Owning a boat is a wonderful way to enjoy the water near your home. You can use a boat for fishing, sailing, swimming or just relaxing and listening to the waves. Like all machines, though, you need to take care of your boat to make sure that it stays safe and functional. In addition to following all federal health guidelines, you must inspect the following systems every time that you take a boat ride.
Machinery
A wide variety of parts such as WEMA KUS level senders work together to keep your boat operational. However, they occasionally break, whether because someone misuses them or because they deteriorate over time. While you can’t prevent all accidents, you can take steps to reduce the chances that a critical part will malfunction when you’re a mile away from the dock. Read the owner’s manual to find out how often you should have your boat serviced by a professional and how often you should perform minor maintenance on your own. Understand the different warning lights that notify you about potential problems. Stay alert for signs that something may be wrong, such as an unusual sound or smell when you start the engine. Each time you prepare to go boating, make sure that all of the boat’s visible machinery looks normal and that none of the warning lights are on.
Fuel
Aside from small vessels such as rowboats and canoes, almost every boat relies on fuel. Generally, they use marine gas oil or marine diesel oil. These types of oil are not the same as the ones that you put in your car, so unless your user’s manual explicitly directs you to do so, do not purchase gas for your boat at a normal pump. Marine supply stores, as well as some hardware stores, stock different blends. Never experiment with or mix different fuel types; you could ruin your boat’s engine, which is often expensive to fix. Before you set out, check that your fuel tank is full. If you are going on a particularly long trip, bring extra fuel, but be sure to keep it away from heat sources. Always err on the side of having too much fuel, since nothing will ruin your trip quite as much as being stuck on the water with an empty tank.
Boats are complicated machines, but if you take care of them, they will work well for a long time. Perform these checks before you set out so that you can enjoy your trip to the fullest.