How to Get Your Boat Ready for Spring

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You may be ready for marine adventures, but your boat likely isn't just yet. If your boat spent the last several weeks sitting in storage, you'll need to undergo the de-winterization process before your first voyage of the season. We've created the following guide to preparing your boat for spring. If you have questions or need to visit a service department, chat with the experts at Mark's Leisure Time Marine. Our dealership is based in Conesus and Canandaigua, New York, and we also proudly serve those in Rochester.

1. Clean Your Boat

As your boat sat in storage, it may have gained a layer of dust, dead leaves, mildew, and so on. Give your boat a thorough clean before its first trip of the season.

Make sure to:

address any mildew issues as soon as possible
polish the chrome so that it shines
clean the glass to ensure there aren’t any spots that interfere with your visibility
wash the exterior until it looks like new

Start the spring season off on the right foot by sprucing up your boat.

2. Check the Engine

Your boat’s engine needs to be in good working order.

You’ll want to:

make sure there are no leaks around the gaskets and engine heads
check the fluid levels and top off any that are low
replace the oil
check that the spark plugs don't need replacement

If the fuel sat in the tank for an extended time, replace it with fresh fuel that has no more than 10% ethanol content.

3. Check the Batteries

Give your batteries a quick inspection to ensure the storage process didn’t affect them.

You’ll want to:

make sure there is no corrosion or wear
run the battery to test the lights and electrical systems

4. Check Your Safety Gear

Take this time to do an inventory of your boat's safety gear.

make sure every family member has a life jacket that's still good quality
see if any kids outgrew their old life jacket and get them the next size up as needed
check the first aid kit and replace any medicines that are expired
replace any supplies that you used up last boating season
stock your boat with emergency flares
make sure your fire extinguishers are up-to-date

5. Check Your Boat's Registrations

Now is a good time to check your records. Make sure your boat registration and tags are up-to-date. You’ll also want to check that your boat has the right stickers.

6. Inspect Your Boat Trailer

Without a well-functioning boat trailer, you won’t be able to get your boat to the water.

Be sure to:

test all of the brake lights and replace any burnt-out bulbs
inspect each tire for signs of damage
measure the tread levels of each tire and ensure it's within the manufacturer's recommendations
inflate each tire to the optimized air pressure

7. Inspect Your Boat Cover

If your boat cover is compromised, it won’t be able to protect your boat as well.