I have a 1998 30' Doral Prestancia, (3 batteries; 2 cranking for engines and one deep cycle for onboard) and a 17' Vanguard w/115hp Evinrude outboard (with one HD cranking battery).  Each year I fully charge the batteries, disconnect the positive connections and have never had any problems in the spring.  Both boats have always been stored inside but not heated.  The Doral's batteries are approximately 4 yrs old and Vanguard's are about 2 yrs old.

   So now my dilemma, this year due to business commitments, the Doral was left in storage and the Vanguard, although taken out and brought home, did not see the water.  Yesterday, the Vanguard battery read 12 and I re-charged it....and the boat is ready to be put back in storage.

   The Doral, unfortunately, is another story.  There is no hydro in storage and I cannot see myself leaving the batteries over another winter without a re-charge, therefore (not looking forward to it) I see myself having to take out the batteries....and keep them home over the winter and making sure they are charged up.

   Am I right so far?  I have read and am under the impression that it does not fair well for batteries not to be used seasonally as they lose their efficiency.  If true, this would mean that if I leave the batteries in the Doral without being re-charged I may lose them?

   Obviously, it is important for me to receive a reply before I attempt to do anything but I am also concerned about the battery in the Vanguard as it has not been used this year?  Hopefully you will provide some piece of mind, in addition to your expert advice and also more informative direction on maintenance and care of batteries.

Regards....and I love your magazine.

                     B. Mellake
                     e-mail

   The problem here is with the Doral batteries.  If you leave them in and do not charge them this year, they may freeze and crack over the winter which can be messy if they are not in sealed plastic battery boxes.  So I would take them out and charge them, as unpleasant a chore as this may be.

   Having said that at four years old, they are nearing the end of their useful life, so if it was me, I would install new ones when you decide to start using the Doral again, especially if you skip another year.

I own a 1990 26 foot express cruiser with a 5.7 liter Mercruiser 260 hp carb engine and outdrive.  It has been well maintained and has 687 Hours.  I have owned it since 1996 and it is running very well, no problems right now.  

   My question is, in your opinion, how often do I have to do specific maintenance items.  I may be doing them too often.  You can tell me in years or hours of use.  I put only 18 hours on the boat this season.  It is on Lake Simcoe.  Change oil, replace fuel separator filter, tune-up, plugs, cap, and rotor.  Service out drive, change lube, replace water pump impeller.  Paint bottom with antifouling paint.  

   The boat yard does all my work.  I change oil every September, fuel filter once a year, tune up every 2 years, oil change in outdrive every year.  Outdrive separated and new impeller and pump every 2 years.  Paint bottom every 2 years.  Polish boat every year in spring.

                     T. Williams
                     e-mail

   You are doing all the right stuff at the right intervals for trouble free operation.  However, I do have a few suggestions to make.

   When servicing the outdrive in the fall, it is a good idea to separate the drive from the gimbal housing to check and grease the universal joints, the gimbal bearing and the drive shaft splines.  This is also a good time to check all the bellows for leakage and to replace the drive to gimbal gaskets and o-rings.

   Fuel filters and water pump impellers usually last more than two years, but if you have problem with dirty gas or if the water you boat in is very silted, you are probably wise to change them at your current schedule.

   With the new synthetic gear oil, you can skip changing it every year, but you must check to make sure there is no water in the oil.  Water is usually found when you first remove the lower drain plug of the drive, if the unit has been run recently it will turn the oil a milky white or gray colour.  If any water is present the oil must be changed to prevent freezing and rust.  Then during the winter the drive should be pressure tested and the seals replaced before spring launch.

I recently purchased a 1988 26.5 ft. Doral Citation.  Unfortunately the boat did not come with an owner’s operator/maintenance manual.
   Could you please advise me as to where I might be able to order one.

                     J. Miller
                     e-mail

   I don’t think you will have any luck with the owner’s manual for your boat unless you find another owner who has one and get it photocopied. 

   Having said this, there really is not much really usable info in the boat owner’s manual.  The engine manuals are still available from the engine manufacturers and are available from engine servicing dealers.  You need to know the serial number of your engine and the model to order.  You can get owner’s manuals for routine info and shop manuals for more serious maintenance jobs.

GOT A QUESTION, A PROBLEM OR DO YOU NEED SOME SERVICE INFO ON SOME MARINE ENGINE OR EQUIPMENT?  SEND ME AN E-MAIL AT  stephen.horsfall@sympatico.ca OR FAX ME AT 1-613-236-0700.