Pre-Season Checklist for your Watercraft

In the coming weeks you will be tempted to pull your watercraft out of storage, drive to the water and hope for the best, especially after a long winter, but with most things, immediate gratification has its price. That’s especially true when it comes to preparing your watercraft for the upcoming season. Avoid breakdowns and rides being towed back to the beach by following this pre-season checklist before hitting the water this season. Unable to complete the list yourself, contact the Redhead Powersports Service department for any questions or concerns.

THE THAW: Make sure your watercraft is properly thawed. Ensure the fuel and cooling lines are soft and pliable enough to prevent any cracks or leaks. Don't be fooled by an early thaw either. You'll be running water through your engine later on, so it's important that spring truly has arrived.

THE UNVEILING: Next, pull your watercraft out into a well-lip and well ventilated area and let any fumes dissipate properly. Once you uncover your craft, remove the engine cover and give the craft a good visual once-over, checking for any cracks in the hull or obvious problems in the engine compartment. Also, make sure to pull out any rags or coverings you used to block up exhaust and engine outlets during the winterization process. Use this time to clean out the engine compartment of the dust, grime and spider webs that accumulate over the winter.

THE BATTERY: If you removed the battery in the fall and maintained the charge at least once a month you’re ahead, all you’ll need to do is give it a quick check and top off the water levels in the cells (if required), using only distilled water. It's also a good idea to grease the terminals and remove any residue.
If you left the battery in your watercraft over the winter, remove it and give it a good charge. Also, take a little more time making sure the terminals and connections are clean and in working order.

HOSES AND CABLES: Any freezing damage that occurred will be most apparent on hoses and cables, so make sure none of the rubber or plastic hoses have cracked or hardened and inspect their connections, making sure they're tight.
Once you've checked the hoses, turn your attention to the steering and throttle cables, making sure there aren't any kinks or loose connections. Turn the handlebars and make sure the steering nozzle turns easily and properly. Squeeze the throttle and make sure it is working. If the operation is stiff on either, they may need lubing.

GREASE THE FITTINGS: Check with your owner's manual to find out all the fittings that need to be greased.

TIGHTEN UP: After you've checked all the hoses and cables and greased all the fittings, pull out your wrench set and screwdrivers and check all the bolts and screws, tightening any which seem loose. This includes nuts and bolts outside the engine compartment, like those in back on the steering nozzle.

CHECK THE PLUGSZ: You may have replaced your spark plugs during winterization. Take the spark plugs out and inspect them, making sure the electrodes are clean and properly gapped. If there is gunk on the electrode, use a spark plug cleaning kit to remove any excess oil or residue. Also inspect the cables thoroughly, looking for any cracks or frayed wires.

CHECK YOUR FUEL AND OIL: Hopefully, you topped off your tank and added fuel stabilizer before you put your boat away for the winter. If you did, you shouldn't have any problems this spring. If you didn't, it's probably best to simply start from scratch, removing any leftover fuel and disposing of it properly. This is because fuel can break down after prolonged periods of storage. Condensation is also a problem, especially when there have been wide fluctuations in temperatures, and this can leave water in your tank, which is disastrous for your engine. Oil is more stable than gas, though it can break down as well, so if there is any leftover; it's probably a good idea to drain the tank and then top off the tank with a fresh batch. Better safe than sorry.

GIVE IT A FLUSH: Flushing the engine is optional, just strongly suggested, if your watercraft doesn’t have a flush kit, we suggest attaching one. Not only does it help prep your craft, it's also a valuable tool for regular maintenance.
If you don't have a flush kit on your craft, you can still do this pre-ride check, but remember not to leave your engine running longer than 15 seconds. If you feel you need more time to check it out, let it cool down at least five minutes and then re-start it. Keep this in mind even when you do have a flush kit. You'll want to start the boat after you've finished flushing to force any excess water out of the system. This is particularly important if you're not headed straight for the water.

CHECK THE BILGE: While you've got the hose out, make sure your craft's bilge is free from obstructions. Locate the breather fitting and disconnect the two hoses from one another. Then flush each line for about a minute. Your engine compartment will fill up slight during this procedure, so remove the drain plugs and turn on the electric bilge pump if you have one. If not, you can wait for the excess water to drain out the back or you can bail out the water manually, using a sponge for those last drops. Remember to re-attach the drain plugs when you're finished.

Finally, before you head out on the water, check over your gear, make sure everything is in working order, check for signs of excess wear and tear and make sure you PFD is up to date. Give your trailer the once over, greasing the wheels and making sure the lights are in working order, also check the hitch and condition of the bunks.

The wait is over. But before you get too carried away and start planning a long haul the first time out, it's a good idea to make your first run relatively short and sweet. Keep it close to shore, make a number of passes, paying close attention to the operation of your craft. After five or ten minutes, head back to shore and then check the engine compartment to make sure there aren't any leaks you missed and that all the connections remain in place.

If this inspection checks out, then you're ready to start the season, if you’re unsure of any wear on your craft then leave it to the pros and check in with your local dealer.

Contact our service department and book your next appointment to make sure you are ready to hit the water!

For any questions about routine maintenance on your watercraft contact Redhead Powersports in North Battleford.

Find the original article here: https://www.boats.com/how-to/12-step-pre-season-preperation/