As the first year of owning a big boat that is permanently moored in a slip comes to a conclusion, I am faced with the bewilderment of how to maintain my most prized possession. I am positive most of you reading this article either have your boat in the water or all set to go on a trailer. The maintenance I have discovered, though similar in both instances, is different. Either way, I have found the only thing that your boat will do all by itself, without any help from you, is SINK! So, everything else onboard needs your constant attention and care.

I once considered writing the world’s shortest boat maintenance manual. The entire content would have consisted of “If something moves on your boat that shouldn’t, use Duct Tape™. If something doesn’t move that should, use WD-40™.” I wish that my “manual” was the answer, but we serious boaters realize it “just ain’t so.”

With that fact in mind I did some thorough research and came up with a list of things that should be checked on a weekly basis, even if the boat’s just sitting out there in her slip. Most of the list should be done daily if you’re out cruising.

1. Washing: Wash down your boat often. Dirt and grime are collecting on your boat even as you read this article. The dirt gets ground into the deck as you and your crew moves about the vessel. What does not get ground in, runs down the sides of your boat when it rains and makes those dreaded black streaks. I personally, am convinced that the every bird at the marina has designated my boat as their official bombing range.
    
2. Dock lines: Check your dock lines and fenders on every visit to your boat. I have learned a lot about lines since mooring my boat. I now know the difference between a bow spring line and a stern line and no longer think that I left that fender floating in the water just to test its buoyancy. You should check your lines for chafing and other signs of wear on a regular basis. According to the insurance industry, most insurance claims are not for damages sustained at sea. Most claims are for damage done while the boat is moored in its own slip!
    
3. Thru Hull Fittings: Check all thru hull fittings, seacocks, hoses and clamps. If you have an inboard propulsion system, check the stuffing box(es) for excessive dripping. Bilge pumps and batteries do go out, and a little drip could add up to a lot of water.
    
4. Run you engines: Start your engines and run them up to operating temperature at least once or twice a month. Unlike us, boats do not like to just sit idle and look pretty. They want to be run and should be run on a regular basis.
    
5. Generator: If you have an A.C. power generator, run it for at least an hour under a heavy load (i.e. turn on the air conditioner, fridge, heat, lights, etc.). Thus you avoid the embarrassment of looking like a Christmas disco ship like I did during this years Parade of Lights. (Look the lights are on! No they are off. Ok, on now! No off.) It gets a little old.
    
6. Navigation Lights: Turn on the navigation lights, then walk around your boat and make sure they are all working. Port (red), Starboard (green), Masthead (white light facing forward) and Stern light (white light facing aft). Also, while you’re at it, make sure your horn works.
    
7. Bilge Pump: Make sure your bilge pump(s) is (are) working and is (are) free of any debris.
    
8. Batteries: Check your batteries. Any voltage below 12 volts DC is suspect. It is best to use a volt meter. If the batteries are typical marine deep cell batteries, then check the fluid level of each cell and top off with distilled water only!
    
9. Oil: Before operating any engine on your boat, be sure to check the oil level. It should be part of your pre-operational procedure.
    
10. Electronics Turn on all your electronic navigation devices such as VHF radio, depth sounder, GPS, radar, etc. to make sure nothing has gone “haywire” since they were last used.
     
11. Finally, going back to my short maintenance manual, make sure that everything on your boat that is supposed to move, like valves, switches, latches, ports, hatches and all things mechanical, are tested at least once a month to make sure that they are not “frozen up” and won’t move when you really need them to work.  

You know, I am miles away from my boat as I write this article, yet I still swear I can hear something falling off the old girl.

See You At The Lake,
Barry