You might not be able to
control the success of your fishing trip, as far as the number of fish caught,
but you can certainly improve the performance of your boat. By properly maintaining your fishing boat,
you’re preventing problems from happening in the future, saving you money, and
stress.
Here is our guide to
maintaining your fishing boat.
- The
first thing to check is the battery charge.
It should be full of charge and acid.
Be careful not to overcharge your battery. This will boil the acid out and will reduce
the life of battery considerably.
- If your fishing boat has
problems starting, check the kill switch lanyard. Sometimes, the lanyard cap weakens and the
button on the kill switch will be jammed in stop mode. To check, remove the
lanyard and press the button. If the
engine starts, replace the lanyard with a new one.
- Next thing to do is check
your fishing boat connections. Fuel and
oil hoses tend to leak, allowing air inside. If hoses or connections appear hard, replace
the hose and the clamp.
- Next, check the engine
mounting bolts, and the steering cables by moving them in both directions. If they are difficult to move, grease the
cables. If the cables are still
difficult to move, then change them.
- Inspect the lower unit,
checking there is no water in the oil. The
oil should be full.
- Check there is no fishing line
tangled around the shaft of the propeller.
While the propeller is off, grease the prop shaft splines.
- Now check the power trim and
tilt. Tilt the engine to the up position
and remove the plug. The oil level should
be level with the threads.
- Another important check for
your fishing boat is the wiring. The
wiring may have deteriorated, especially if your fishing boat has been stored over
winter. If this is the case, be sure to replace any wiring. Ignoring this could lead to a dangerous
accident.
- Make sure you check the
bilge pump and aerator for cracks. And
finally, check the plug is on drain.
- Don’t neglect your fishing
boat trailer. This will also require
regular maintenance. Check the hub
bearings and replace if necessary. Check
for signs of water or rough spots on bearings. Grease the trailer jack, and check the wiring
and lights.
- Maintaining your fishing boat
and trailer will ensure your boat lasts longer.
That means more fishing trips for you!
You’ll find that putting a little effort into the maintenance of your
fishing boat will pay dividends in the end.