How to keep your boat in good shape.

[Kuna Matata]

What items need to be done every year to keep the boat in good shape. I have a 1998 Bayliner Capri with a merc 3.0 and want to take good care of it. But done know what all I should be doing and when. Please help and let me know how you keep your boat in the best shape and condition. I was thinking of doing a list to mark off the items that I have dont to the boat.... Like wax, oil, ect

 

[iSteelHead]

Re: How to keep your boat in good shape.

Well The Search Button, can tell you many things. Try it out? 303 protectant for your top, learning about your engine and boat, learn about winterizing your motor and de-winterizing. Otherwise you will have a fancy canoe, and you don't want to crack the engine block. Seeing that your from New Mexico, I am not sure if it stays hot like phoenix year round, or cold like Montana? Go to Youtube, and type in "Winterizing a 3.0" or something?

Hope this helps you. Just do some searching and ask questions about more technical dilemmas.

 

[veritas honus]

Re: How to keep your boat in good shape.

Well The Search Button, can tell you many things. Try it out? 303 protectant for your top, learning about your engine and boat, learn about winterizing your motor and de-winterizing. Otherwise you will have a fancy canoe, and you don't want to crack the engine block. Seeing that your from New Mexico, I am not sure if it stays hot like phoenix year round, or cold like Montana? Go to Youtube, and type in "Winterizing a 3.0" or something?

Hope this helps you. Just do some searching and ask questions about more technical dilemmas.

^^^

The search button is your friend. Just to give you a good start, though, here is a link to a wealth of indispensable info supplied by our friend and Moderator Don S. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=342393 This info will serve you well. Sounds to me like you also need to get yourself into a safe boater course. That should be your first priority. You'll walk away with the knowledge necessarry to stay alive, safe, and to keep those around you in that same condition, on the water. You'll leave, knowing about all the safety equipment which is both necessarry and mandatory to have on your boat at all times. You'll learn the rules of navigation, the meanings of the various marker bouys, ect.

Good luck, and welcome aboard!!!

 

[seaboo]

Re: How to keep your boat in good shape.

Much more than washing and waxing (lots of mechanical maintance). Read and study everything you can (or better buy a repair manual and follow their maintance schedule). I feel owning a boat is a life time learning process (I add to my maintance list every year). Keep your boat covered as much as you can (boats are designed to keep the water out, but left uncovered rainwater, snow sitting on the inside of the boat rots floors

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to keep your boat in good shape.

"good shape" needs to be divided--think of all the different ways people keep their cars and trucks "in good shape." There's the show caer in the heated garage driven only on sunny days and washed every thime; there's the family wagon outside that gets regular oil changes and tires rotated.

There are certain things under "maintenance" that are base-line requirements, which will focus on your engine/drive train, lubrication, and trailer bearings.

There are things peculiar to boats such as bottom paint and zincs that depend on your use. salt water/fresh water, shallow water/deep water, moored or trailer stored, all make a big difference on your protocol.

Cosmetic care can be anything, but the base line starts with the way the boat is built--some are made to be left outside and some need to be covered and out of the weather when not in use. And then there's your particular climate--in the mild mid-Atlantic we have a whole lot less to do than those with snow, freezing, or tropical sun. And within the climate, go back to the particular boat and whether it can handle weather or not.

as for washing/waxing, nothing could be a more personal choice--just like a car. Me, personally, I own boats that require minimal care so I can spend more time and less money using them than cleaning and covering them.

 

[stackz]

Re: How to keep your boat in good shape.

1. dont sink it
2. keep it out of the sun
3. keep it clean
4. maintain the engine and electronics

this has worked for me haha.

but yeah, keep it under a tarp setup that wont hold rain when not in use. always flush the engine when you're done with it. wash it down and have the trailer set so the boat drains properly instead of just holding water in the bilge. I regularly dab di-electric grease on any terminal points (or silicon grease, etc) to keep electrical corrosion at bay.

I also fix any little problem that arises as soon as it arises so you dont end up with 20 odd problems to fix all at once $ vs $$$$

I also always wash down the trailer the same as the boat, I hate replacing rusted out trailer axles and rotted bunks.

 

[Kuna Matata]

Re: How to keep your boat in good shape.

sounds like i need to get to work thanks

 

[jkust]

Re: How to keep your boat in good shape.

We have a 1984 Bayliner Capri that we bought new at the boatshow in 1984 amongst our boats. The interior is original and still 85% as nice as it was when it was new. The exterior has its share of dings but those are inevitable. I can tell you exactly how we kept it nice. 85% by the way means everything is perfect, no rips, tears, wear marks anywhere except the factory carpet is starting to get matted but that is a big portion of the interior. It is really substandard carpet by today's standards as is the vinyl covering the interior. Here's what we did with that boat and what I do with my Chaparral as well. No shoes in the boat, cover it when not in use or between daily uses to keep the sun off it. Never let the interior stay wet. The BL has been stored outside here in Minnesota all but maybe three of its years way up in northern MN where -30 F is normal(the Chaparral has never been outside more than maybe a week when vacationing). Don't let any water get into the boat when stored over the winter. For the BL we built a plywood cover that ensures the top cover won't fail as it is stored hundreds of miles from us at the lake home completely unattended for many months per year. That's it, keep the elements at bay. It isn't hard at all to keep your boat good as new for decades in fresh water. A little common sense, don't be lazy and maybe a little luck.