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Boat Maintenance in Austin, Lakeway, Round Rock and Cedar Park and Surrounding Areas
Even in Austin , it is typically too cold to get much use out of your boat in the winter months. In fact, most boats are stored away during the off season. When it is time to uncover your boat, it is vital to make sure it is in good condition since being out of use. You may want to consider some of these tips before taking it for a spin. Watch this video of ASC's Ellie Evans talking to Tommy Gural, Local Boat Repair Expert, about tips and advice to keep your boat in good condition to avoid big expenses in boat repair. Then, read on to learn more about how to keep your boat in great shape!
The engine needs to be well maintained to run optimally. After being stored, make sure you replace all spark plugs and properly gap the new ones. Also check the timer base as it could stick. Inspect all ground wires. Replace the lower unit lube and test the tilt unit. Ensure that all warning horns are properly working. Check all of the lubricants and hydraulics. Adjust the steering, throttle connections and all cables. Finally, inspect gimbal housing and all boots on I/O units. The fuel system also needs to be considered. Examine the tanks for leaks or pitted metal. Check hoses, clamps and valves. Look at the grounding metal deck fuel fills to ensure the tank vent is clear. Make sure to replace fuel separation filters. Review all the hardware in your boat. Go over the through-hull hardware and seacocks for electrolysis and damage. Look over the drain plug and drain plug tube. Test the cleats, hand grips and railing. Re-lubricate hinges and latches. Try all of your boat’s navigational lights, replacing the bulbs and/or inserts if necessary. Lastly, blow the horn to make sure it is still working correctly.
Look at the hull. If there is any damage on the bottom of the hull, repair immediately. Scout out any irregularities in the design such as bulkheads and bilge areas. Sand the hull if paint is flaking and re-paint the bottom using a high quality wax for the freeboard. Do not wax areas where passengers may walk. Test the electronics system. Replace batteries if needed in the charging system. Clean all battery cable connections and cover the posts to avoid shorts. Tighten wire connections and replace old or damaged wires. Wires showing a greenish color under their insulation also need replacing. Check fuses and make sure the fuse holder is clean. If you need to replace fuses, buy those with the correct amperage ratings. Make sure grounding blocks have sound connections. Look at the power and antenna plugs and jacks and clean if necessary. Check the radar and navigational antennas. These are very prone to shorts if water seeps in. Lastly, test the transducer buy turning the sounder unit on. If you hear a humming sound, the signaling circuit is working correctly. Have more questions on Austin boat maintenance? Call Tommy, owner of Austin Mobile Marine.
Back to Transportation Services Main Page What do you think? Our goal is to get more and better information out to Austin residents everyday. We can't improve without your help....Please let us know what you like, dislike and what we could be doing better. Email at feedback@austinsmartconsumer.com
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Austin Price Check! Using a mobile mechanic can be more cost effective than bringing your boat into a shop. You can save quite a bit of time, and money, on towing! 
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