Need To Put Your Bass Boat In Storage? 3 Tips To Keep It In Good Shape
If you have a bass boat that you want to put in storage, you need to make sure you properly prepare the boat first; if you don't, you may find problems when you take the boat out in the spring. Below are three tips on what you need to do so you can prevent any kind of damage.
Tune Up the Outboard Motor
You need to tune up the outboard motor at least once a year. This is typically done in the fall before the boat is put away for the winter. Doing a tune-up involves changing the spark plugs, checking the wires, adding conditioner to the fuel tank, and changing the oil.
You should also check the propeller on the outboard motor to ensure all the fins are straight. If you notice that the propeller has a lot of nicks, or is bent, you should hire a boat mechanic to rebuild it, or purchase a new one.
Charge the Batteries
It is important that the boat batteries stay charged; if the batteries sit a long time with no charge, this can damage them. If the batteries you currently use are a couple of years old or more, you should consider replacing them. You will need to check the batteries periodically and charge them when needed. If you do not have time to do this yourself, you can hire someone to do it for you.
Wash the Boat
To protect the paint on your boat, give it a good wash and wax before you put it in storage. Look at the electrical wiring inside the boat. Purchase corrosion preventative lubricant spray and spray all connections so they do not dry out while the boat is in storage. Also, check screws and bolts to ensure they are tight. If not, use a screwdriver to tighten them up.
Check inside all storage boxes and clean them out if needed: the last thing you want to find is some old food inside a storage box that has sat all winter. Check the live well and give it a good cleaning so it will not have that fishy smell in the spring.
It would be best to take your boat to a marina and have a qualified mechanic inspect and maintain the boat for you, if you can afford it. The mechanic can also give you many more tips on how to keep your boat in good condition while it is in self storage.