Top 5 Tips to Follow for a Best Summer Boating Season
Spring is near its end, and summer is coming in only a few days from now. It is better and advisable to prepare yourself and your vessel for the hot boating season. Here are the five tips to get your boat ready for the season's first water trip. Follow them, and you can thank us later!
1. Accessories & Electronics
The first big step is to test all the marine electronics on your boat and other accessories. You can take help from a local boat dealership to do this professionally. In case you have taken the boat storage services in Vancouver Island from a trusted supplier, you can also get a FREE inspection facility from them. An experienced technician can quickly identify any problems that might have occurred in the vessel, which may also put your safety at risk. You can confirm some essential fishing boat features like battery, cooling system, cable belts, hoses, and more are in working conditions or not.
2. Registration & Insurance
Though this aspect is not on the mechanical side, it is essential to ensure your vessel's registration is valid. According to Canadian law, you must file for a pleasure craft license at the boat safety office or register with Transport Canada. It doesn't matter if your boat is brand new or used. Ensure you run a legal vessel in the water of British Columbia, Ontario, or any other province in the country. Moreover, review your boat's insurance cover. Make sure that it has the right level of the insured sum.
3. Safety System & Onboard Items
It will be great to look at the stock of various boat safety equipment and other devices. Check the inventory of life jackets, flares, emergency beacons, marine radio and other items. Make sure all these products are in working condition. Cross verify them with the manufacturer manual and look for any visible signs of wear & tear. If any of them is defective or expired, change them immediately. You should update all the equipment as per the upcoming boating season and repower your boat if required before you go for the summer's first test drive.
4. Interior, Fluid & Hull
A clean, well-planned interior allows you to enjoy your fishing, boating, and other water activities. You can keep some chairs, table, fridge, and other items based on who and for what time you will be going on the water. Also, look at the seats, tabletops, and vessel cover for the mould, cracks or tears.
Besides, it is advisable to check the oil and fluid levels at regular intervals. Professionals often recommend adding a fuel stabilizer to protect the fuel tank in the spring & summer seasons. It also makes you worry-free from emptying your boat's tank while putting it into the boat storage facility.
Sometimes, anglers forget to inspect the hull before hitting the water. If the hull has any cracks, chips, or change in colour, they are symptoms of an impaired finish layer. The negligence in handling such issues may severely damage the vessel's structure and increase your boat maintenance cost.
5. Boat Trailer
Last but not least, it is essential to prepare your boat trailer for the summer season as well. You can inspect the tires for sufficient air pressure. Look for any wear or tear in all wheels, including the spares. Check the bearings, pads, rollers, and other parts. If any component needs repair or replacement, do that as soon as possible. Ensure the brakes, liners, indicators, and brake lights are working correctly. Moreover, review the trailer registration and renew it if required.
Conclusion
When you follow the above tips, you will be water-ready in no time. Considering you might need assistance in preparing your boat for the summer, Alberni Power and Marine have a team of experienced professionals. We work hard every day to help you enjoy the summer fishing season full of marine adventures. You can look at our other blogs to get the best used and new fishing boats for sale and choosing the suitable outboard motor according to your requirements.