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Rites
Of Spring (22-2)
By Dusty Miller
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 For
a few weeks every spring, marinas are busier than ever
preparing and launching boats for the coming season.
While there’s a long list of things to inspect
in the spring, there are some parts of your boat you
don’t see once it’s wet and could affect
the way your boat handles.
Start with your prop(s). Make sure there are no dings,
splits, or gouges. On a direct drive vessel, you can
also take a hold on the prop and move it back and forth
– toward the boat and away from it – as
well as to left and right. If there’s a lot of
play, check to see if it’s in the right position
and locked in place, or check the nut and locknut on
the shaft at the transmission. They have expanded and
contracted several times through the winter and can
work loose.
With an I/O and direct drive, ensure the shaft is straight.
To do this, simply cut a piece of wood the same length
as the height of the shaft end above the ground. Take
the measurement from the end of the shaft that sticks
out past the prop and locking nuts. Hold the stick against
the shaft while you turn the propeller by hand. If the
shaft is out of true, that end will wobble away from
the stick. Keep in mind it’s less expensive and
easier to have props and shafts fixed before the boat
gets wet.
Now test your trim tabs. Get someone on board to lower
and raise the tabs while you watch. If one is slower
than the other or it doesn’t go all the way up
or down, check the hydraulic fluid level in the engine
compartment. With an I/O, ensure the hydraulics can
move the outdrives all the way up and down. Again, you
might have to top up the hydraulic fluid. Check the
boot as well. That’s the rubber accordion between
the outdrive and the transom that allows the leg to
raise and lower. Ensure there are no cracks or holes.
Now go on board. Check the impellers to make sure they’re
all in one piece and working properly. Inspect the fluid
levels, your batteries, and make sure the thru-hull
connections are secured. When boats are winterized,
some people remove these hoses to make sure there is
no water in them. If you did remove them, put them back
in place properly – it can be really embarrassing
when you hit the water and your boat starts to sink.
At the helm, the gear shift(s), throttle(s) and wheel
should all move freely and smoothly, without undue pressure.
If they are really stiff and don’t work in quickly,
you might have to replace the cables. Once they start
rusting, that’s the only fix. If your steering
is hydraulic, check that fluid.
Before you head for the launch ramp, get your game plan
ready so you know what you’re going to do once
your boat is in the water. Stand at the slipway and
check the wind and current, so you know how you’re
going to move away from the slings and over to your
slip. It’s really embarrassing to hit something
when you come off the sling!
Finally, before you clear the slings, start your engines
and give them time to warm up. They’ll be running
rough because they were fogged in the fall and haven’t
run since, so you should wait until the temperature
gauge starts to climb before you get underway. If you
don’t, your engine may stall. While your engines
are warming up, keep in mind that they’ll be throwing
off higher concentrations of carbon monoxide until they
warm up, so make sure the helm is open and well ventilated.
With these preparations, you’ll be ready for launch
and that wonderful moment of freedom as you start down
the slipway. (Page Top) |
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