If your boat has been sitting in storage for months, it will need some extra attention before hitting the water. Between cleanup, inspections, maintenance, and picking up new boat parts, there’s a considerable—but necessary—to-do list to complete if you want your vessel to run safely and efficiently. Use the following guide to make sure your boat is ready for the summer.

5 Tips for Getting Your Boat Summer-Ready

1. Inspect for Damage

Even if your boat was securely locked away, there could be problems that occurred over the winter months. Check your vessel for scratches, dings, and rust. Animals and critters can chew through wires and cables, so make sure they didn’t make your boat their home over the winter. Don’t forget to check your fuel lines for damage since they’re susceptible to cracking in cold temperatures.

2. Check Your Fluids

Boats require a variety of fluids to run properly. Make sure to fill up, replace, or flush out the areas that need them. Change your oil after taking your vessel out of storage, and check your power steering fluid and coolant levels to see if they could use a top-off. Flush out your cooling system and refill it with equal parts of water and anti-freeze. Make sure to check your engine and cooling system for leaks.

3. Inspect Battery & Electronics

Before you take your boat out on the water, test your battery and electronics. Use a boat battery tester to check its strength and refill the necessary cells with distilled water.

Inspect the cables for dirt and corrosion, and use a small wire brush to scrub away any debris. Make sure all of your electronics are functioning correctly, including the radio, radar, and GPS.

4. Check Your Safety Gear

Boater safety is critical. There are safety equipment requirements for what each boat needs to have on board. Create a checklist and go through your safety gear, ensuring nothing is expired, damaged, or missing. Your safety equipment should include flares, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, and sound signaling tools like whistles and horns. Make sure you have one wearable floatation device per passenger.

5. Replace Worn & Damaged Parts

During your inspections, you might discover worn and damaged boat parts that need repair or replacement. Dead batteries, cracked fuel lines, damaged fuses, corroded zincs, and other spent parts should be removed and replaced before taking your boat out for the summer.

Boat owners in the Greater Cincinnati, OH, area know they can count on George J. Hust for high-quality boat parts at reasonable prices. As the one-stop-shop for all automotive and electrical parts, their impressive inventory covers a wide range of vehicles, boats, and landscaping equipment. If you’re not sure what you need, their knowledgeable staff is happy to point you in the right direction. For more information about their products, visit their website or call (513) 898-9171.