Recommendations for preventative maintenance
- This is a given, but flush and wash your boat after each use especially after salt water, and no, a quick run at the lake is not the same thing! but it is better than nothing at all.
- At the end of each season you should flush and wash the boat, disconnect the battery, open the engine compartment and give a good coating of corrosion inhibitor (don't be afraid soak it down good in there!), you can also use this a few times throughout the year. We have been using this with our maintenance routine for a long time and I am still riding on the original engine in my 1994 Blaster! Probably just jinxed myself but hey it works is all I'm saying. You can purchase corrision inhibitor at Marine supply stores.
Now that Ethanol has been added to our gas supply (Some stations have a 15% mixture!). This is NOT good for boats when they sit for a period of time (even a few months in the winter). We highly recommend, after you do the above maintenance drain the fuel tank completely (If you intend to let it sit for an extended period.) If your down time is only 3 months or so in the winter then stabilize fuel and fog the engine (fog only on 2-stroke models). Ethanol will separate in the fuel tank when it sits and cause problems in both carbureted and fuel injected boats. See this article for more info: Ethanol warning for boaters.
****Update on ethanol. In the past few years we HAVE NOT seen as many problems with boats that sit and using ethanol**** This could be because more people are using non-enthanol fuel as it is more readily available or perhaps due to so many complaints they have changed their formulas, as we do not notice as strong a smell as we used to from ethanol fuel. We personally have noticed less problems with our own Lawn Mowers and Jetboats and skiis as well (however, if we let them sit we do use stabilizer). Just wanted to give you an update so you can make your own informed decision. Thanks!
I hope we were able to help with some of the above advice. Keep in mind even with a meticulously maintained boat things will break.
--Thanks! Brian and Aileen
When you look towards shore and see the cars on the
bridge...Do you wonder what the land people do for fun ??