How to Maintain Your Boat Like a Pro

Purchasing a boat is a major investment, which you’ll want to protect at all costs. To add life to your vessel and make sure it continues to perform like it did when it was new, you'll need to maintain it regularly.

If you aren’t proactive with your boat maintenance schedule or want to be more consistent with it, here are a few tips for your reference. If you have more questions, connect with our experts at Dewitt Marine. We’re in Bellaire, MI, where we happily welcome our friends from Northern Michigan, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids.

Important Benefits

A clean and well-maintained vessel not only looks good, but it can also last longer and perform with maximum speed, power, and consistency. When you maintain your boat regularly, it’ll be much safer for use and more fuel-efficient than one that is poorly maintained. More importantly, regular boat maintenance will help you avoid service department visits and expensive repairs and replacements.

Wash Regularly

When you clean your boat, you enhance its overall condition. So, thoroughly wash it from time to time or rinse it after every saltwater trip. Removing any oil residue or loose debris will let you prevent these substances from crusting onto your boat and damaging its finish.

Take Care of the Engine

Without a well-performing engine, you won’t be able to get very far on the water. So, make sure you check it regularly. Regardless of whether your vessel has an inboard, outboard, or a sterndrive motor, make sure that its internal combustion is working efficiently. Also, check to see if your boat has sufficient oil of correct consistency and that it is free of debris, such as metal shavings. If you notice anything floating around, get a professional technician to look at it, as it can be a sign of a hidden issue.

Additionally, examine the oil to see if it’s sludgy or appears to be cloudy. If it is, replace the oil immediately to keep your vessel running. To be on the safer side, consider replacing it after every 100 hours of operation.

Inspect the Propeller

Another aspect that you’ll want to maintain regularly is your boat’s propeller. Inspect it to see if any loose fishing lines have become entangled around the shaft and remove them before bringing your vessel on the water. Also, ensure that the propeller blades have no dents or chips. If you notice any, you'll want to replace the blades as soon as possible.

Check the Battery

Additionally, you’ll want to check the battery on your vessel to make sure it is functioning well. Fixing batteries is a time-consuming and expensive task, and you’ll want to prevent them from malfunctioning on the water. If you are going to store your boat for a while, remove the battery and place it on a tender to keep it from discharging completely.

We hope these tips help you keep your boat maintained and looking new. If you have any questions or want to upgrade your vessel, connect with our experts at our dealership in Bellaire, MI. We can show you our latest collection of boats for sale and suggest models for your budget. Dewitt Marine proudly serves those from Northern Michigan, Traverse City, and Grand Rapids.