marine_man Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 With the warm weather seeming to be sticking around for a bit lots of people are pulling boats out of storage and getting them ready for open water. Here's a list (feel free to suggest additions) I've put together of what to do to get your boat ready for open water. This list assumes you changed lower unit lube and, if you have a four stroke, engine oil prior to putting it away for the winter. If you didn't, change it this spring and get in the habit of doing it during winterization. If you don't, and you have significant water in either fluid, you're asking for seal problems. Check Trailer Lights Check Axle Bearings - Jack up axle, spin tire. If it rumbles time for a repack or replace If you have bearing buddies, and you can rotate / turn the cup the grease zerk is attached to add a couple pumps of grease Check Tire Pressure Check Lug Nut / Wheel Bolt Torque Check Winch Strap - any fraying / tears that affect the integrity? Pull the boat cover off, remove mouse prevention method you used Put Boat Plug In Connect Battery Cables to Battery; Charge Battery to top off Get a set of rabbit ears / motor flushers / These: Put them over the intake screens and start the water (or take your boat to the landing) and start your motor and let it run for 5-10 minutes to allow the fogging fluid you used to run out of the cylinders. Check Navigation Lights & All Accessories to make sure they're working correctly Flush live wells and bilge area if you put RV-anti freeze in. And those are the basics... you can clean your boat, wax it, etc, but above are the minimum things I'd do to make sure everything's good to go prior to hitting the water. Good Luck! marine_man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
machohorn Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Check for current registrationcheck condition of life jackets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SimilarIsland Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Make sure all new tackle, rods, reels, etc. are safely stored out of sight in boat so wife doesn't see them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sutty Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Check dates on flares (great lakes) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRedig Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 What about doing this in the garage so the wife doesn't see the boat you purchased that she doesn't know about? Just kidding.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MEGASLAM Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Put in all the new equipment you've been accumlating and dreaming about over the winterTighten loose nuts and screwsConfront all of those things that bothered you last year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt C Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Make sure all new tackle, rods, reels, etc. are safely stored out of sight in boat so wife doesn't see them. Glad I am not the only one! *Flush live wells and bilge area if you put RV-anti freeze in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rost Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Here's a few more if your boat is a few years old...These may not be necessary, but may save you from a headache or two down the road.Replace water pump (impeller)Replace fuel line and ballReplace your water/fuel separator filterCheck to make sure you have replacement fuses for all of your equipment.Check your Tmotor batteriesMake sure all bilge pumps and livewell pumps turn on.I also grab a screw driver and tighten every screw I see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iafish4fun Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 I always repack bearing every spring. The cost of the seal is very cheap insurance. Since I have burned up an axle, this is a must do for me. Also check the nuts on the U bolts on the trailer to make sure they are not loose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky_Madness Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Don't forget the trailer tabs too. Some trailers still require plates and that can put a damper on your weekend when the DMV is closed. Also, don't forget about your tail lights! Put in some fresh bulbs or spend the $50 bucks and upgrade to LED and forget worrying about them ever again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickelfarmer Posted May 5, 2009 Share Posted May 5, 2009 Ok heres one. Check your spare tire for air pressure. I store my boat in my Dads shop and I have a feeling one of my boys might have something to do with this but I leaned on my spare tire today and the thing was very soft. Come to find out there was no valve stem cap on it and half the air was gone???????? I filled it back up and checked for leaks and found none. I know over the winter Grandpa and the boys have been working in the shop so I think maybe one of the little guys figured out how to let the air out?? Anyway check over your spare to make sure its in good shape!! Out on the road with a flat is not the time to find out your spare is flat as well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SJMyers32 Posted July 29, 2009 Share Posted July 29, 2009 What about leaving the wife at home while ya fish so you dont hear any b word ing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R. Miller Posted July 30, 2009 Share Posted July 30, 2009 What are peoples favorite mouse preventers during winter storage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marine_man Posted July 30, 2009 Author Share Posted July 30, 2009 Mothballs... if you do a search in this forum for the word mice or mothballs you should find all kinds of discussion about this topic (and when we get to fall I'll sticky the winterizing thread as well), but several people have used dryer sheets, and found that mice use the dryer sheets in their nest and don't always keep them out.marine_man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marine_man Posted March 24, 2010 Author Share Posted March 24, 2010 With the warm weather lately it's probably time to bring this back to the top...Open Water's Coming Soon!marine_man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esox_Magnum Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 Pull the props and check for line around the shafts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjac Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 A few more......Check your fire extinguisher as well to make sure it has a charge, along with the proper throwable PFD and paddle to meet the ever-changing regulations where you fish. Check the electrical system, I know I had suspected loose wire/short somewhere my last time out in November. Adding a little di-electric grease to connection points is a good idea. Go thru and tighten mounts on the trolling motor, RAM mounts, rod holders, cleats, etc. Good time to do the same preventative steps and a checklist to your tow vehicle as well. I just put new plugs and wires in my Tahoe and have seen about an 8% increase in fuel efficiency. It cost me $130 in platinum tipped plugs and wires but with gas pushing the $2.80/gallon range it'll pay for itself in a few months. Spend an $10 extra bucks and get a universal adaptor, it'll save a lot of time and almost $10 in band-aids to cover skunned up knuckles. FYI: Plug #8 (back left) is a bear on GMC trucks! Hope this helps...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harvey lee Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 Pull the props and check for line around the shafts Thats a good one as many have line behind the prop and forget to check.I also change the 2 fuel filters on the motor each season. Maybe overkill but no issues either.I always try to shampoo the carpet and I even waxed the trailer this spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwmiller33 Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 sparkplugsmake sure your navigation lights workgive the boat a good vacuum if you have carpetcheck air pressure in tirescheck taillightsgrease bearings on trailerand lastly, put all the stuff you boat from the big C store into your boat and organize it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoffer Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 I am interested in the LED lights. Does that mean having to change out the whole light system or does that just mean replacing with LED bulbs? In otherwords do the LED fit in the same socket etc...What about changing fuel and air filters etc...is that hard to do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marine_man Posted March 30, 2010 Author Share Posted March 30, 2010 Upgrading to LED lights usually involves swapping the entire light out; not just the bulb. They do make LED replacement bulbs for a 1157 bulb, but the real benefit is getting rid of the contacts, etc by switching to a LED system vs a replacement bulb.Changing Air Filters, Fuel Filters isn't difficult if you're mechanically inclined.marine_man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoffer Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 Hey marine man...was out at Northern and saw the replacement LED kits for 65 bucks. Is it hard to replace the old light housing with the new?I mean is there matching holes etc...is it just a matter of disconnecting the colored wires and reconnecting them with the matching ones on the new housing and then just fastening it in place?With my luck I can just see there being an issue with things not matching up on the new housing to where it connects with the trailer etc...I really do like the looks of the LED lights and having fully submersible lights without worrying about bulbs blowing all the time.Thanks!Hoffer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walleyemaniac Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 If they're the same style lights they should bolt up the same. As for the wiring, the new lights may come with push in holes for the wires or if there are wires on the new lights they may be red, white and black. (white is tail, red is turn-stop, back is ground). Wiring on the trailer should be yellow left turn-stop, green right turn-stop, brown is tail lights. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delmuts Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 "check condition of life jackets" +1 After going over ours, i found that mine was getting tired! Ordered new one yesturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatoneguy Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 how difficult is replacing an impeller (90 hp 1996 Merc)? I'm making a point of learning to do as much as I can myself, but I also don't want to take on a job I'm likely to screw up, and end up with a big repair bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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