Fall Maintenance for Your Boat
The most important way you can protect your marine investment is through regular maintenance. Naturally, maintenance is a year-round job, but even in an area like ours where some folks boat all year long, it’s smart to establish some habits with routine fall and spring maintenance. Whether or not you retire your vessel for the season, you should make these autumn maintenance chores a regular thing.
Always rely on your owner's manual for maintenance intervals, specific products, and other useful information. If you have any questions, come see us at Fish and Ski Marine, your Texas boat dealer. We’ve got a great inventory and an amazing staff at our two dealerships in Sanger and New Braunfels, Texas, where we serve the entire Texas boating community from Dallas, San Antonio, and beyond.
Attend to Your Engine
Your engine needs to stay reliable and ready to go! Here are some seasonal chores to take care of:
- Change the transmission fluid if needed
- Change the fuel filters and water separator
- Replace the water impeller
- Check the belts and adjust tension as needed
Check these and replace them if damaged:
- Fuel line and bulb
- Wires and rotor cap
- Hoses if they show signs of cracks or other damage
- Hose clamps for corrosion
Change the Oil and Filter
We urge boaters to change the oil and filter at the end of the season. This eliminates residual acids and moisture in the system, which can harm your engine during storage. Adding fresh oil will prevent internal parts from corroding. Run your engine for a few minutes to ensure the oil circulates and lubricate.
Coolant & Antifreeze
Check the manufacturer’s dilution recommendations for winter temperatures. Flush the coolant and top it off with fresh antifreeze. You need the right concentration of antifreeze to protect the internal components and tanks from freezing.
We hope our end-of-season boat maintenance guide has been useful. If you have any questions, hit us up at Fish and Ski Marine in Sanger and New Braunfels, Texas.