Are you a newbie boat owner? Congratulations on your decision to purchase a boat! Owning a boat has many wonderful benefits.
You now have the freedom to head out onto open waters and enjoy the beauty of the ocean, sea, river, or lake without having to book a charter rental. Owning a boat does come with a bit of responsibility, however. You’ll want to keep up with proper boat maintenance to ensure your boat continues to run smoothly and you get the most out of it.
Where to begin with proper boat care? In the guide below, you’ll find a list of several boat maintenance tips to keep in mind as a new boat owner. Continue reading to get started!
1. Clean After Each Use
It’s important to understand that you’ll need to clean your boat after every single use. Yes, every time you take the boat out, you’ll need to wash it. To properly wash your boat, you’ll want to first remove all of the items from inside of it.
Then, take your hose and rinse off the entire boat. If you fail to rinse off salt water from the boat, it can begin to corrode different components of the boat. Other water left on the boat can cause mildew and mold to grow, so make sure you dry it well after rinsing it off and keep it stored in a way that keeps it safe from rainwater.
2. Change the Oil
Depending on the type of boat you have, you’ll need to change the oil on a regular basis. Make sure to know how often your boat’s oil needs to be changed and then do so. You can take your boat to a certified dealer to have them change the oil for you.
Remembering to do so is just as important as remembering to change your vehicle’s oil.
3. Use the Right Products
The types of products you use on your boat are essential as well. You need to know the different types of materials your boat is made of. For example, if your boat has a fiberglass interior, then you need to clean it with a product made specifically for fiberglass.
Zinc anode is ideal for any metallic components of your boat. Zinc anode will protect any metallic components from corrosion. You’ll want to use wax on the exterior of the boat also.
Buff out old wax and apply new wax at least once a month. Take the time to know every single section of your boat and what products are best used on it.
The Right Boat Maintenance Will Go a Long Way
When you take the time to provide proper boat maintenance, your boat will continue to serve you for many years to come. Just like any other type of machinery, you’ll need to keep up with your boat’s care to ensure it runs safely and smoothly. Use all of the helpful information given in this guide above to get you started.
Remember, this list isn’t exhaustive, so you’ll want to make sure you do more research on the type of boat you have and how to perform a complete maintenance check of it. To find other topics similar to this one, keep checking back here regularly.
