6 Tips To Help You Maintain Your Boat
This is an important quick read for all boat owners who want to ensure their health, safety and well-being at sea and want to learn how to maintain your boat. There are several aspects of your boat or yacht that you can maintain to make sure you are comfortable and secure at sea. These include the HVAC system, refrigerated units, the battery and the engine. We will also talk about how to budget for boat maintenance and scheduling your maintenance and repairs.
HVAC Repair and Maintenance
When you are out at sea with your boat, your comfort and health are very important to your overall safety and enjoyment of the experience. This is why having a functioning and high-quality heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system is essential to boat maintenance.
Overheating or getting too cold can both be very dangerous when you are operating heavy machinery like a boat, so please make sure to repair and maintain your HVAC system annually. Small checks like this help to maintain your boat and prevent being stuck at sea.
Refrigeration Unit Installation
If you are out on the water looking for fresh fish, or else you have brought food with you that needs to stay cool, you will want to install some reliable and quality refrigeration units in your boat. This is the safest way to ensure your food and fish stay fresh and safe to consume.
This is an important aspect of health and safety at sea, so it should not be overlooked. You want to look for professional and highly-skilled experts to install your marine refrigeration in Seattle. Look for a company with great online reviews and repeat customers who trust them.
Regular Battery Checks
One of the most common problems experienced by boat owners is a flat battery. However, this is a simple problem to avoid. All you need to do is check your battery regularly to keep on top of maintenance and repair needs. Try to complete this check once every season so that you do not get any unwelcome surprises.
How you check on your battery will depend on which kind of battery you have. Look online for an expert guide or call a professional if you prefer not to DIY your boat maintenance.
Engine Maintenance
Another aspect of boat maintenance that can get overlooked or overdue for many boat owners is the engine. You should check your engine a minimum of once a year and ensure that all looks good. You might decide to check your engine at the start of every summer, but remember that as soon as you hear or feel a problem with the engine, you should have it looked at regardless of the season.
Look out for strange noises and vibrations that you are not used to. These are tell-tale signs of engine issues.
Budgeting Maintenance
You will have to estimate roughly the annual cost of undergoing these repairs and safety checks so that you can set aside the appropriate annual cost, plus extra for potential damages. However, on top of this, you will need to consider the lifespan of certain boat parts. Once an element of the boat, such as the engine or the upholstery reaches the end of its life, you will need to spend a one-off large sum on a replacement.
Scheduling Maintenance
It is worth knowing roughly the life expectancy of certain elements of your boat. For instance, an engine may last 15-20 years. This means that around the 15 year mark, you should start to prepare for the larger costs of engine replacement.
Upholstery might last a decade, while life rafts often need to be replaced after 12 years. Meanwhile, your batteries will only last 3-5 years in most cases. When you think to maintain your boat, don’t forget to maintain your upholstery. Consider these lifespans when setting your budget.
This has been a brief look at 6 top tips for maintaining your boat. We have discussed four areas of importance for boat maintenance: the HVAC system, refrigerated units, the battery and the engine. Moreover, we have made suggestions for budgeting and scheduling your maintenance and repairs. If you follow these top tips, you should be safe and well at sea. Remember, your comfort and safety are always the first priority.
