. Look for any leaks or corrosion. Then check the various filters and spark plugs and replace them if necessary. Finally, start the engine and run it for 10 minutes while greasing the moving parts.
Onboard equipment control
To begin with, you should check the equipment on board, such as the electronics, the air conditioning system (if the boat is equipped with one), the gas system and the batteries. To do this, make sure that the equipment is watertight, that there are no leaks and that all hoses are well connected. Then, test the proper functioning of the equipment. For example, connect the batteries and check that they do not discharge too quickly.
Security control
Based on your type of sailing and frequency of use, a make sure your vessel has its full safety equipment. If so, as you probably already know, some safety equipment has an expiration date.So pay particular attention to the expiration date of each piece of equipment such as, for example, distress flares or extinguisher. If necessary, make the replacement immediately.
Complete cleaning
Complete cleaning can be a task not easybut it is CRUCIAL for your boat. It is an operation that must be performed with care and precision.You can, of course, if you prefer, use professionals to save you this burdensome work. By neglecting cleaning, you expose your boat to various risks such as mold, repair or maintenance costs. Not to mention how bad your boat will look in the summer sun!
What you need to remember
It may appear futile to put so much importance on preparing your boat before the summer season. Yet this simple 5-step check, is an operation to be followed meticulously, so that you can enjoy a boat with good sailing performance and a proud look... All this, so that YOU can fully enjoy the season, without unpleasant surprises.
