Spring Checklist | Service Boat for Summer
Back in another life, BAM Marine owned a marina in Chicago. We developed some procedures and a checklist for spring start up/commissioning. Please be careful and use common sense like staying clear of the belts and pulleys or prop if the boat is out of the water.
We hope these helpful tips will help you get you on the water quickly and safely so you can enjoy a full season of boating.
Before starting engine:
Make sure you have a fully usable fire extinguisher handy
Pull the dipstick and make sure the oil still looks like oil. If the oil starts to look milky it means something went wrong with your winterization and water is somehow making it into the crankcase. If this is the case, time to turn everything off and figure out where the leak is.
If all is good to this point use a flashlight and look around checking for water or oil leaks. Pay special attention to the oil filter
Head back up to the dash and take another look at your gauges. By now the engine should be getting close to normal temperature. Check the voltmeter and make sure it is showing a charge.
Before heading to the water or leaving the dock, check:
Now go enjoy boating!
Check out our Service Interval/Maintenance Kits! These kits contain the basics you usually need all in one kit to save time and money.
Look up your parts but inputting your serial number on the home page
Can't find your serial number? You can also look up your engine by liters, CID, etc. here