Boat Maintenance
Lots of things can go wrong on a boat, and you can’t just pull over to the curb to check it out. Even a small runabout may have 10 separate DC electrical circuits, pumps for the bilge, head and wash-down, and have hundreds of fasteners, nuts, bolts, screws and clamps. Larger boats will have even more systems and can be as complex as those in a house; with dual-voltage electrical systems and at least two sources of fresh water.
Most Boaters just don’t have the skills of a certified mechanic, fiberglass technician and rated electrician. But that doesn’t mean you need to end up dead-in-the-water. Even if you don’t have a lot of technical expertise, there are simple checks and repairs even novice as well as old salts can perform with only a few tools handy.
Listen Analytically. Treat you boat like a baby. Listen to the sounds your engine makes when it’s running right and you’ll be able tell when it’s not. If it sounds wrong, make sure you can get back to port before you’re dead in the water; and make sure you radio works so you can broadcast for help if you can’t. Developing a “diagnostic habit” along with a pre-launch check list is a good habit to develop.
Not everything that looks bad is bad. Some corrosion and is normal, but good sailors know that a well maintained and protected boat means a long and useful relationship. CMC Canvas LLC provides high quality protective canvas coverings and accessories that helps protect and extend the life, and the look, of any boat, no matter how long it’s been used.