Owning a boat is a luxury, investment and so much fun. However, it also comes with a lot of responsibility to keep it up to date with maintenance and repairs. After all, you’ve invested into this hobby, so you’ll want keep your boat in excellent condition. Keeping on top of your boat maintenance will allow your boat to look great while having a longer life. We’ve outlined a few suggestions below to keep your boat looking fresh and performing well.

Wash your boat!

If you’re going out to sea, it’s important to give your boat a rinse with freshwater upon your return. This ensures all salt residue and any particles have been removed from the vessel. Salt is very corrosive and can cause extensive damage to metal and various boat finishes. We also recommend giving glass surfaces or windows a quick spray with freshwater as salt can leave a stain and be difficult to remove.

Remove moisture

After you’ve given your boat a wash and rinse, it’s important to dry your boat thoroughly. We recommend keeping a few towels on board so you can remove moisture and prevent waterline stains. As we’ve discussed, salt water can be corrosive however, morning dew can encourage mildew and other nasty growth. If it’s raining, make sure to let the boat totally dry before putting a cover back on. It really doesn’t take long for mildew to grow and spread on a covered wet boat!

Know when to change your oil

Keeping an oil schedule will help you keep track on your specific oil requirements and when the oil needs to be changed. Oil requirements will vary based on the model and type of engine, so we recommend taking your boat to a certified dealer to change your oil.

Check your propellers often + propspeed application

If your boat has a propeller, it also needs regular maintenance and care. We recommend getting in the habit of checking your boat propellers on a regular basis for any damage or growth that may be occurring. If you find any damage, including dents, then we recommend booking it in with our team. We can also apply a propspeed application to the propellers or metal services at the bottom of your boat to prevent marine growth. The marine growth may seem minor at the time but can cause resistance that results in a loss of performance and a greater fuel consumption.

Corrosion

Corrosion can appear pretty much anywhere on a boat so its important to do frequent checks and keep a record where it’s found. We recommend checking metal attachments, components and the engine frequently for any signs of corrosion. If corrosion is found, its important to book in your maintenance as soon as possible to avoid it spreading and leading to more complicated problems.

Regular Servicing and Maintenance

It’s so important to keep on top of regular servicing and maintenance. Fremantle Shipwrights offer many boat repairs and maintenance services such as timber restorations, fit outs and re-fits, decking repairs, sand and soda blasting, paint repairs and re-spray, fibreglass repairs, insurance repairs and antifouling, propspeed & polishing. Get in touch with our friendly team for a quote and we’ll get back to you soon!

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