Boat Maintenance

[Nick Williams]

Earlier this year, I purchased a Towee Calusa (if you aren't familiar with Towee: http://toweemarine.com/, it's what Jeff Trigg at Ozark Sweetwater has been running), and one of the learning curves that I expected was boat maintenance. I haven't however learned much. My Towee is stored in my garage on trailer with a 15hp Suzuki on the back and MinnKota Riptide 55lb thrust trolling motor with iPilot, it's a great boat. My question is this: What are your basics for boat maintenance? For the boat itself, electronics, motor, trailer, etc. What are the things you must do for maintenance and how often? TIA!

[snagged in outlet 3]

I follow the motor maintenance schedule religiously.  And fuel treatment is crucial.

[jdmidwest]

Check and drain lower unit each season, refill with fresh lube.  Monitor charge on batteries thru off season and charge if needed.  Repack axles each season.  Wash and wax boat to keep looking new.  Keep rodents away from the boat.

[fishinwrench]

2 hours ago, jdmidwest said:

Check and drain lower unit each season, refill with fresh lube.  Monitor charge on batteries thru off season and charge if needed.  Repack axles each season.  Wash and wax boat to keep looking new.  Keep rodents away from the boat.

Excellent!  

The only thing I'd add is to not let it set for extended periods.  Even if all you can do is hook up a hose to it every few weeks and let it run for 5 minutes in your driveway, then by all means do it.  The worst thing you can do to an outboard motor is to let it set for a month or two without running it.

You are using a small portable fuel tank so do NOT pour in any additives or stabilizer.  If fuel gets older that 6 weeks dump it out or use it in a chainsaw or lawn mower, or your truck.  Keep the fuel in your outboard and in its fuel supply/primer hose fresh, and keep good fresh fuel moving through the system.

[fishinwrench]

7 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

 fuel treatment is crucial.

Whose Kool-aid are YOU drinkin'?  

[jdmidwest]

Assuming its a new boat and motor, it should be able to handle ethanol gas without harm. Not as much fuel concerns as older motors and ethanol. 

[snagged in outlet 3]

8 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Whose Kool-aid are YOU drinkin'?  

It’s what I got and it’s winter time.  shouldn't he use Stabil?

Coming from the “there aren’t any below the rereg dam” guy. 

[fishinwrench]

3 hours ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

It’s what I got and it’s winter time.  shouldn't he use Stabil?

Coming from the “there aren’t any below the rereg dam” guy. 

Nah, we're talking about less than 6 gallons here.  Which do you think is better, fuel that has had kerosene and more alcohol poured in it to "save it", or good freshly bought fuel?

Fuel stabilizer isn't a gimmick, it does what they claim it does, kinda, but it also degrades the fuel to a degree, and the claims are largly exaggerated so they can sell more of it (duh!). 

I can't set idle mixture correctly when the fuel has stabilizer (or any other additives) added to it, so what's that tell you?   Injector pulse timing is programmed with fresh 87 octane fuel, free of a witches brew of additives in it.  Again, what's that tell you?

If you have a full 40-120 gallon tank then it's your only reasonable option....but otherwise your way better off with good fresh fuel.  Now that our rubber compounds have been reformulated the only real downside to alcohol blended fuel is that it has a very short shelf life.

I encourage everyone to treat fuel like milk.  Buy only as much as you need at the time, and drink it up before it goes bad.  

Why don't we have additives to make milk last longer?  If we did would you buy milk by the barrel full, or still buy it fresh by the gallon?

If you find yourself with too much fuel in your tank then go looking for Smallies below Cannon dam, that'll burn it up!

[snagged in outlet 3]

Okay, first thanks.  What about keeping the tank topped off so you don't build up condensation?  I ran 4 days on the White and only burned 3 of 9 gallons.

24 minutes ago, fishinwrench said:

If you find yourself with too much fuel in your tank then go looking for Smallies below Cannon dam, that'll burn it up!

I did that last week.  Everybody knows there aren't any below that dam.

[fishinwrench]

22 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Okay, first thanks.  What about keeping the tank topped off so you don't build up condensation?  I ran 4 days on the White and only burned 3 of 9 gallons.

I have a stack of empty fuel cans and 2 inboard fuel tanks in my bone pile outside, some have been there for 3 years or more.  I just went and checked (just for YOU) and there is no moisture in any of them.  All 7 portable tanks and both inboard tanks are bone dry.   

So unless someone talked you into installing some kind of "fuel heater" inside your fuel tank, and you drank that Kool-aid too, then I think you're safe from any  condensation.     

Don't you just love a smart a$$ on a Wednesday morning?