Spring Commissioning – How to Ready Your Vessel for the Season

Spring season is here. If you haven’t prepared your boat yet, the time is NOW!

Compared to usual maintenance and checks, spring commissioning is a little different, enjoyable, and to some extent, dull job (who wants to spend a day checking for leaks or other issues rather than enjoying a beautiful time on the water?). Still, it is essential as it will prepare your boat for the boating and fishing season. You need to catch up on little things. Even a tiny mistake may lead to more significant problems, which will turn costly and waste your precious time doing marine adventures.

However, spring commissioning is relatively easy when you follow a good guide. We have prepared a checklist that can help you take necessary actions before you set the journey on your fishing boat. Also, our Alberni Industrial Marine Supply team has suggested helpful tips & products to assist you. So, let’s start.

1. De-Winterize Your Boat

Suppose you have winterized your boat to a storage facility in Port Alberni, Vancouver, Nanaimo, or any other city on Vancouver Island. In that case, the first step is to de-winterize it.

Essential parts like plumbing systems, engines, batteries & other marine electronics, etc. need to be well taken care of by an expert during the process. If you have taken professional boat winterization services, you should have a proper working system for another year. If you live in an area where you do not have an off-boating season (all-year fishing, that’s amazing!), you can ask your dealership to help with a proper annual boat maintenance schedule.

Some quick tips:

• Change the oil & filter when necessary (recommended time is in the fall season before you store the boat for the off-season).

• After every two fishing seasons, replace the water pump impeller. A damaged impeller can cause overheating and lead to a smoking-hot hose in your engine if not repaired/replaced in time.
• Change the gear lube in your outboard motor or sterndrive lower unit.
• Analyze the prop shaft seal area after removing the prop. Check for any leakage by taking the help of a boat mechanic. Apply standard marine grease to the prop shaft before you reinstall the propeller.

• Look at the owner’s manual to check other required actions.

2. Inspect the Thru-Hulls & Hose Clamps

Analyze for any cracks or deterioration in/around the thru-hulls. The degradation generally starts with a crack near the joint to the outer flange. As a result, the flange falls off, and nothing will be left to keep the thru-hull in place.
Generally, people remove the engine’s raw water intake hose during winterization. Do not forget to check and refit the hose clamps. Else it will partially sink your boat.

3. Analyze Bilge Pump Float Switch & Bellows

You should check the bilge pump and bilge pump switches during the installation and working. If you miss regular checks and the stuffing box leaks, it will result in water logging in the boat. When you book for marine services, you can ask the professional to mount and install the floating-arm-type switches so that they stay clear of wires, hoses, and other obstructions. You can also mount the switch near the bilge compartment’s forward bulkhead.
Rubber bellows play a crucial role in your sterndrive-powered boat’s safety. It protects the engine from water. Over the period, cracks or splits can occur in the bellows, and you can only identify the fault when you extend them. We recommend checking them often and replace whenever required.

4. Check the Battery

Marine experts say, “Whether the fishing season is on or off, you must take care of boat batteries.” Remove the batteries during the off-season and store them in a dry place. Connect them to a maintenance-type charger. Inspect & test the battery before you reinstall it on your boat.
A marine battery has a standard lifespan of five to seven years when you maintain and use them properly. If the battery is not working well or is a few years old, you can visit your boat dealer to give it a load test. You can also connect with our marine supply store in Port Alberni, Canada, to buy a new battery and other boat cleaners & accessories.

5. Analyze the Trailer

While it is not directly affecting the vessel’s performance on the water, you should take good care of the boat trailer. Check the air pressure in all the tires, including the spare. Check the lights, brake fluid condition & level, axle, and other components. Look at the manufacturer’s instruction manual or contact a boat repair service provider in your area to help you with an inspection checklist. A trailer gives you many advantages, like moving your vessel comfortably, making cleaning simple, and much more. If you are searching for a new boat trailer for sale in BC, connect with our team to get complete sales and service support.

Other Essential Steps for Spring Commissioning Your Vessel

Along with the tips and processes mentioned above, you must take some primary steps to prepare your boat for the season.

1. After you remove the winter cover, wash it and sun-dry it before you store it away during the season.
2. Inspect and clean your boat parts thoroughly, including the hull, engine, cockpit, bilge pump, storage compartments, and sleeping area. You can refer to our blog on boat maintenance tips for a handy checklist & process.
3. You might wonder about knowing this, but your specific type of vessel requires a specific marine paint! A rightly applied boat paint helps protect your vessel from harmful UV rays and aquatic species that want to make the boat hull their home. Read this post on various types of boat paints and their uses to know more.
4. Routinely check fluid levels, hoses, shore-power cords, plugs, and other boat components to avoid any unnecessary troubles on the water.
5. Upgrade your vessel with the latest & advanced marine engines, tools, and safety gears. Contact your boat dealership in Port Alberni, British Columbia, for the proper knowledge and options.