The winter has been long, and it’s been harsh, but now that spring is on its way, and you’re going to be able to take your pontoon boat back on the water for the first time in months. But, you need to stop and think about this before you do it. What are the items that you need to check, and what do you need to do before you get that pontoon boat back on the water? Good question, and one that we’re going to be answering down below, so keep reading if you are interested in finding out more.
Removing The Cover, Debris, And Buildup
The first thing that you’re going to do is take the cover off that has been protecting the pontoon boat for the duration of winter. Once you’ve done this, you need to check for any debris that has managed to penetrate the cover, and sometimes leaves can manage to get inside as well which then need to be cleared out.
Once you’ve done this, you should inspect your pontoon boat to see if there is any kind of builtup such as mold or other issues, as if there is some there, this needs to be sorted as soon as possible. Cleaning the boat can be a pain in the behind, but it’s got to be done because you don’t want a moldy boat.
Protect The Deck
Depending on what type of deck you have, what features you have on your deck, and so on, you need to get the right products to protect the deck. You can get spray-on products that will then treat the deck properly, protecting it from all of the wear that it will be facing as people walk over it in the coming months.
Check The Engine And Fuel System
You must not do anything before you have checked the engine and the fuel system. This is probably the most important part, and one that you should not be skipping no matter what. If you don’t know how to do this, then a quick service check is probably going to be in your best interest just to be on the safe side.
However, if you are going to do this yourself, you need to do the following:
- Change the engine oil and filter if you did not do this before you put the boat away for the winter
- Check the lower unit gear oil - if it’s milky then it has water penetration and needs changing
- Check the propellor for any kind of dings or fishing line that may be trapped
- Replace your fuel filter, check the fuel lines for any cracks
- Charge battery fully and test the voltage - if it’s weak, it’s going to need replacing
- Check the cooling system by ensuring that the water is pumping correctly
These are all important elements of safety on the water, so it’s not a good idea to either think you know what you’re doing when you don’t, or try to skip over this. If you’re ever in doubt, then take it to a professional before you get back on the water.
Clean The Boat Thoroughly
Before you get back out on the water, you want to give your pontoon boat a big clean. It’s been months and months that it’s been stagnant, so a clean is necessary.
Make sure that you’re cleaning the outside with something that is safe for the exterior. Most pontoon boats are aluminum, which means you want aluminum safe cleaner. From there, you want to make sure that you are cleaning all of the handrails and the deck, and if you notice any sort of oxidization, you need to clean that off as well.
Check Your Safety Gear
You need to check your local requirements to ensure that you have all of the correct safety gear. This is being changed all of the time, and varies from state to state, so we do recommend double checking, even if you think you already know.
From there, check all of the safety gear that you have on board, make sure you have everything that you need, and that it is all in working order.
Ensure Your Registration Is Current
You need to ensure that your registration is still current, otherwise you could be in trouble when you get back out there. Double check this, and make sure that your insurance coverage is still valid. If either of these things are not true, then you need to re-register your boat, and you need to get a new insurance policy asap - you can’t go out without.
Ensure that you have your registration and safety card on board at all times when you set out to the sea. You never know when you’re going to need them.
Do A Final Water Test
Before you have anyone on your pontoon boat, it’s essential that you are completing a final water test.
Start the boat and let it sit idle for about 10-15 minutes so that you can see if everything is in working order. During this time, look around and see if you can see any leaks from anywhere, any issues that you can visibly see. If there isn’t, then you can get on board and check the steering and the throttle to ensure that they are both in working order.
If during this water test you do notice that there is something wrong with the pontoon boat, or something doesn’t feel quite right to you, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t take anyone out on the boat, just make time to take it to a professional to get checked out before you try it again.
We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you should be doing to get your pontoon boat ready for the spring time. Ensure that you are taking your time through this process, because you want to make sure that it is truly ready to get back on the water, not risking any issues because you skipped steps and cut corners.