How to Prep Your Boat for Summer

The water is sparkling, the fish are jumping, and it’s time – at last – to get started on your spring boat prep. If you’re asking yourself, “When does boat season start?” – we’re here to tell you: it starts the day you bring your vessel out of boat storage and start the process of getting her ready for the open water.

Whether you’ve been around boats your whole life, or are just developing an interest in the activity, you likely know that boat prep is a big part of a successful season. Of course, there are different types of maintenance you need to undertake at various points in your boat ownership journey, including boat prep for winter storage, boat prep for hurricanes, and boat prep for spring and summer. The latter is what we’re focused on in this post. We’ll walk you through a quick guide covering the ins and outs of spring boat prep. Coastal grandmas and grizzled sailors alike might learn something new. So, strap on those life jackets and climb aboard!

Smooth Sailing: Prepping Boats for Summer

Prepping boats for summer is a time-consuming task that some owners dread. It can be mundane, dirty, and expensive. But it also has both immediate and lasting effects on the longevity of the boat itself as well as the health and safety of its users. Skipping spring boat prep is simply not an option. So, let’s get down to it!

The first order of business is to develop an understanding of what exactly you need to do (and what you need to check) in order to adequately prepare your boat for use. We suggest writing down a comprehensive task list, and then breaking up your list into major sections in order to tackle things in an orderly way.

1. Inspect Your Boat –This is the first step and maybe the most critical considering how meticulous you must be. While we’re not going to provide an exhaustive list of what needs to be checked, we will say that your inspection should include (but is not limited to): drains, ladder, fittings, rudder, stanchion, pulpits, navigation lights, seacocks, hoses, clamps, pumps, anodes, fuses, gauges, filters, belts, fluids, visible wiring, electrical systems, fuel system, exhaust systems, battery, antennas, safety gear (more on that in step 7), bilge blower, ropes, sails and propellers. In short order, check everything carefully – regardless of whether or not it seems damaged at first glance.
2. Clean Your Boat – The second step can be time-consuming and tiring but is important for ongoing maintenance as well as the comfort of you and your passengers throughout the season. Your cleaning checklist should Include (but is not limited to): the hull, deck, topsides, windows, hatches, blinds, and seats.
3. Paint Your Boat – While prepping boats for summer definitely doesn’t always include painting, you may want to consider it if your boat is beginning to show its age or any damage to its paint or gelcoat. If you’re looking for info on how to prep a boat for bottom paint – including dewaxing and which anti-fouling products, you should use – check out this article for some great tips and links to other resources.
4. Wax Your Boat – Once your boat is painted, you’ll need to buff and wax it. This step is critical to help protect your investment from corrosion, barnacles, and other potentially damaging buildup and substances. It will also make caring for the boat much easier in the future.
5. Oil Wood Surfaces – Wood surfaces on your boat should be cleaned and oiled for longevity. While some woods (including teak, oak, and cedar) are resistant to decay and don’t need to be finished, they will look better if you take the time to polish them up. If your boat includes tropical hardwood (e.g., cocobolo or lignum vitae), you are advised to leave it bare. The same goes for teak decks.
6. Replace Damaged or Outdated Items – Hit the local marina to replace anything that has turned up damaged, worn, or missing during your inspection. This is also a good time to change your oil and filter, fuel filter, transmission oil, drive belt, air filters, and grease up your steering cable as necessary. If you’re unaware of the replacement schedule for various boat components, now is a good time to study up on it and start a replacement record.
7. Check (and Double Check) Safety Gear – While you may have added it to the inspection list in step one, safety gear deserves a section of its own. According to the National Safe Boating Council, you should check life jacket fit and inflate per the owner’s manual, restock your first aid kit, change spare batteries, and invest in at least two waterproof communication devices.
8. Look Over Your Trailer – Spring boat prep also should include checking your trailer in order to prevent any safety issues. Inflate tires to the recommended PSI, replace any burnt out light bulbs, and test tie downs and any other related equipment well before you take your boat out of storage. You definitely don’t want any surprises on the road.
9. Educate Yourself – It’s never a bad idea to enroll in a safe boating course. The majority of states require at least some level of formalized education or licensing, but even if you’re not required by law to brush up on your skills, it is still highly recommended. Classes are provided in a variety of formats (including online, video, and in-person) and by a number of different organizations. Check out a comprehensive list of boating education providers from the American Boating Association. It’s also a good time to review your state’s boating laws (as well as the boating laws of any state you might be visiting over the summer).
10. Schedule a vessel safety check – The last step before hitting the water is to schedule a free vessel safety check with the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. The appointments generally take between 15 and 30 minutes and include inspection of your registration, lights, life jackets, ventilations, fire extinguishers, flares, horns, and the battery cover and connections. If your boat passes and is in full compliance with all state and federal boating laws, you’ll be granted a display decal to quickly inform regulatory agents that your boat is “ship shape.”

While our boat prep checklist is not a comprehensive catalog of every single action you need to take to ready your boat for the season, we hope it’s given you a good idea of where to start and what to cover. There are a number of great resources online, many of which we’ve linked to above. For more info, we also suggest these pieces on how to get your boat ready for summer from My Boat Life and Bennington.