Facts About Boat Maintenance Long Beach CA

By Anthony Cole


When boats are well maintained, they will be safe at sea. It is very essential that regular maintenance is done so that boats last longer and so that the lives of passengers are not put at risk. If there is poor maintenance, there will be various problems at sea, which could lead to disasters. In consideration of boat maintenance Long Beach CA residents should consider various useful tips. Maintenance of boats involves a host of activities.

Engines will need to be serviced at least once every year. It will be important to follow guidelines given by manufacturers when servicing the motor. There should be replacement of spark plugs, change of oil filters and greasing of the engine every 75 hours. The oil should be clean and kept up to correct levels. There should also be routine check on the cooling system to avoid malfunctioning.

Among the simplest practices when maintaining a boat is to clean it after every trip using soap and water. There are different parts of the boat, among them wood, metal sections, fabric, plastic elements and glass surfaces. Boats should be washed using products that are of high quality and which do not cause any harm to the environment. Some of the equipment that will be used are scrubbing brushes, rubber buckets and special clothes.

Water pumps should undergo regular checking to ascertain that they have the right discharge strength. You will need to change pumps yearly, though it should be more frequent for boats used in shallow areas and murky waters. The boat battery also needs to get changed four times each year. The batteries used should be marine versions and not car batteries. They will also need regular top up with distilled water when levels reduce. Besides, connections should be secure and tight. Batteries must be well ventilated.

When engines are being serviced, spark plugs should be changed too. It would be helpful to carry a spare plug so that they can be changed if need be. For the changes, the correct size of spanner will be needed. You should check fuel lines at least 4 times within a year. You should look out for hose leakages, dirt and corrosion. Filters of fuel need to get changed once or twice a year.

Tanks should be kept topped up especially when the boat is not being used. This will prevent the formation of condensation in the tank. If there are external tanks, they will need to be washed a minimum of once a year. Oil needs to be checked three to four times a year. The oil can be accessed through a drain screw in the gear case.

You would need to check propellers for any damages or for presence of rubbish. It is possible for fishing lines to stick around the shaft, making water to leak in. They will need to get removed whenever there are leakages. It is advisable to carry propellers around so that in case of any problems, they can be changed.

Maintenance of boats should be done professionally. There are many experts that deal with various aspects of maintenance. You should choose the most qualified and experienced.




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