5 Tips for Keeping your Boat Ready for Fall
Will Poston for SPLIT REED
Cover by Cristina Wing
Hanging your waders up for the year, cleaning and shelving decoys, and removing the season’s dirt and grime out of your shotgun. These are the symbolic activities that mark the end of another waterfowl season. Annual traditions like these can also improve the longevity of your gear. It acts as a way to close the book on waterfowl and look to other endeavors--turkey season is quickly approaching. But don’t forget to maintain one of your most costly pieces of waterfowl gear: your boat.
Poor boat storage or skipping over end-of-season maintenance will produce endless headaches. But the good news is that many of these headaches are largely preventable and easy to do. Add these boat-focussed tips to your checklist to close out your waterfowl season and, hopefully, improve the start to next year’s opener.
Just clean it for Christ’s sake!
A full duck season can lead to loads of accumulated crap in your boat. Leaves, shell hulls, feathers, snack wrappers, red bull cans, all build up in a boat and get crammed in the hard-to-reach places of your hull. All that trash and natural matter, if not addressed, will trap moisture and attract rodents. Neither of which is good for your duck boat and no one wants the surprise of mouse family come opening day weekend.
It may seem like common practice but hose down and wash your boat and trailer. This is especially important if you’ve run your boat in any salt or brackish water. Even aluminum boats and trailers will likely have some steel components that are susceptible to rust if left unaddressed. Just a little bit of rust can have serious consequences, so do your best to prevent it with some soap and scrub brushing.
Good Fuel
Small outboards notoriously end the season in strong, running form and then inexplicably do not run months later. Some easy, preventative work now will ensure your motor stays in good, turn-start condition. It should go without saying, but if you own an outboard motor, you have to pay close attention to the fuel you put in it. Much of today’s fuel contains ethanol, which can wreak havoc on a brand-spanking-new motor. Ethanol, when used correctly, actually has its benefits. However, ethanol usually contributes to water in the fuel system, has a short storage life, and has been known to deteriorate fuel lines.
To alleviate some of these outcomes, boat owners can shell out extra dollars for ethanol-free fuel when available. But ethanol-free fuel can be hard to find, so get in the habit of adding a fuel stabilizing treatment every time you put new gas into the system. This is especially important if you’re storing your boat with a full tank; make sure that the treated fuel is actually in your motor (run it for around 10 minutes). Finally, keep an eye on your filters and your tank. Water and sediment will appear if there is a problem.
Electronic Upkeep
Whether it’s your light system, navigation, or starter batteries are an important component to any good duck boat and allow us to safely get to that honey hole deep in the timber. However, over the course of a season, they can take a beating. Electrical connections and battery terminals can oxidize, which can lead to poor electrical efficiency. So, at the end of the season, clean those terminals--a wire brush usually does the job--and put some dielectric grease to prevent further issues. Another often overlooked task is putting your boat away with a fully charged battery, which extends the life of your battery. Be sure to unplug all connections if you know you won’t be using the boat for a prolonged period of time.
Top it Off with Fresh Oil
Check those oil levels! If you run your boat hard all season, you might be due for new oil and filters, as well as other regularly scheduled maintenance. Most manufacturers recommend changing your engine oil and lower unit oil once a year or around 100 hours--whichever comes first. Also, these maintenance jobs are relatively cheap and easy, so don’t be intimidated. One thing to note, look up the best way to dispose of the oil in your locality. Each motor may be a little different--what works on one may not work on another manufacturer--so be sure to read your manual and/or watch a youtube video. While you’re switching out oil, keep a note of any grease fittings. After you finish the oil changes, top the grease fittings off with high-quality marine grease (the same goes for your trailer).
Keep Your Trailer Moving Smoothly
We’ve all seen: a great-looking duck boat riding dirty on a trashed trailer that has weathered the elements for years. Don’t subject your investment to this. Keep your trailer maintained just as you would your duck boat, or truck for that matter. Preventative maintenance will benefit you in the long run.
Just check over everything on your trailer. Are connections solid and bolts locked down? Do the tires look worn? Are the bunks showing rot? Outside of those obvious checkboxes, be sure to examine and grease your bearings, and any other grease fitting. Also, check over all your wires and electrical components. If you need to do some wiring work, do it now, so you’re ready to go next September. When you’re done and put your trailer and boat away just do them a favor and throw a tarp over it and slip some boards or plywood under the tires.
Much of this may seem self-explanatory, but it’s the small stuff that often can be overlooked and lead to headaches down the road. Plus, who doesn’t love a little garage time and doing it yourself! Got another duck boat maintenance tip? We’d love to hear it!
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