No two speed boats are alike. Speed boats are only as good as their owners and the care that is given to them.
Speed boats are major investments that for a speed boat to be stranded by a breakdown at the moment when you need it most will not only be frustrating, it could also be dangerous. With other machines like cars, all you basically have to do is see to it that the fluids are replenished or replaced and the wear and tear caused by daily driving is checked and replaced when needed. Speed boats need more than that. To have a smooth running speed boat and to get more years and more value from your investment the following are to be observed.
Annual Maintenance
Have the bottom repainted and change the zincs. If your speed boat has a fiberglass bottom, have it cleaned, have the bottoms painted and debris and barnacles removed. Drive oil and fluids should also be changed. Aside from insuring that engine life is prolonged, the annual maintenance check up will keep your speed boat in very good shape.
Engine
The best time to perform the speed boats annual check up is in conjunction during winter while the boats engine is being winterized. It is very important to winterize the engine when the boat is exposed to damp and cold weather. In winterizing the engine, flush it first with water, then use soapy water to wash it through. After rinsing, all fuel from the hoses and carburetors are to be drained to prevent the build up deposits of evaporated fuel. The engine can then be lubricated once it is clean and dry applying grease to all the moving parts. Lastly, you can apply a high quality wax to polish the outside of the engine.
Preventing Clogging
Before winter, fill your speed boats fuel tank to full and add a stabilizer so that deposits and condensation does not happen.
The engine of the speed boat is not only the part that requires good annual maintenance. The water separator and the fuel filter will also need to be replaced every winter to prevent clogs.
After this, bilges are to be cleaned with stiff brush and hot water. It is also a good idea to spray it with lubricant and anti freeze. Cleaning the boat inside and out will make the boat looking pristine.
The Boats Manual
While the basics of speed boat maintenance may be the same, the maintenance requirement of different speed boats will slightly differ. Consulting the manual or a good marine mechanic may be a better method than starting the maintenance alone especially if this will be done for the first time. Like most speed boat owners, a time comes when doing it yourself is a good way to go. When the speed boat owner already feels comfortable at doing the job himself, maintenance and marine supplies are easily available online.
Doing a good and regular maintenance on a boat and spending a few hundreds to spend for its upkeep will create that much difference on the manner in which the boat will perform. In the long run, a good amount of money will be saved by looking after the boats maintenance as scheduled.
Not only will it keep it safe, it will also make a big difference for the boats longevity.