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Now that spring is here and you are eager to splash; serve up your best tips for others to leverage.....
- Stay Afloat. This is a must in your safety kit. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=888wQhRcmjQ While you are at it, go through your safety and first aid kits. Check fire extinguishers and ensure all are not expired and in the "green" area on the gauge.
- Euro transom inspection port replacement. Do yourself a favor and replace the pop-in lid ones with screw-in type. Much more positive. http://www.beckson.com/screwout.html. While at it, ensure others are sealed well to the deck and the o-rings are in good shape.
- Extra lighting. If you do this, get the best or be prepared to do it every other year. You can tie into other cockpit lighting for an easy install in the cabin, under the gunnel or in the helm area. I used these: http://lumiteclighting.com/product/rail ... ion=marine
- Cleaning under the deck hatches. Can't beat Simple Green for dirt and Zep Mold and Mildew cleaner for mold. Get gallons and sprayers at HD cheap. Spray and let sit for 3 minutes and hose it all down. While the boat is on stands and the plug is out, all will drain right out the bilge.
- Cleaning and Wax. I prefer Collinite 920 cleaner followed by Meguiars Marine Wax (both liquid). Hit all the thru holes with Noxon cleaner before. Random orbital buffer like Porter Cable 7424 and pads from the chemical guys. No special skill required.
- Pipes, hardtop and non-skid areas. Apply woody wax after you are done cleaning.
- Cauling. GE Silicone Almond color. Check around the transom and usual spots. Great for filling the spaces between floor hatches and cockpit floor.
- Bilge high water alarm. Standard on newer GWs. You can add a Johnson Control pretty easily. The hardest part is chasing the wire up to the helm.
- Remotes and other hand held items. Adhesive velcro works well for these. Cut and afix a piece where you want to store the item as well as on the back. I've used the softer side for things that tend to bang around as well (where collapsable boarding ladder end hits the gelcoat for example).
- Autotether. If you do a lot of boating alone, you really should consider one. Not cheap, but could save you and your boat.
- Wiper blades. Anco sells direct replacements that install in the metal arms. There are more than a few threads on them here. DIY and save. While at it - RainX.
- Enclosure. Clean off the boat. Meguiars has a 2 step cleaner and polisher. These remove a lot of the dirt and crud. Finish with Plexus in a spray can. West Marine has a cheap snap kit that works for small replacements. If your boat has them, order some of the "lift the dot" clips on the windshield so you have them if a post breaks off.
- Check that plug is firmly installed and tight. Check prop(s) and cotter pins.
- Check sacrificial zincs (motors, thruster etc). Charge/verify batteries. Check head, macerator & overboard pumpout with water. Do this before it is filled and you find the problem. Check all pressurized hoses, faucets and head pumps. Ensure no cracks due to incorrectly anti-freeze application. You want to catch now - especially if you paid for the work to get done.
- Sanitize your freshwater hold. Run a small amount of bleach and/or use commerically avail products. Check hot water heater, blower & ac if avail. Fire up generator, run without and with load.
- Check and maybe change out your lighting to LED bulbs. They make direct replacement for almost all bulbs. Perko makes led navigation lights that directly replace those on the bow.
Nuff here to get you thinking.... Who is next?
- Stay Afloat. This is a must in your safety kit. Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=888wQhRcmjQ While you are at it, go through your safety and first aid kits. Check fire extinguishers and ensure all are not expired and in the "green" area on the gauge.
- Euro transom inspection port replacement. Do yourself a favor and replace the pop-in lid ones with screw-in type. Much more positive. http://www.beckson.com/screwout.html. While at it, ensure others are sealed well to the deck and the o-rings are in good shape.
- Extra lighting. If you do this, get the best or be prepared to do it every other year. You can tie into other cockpit lighting for an easy install in the cabin, under the gunnel or in the helm area. I used these: http://lumiteclighting.com/product/rail ... ion=marine
- Cleaning under the deck hatches. Can't beat Simple Green for dirt and Zep Mold and Mildew cleaner for mold. Get gallons and sprayers at HD cheap. Spray and let sit for 3 minutes and hose it all down. While the boat is on stands and the plug is out, all will drain right out the bilge.
- Cleaning and Wax. I prefer Collinite 920 cleaner followed by Meguiars Marine Wax (both liquid). Hit all the thru holes with Noxon cleaner before. Random orbital buffer like Porter Cable 7424 and pads from the chemical guys. No special skill required.
- Pipes, hardtop and non-skid areas. Apply woody wax after you are done cleaning.
- Cauling. GE Silicone Almond color. Check around the transom and usual spots. Great for filling the spaces between floor hatches and cockpit floor.
- Bilge high water alarm. Standard on newer GWs. You can add a Johnson Control pretty easily. The hardest part is chasing the wire up to the helm.
- Remotes and other hand held items. Adhesive velcro works well for these. Cut and afix a piece where you want to store the item as well as on the back. I've used the softer side for things that tend to bang around as well (where collapsable boarding ladder end hits the gelcoat for example).
- Autotether. If you do a lot of boating alone, you really should consider one. Not cheap, but could save you and your boat.
- Wiper blades. Anco sells direct replacements that install in the metal arms. There are more than a few threads on them here. DIY and save. While at it - RainX.
- Enclosure. Clean off the boat. Meguiars has a 2 step cleaner and polisher. These remove a lot of the dirt and crud. Finish with Plexus in a spray can. West Marine has a cheap snap kit that works for small replacements. If your boat has them, order some of the "lift the dot" clips on the windshield so you have them if a post breaks off.
- Check that plug is firmly installed and tight. Check prop(s) and cotter pins.
- Check sacrificial zincs (motors, thruster etc). Charge/verify batteries. Check head, macerator & overboard pumpout with water. Do this before it is filled and you find the problem. Check all pressurized hoses, faucets and head pumps. Ensure no cracks due to incorrectly anti-freeze application. You want to catch now - especially if you paid for the work to get done.
- Sanitize your freshwater hold. Run a small amount of bleach and/or use commerically avail products. Check hot water heater, blower & ac if avail. Fire up generator, run without and with load.
- Check and maybe change out your lighting to LED bulbs. They make direct replacement for almost all bulbs. Perko makes led navigation lights that directly replace those on the bow.
Nuff here to get you thinking.... Who is next?
