Preparing Your Boat and Outboard Motor for the First Launch in Australia – NEW AND USED BOATS FOR SALE IN AUSTRALIA
With boating season fast approaching in the southern hemisphere, it is important to check on your boat and its outboard motor. It is recommended therefore that a systematic check be conducted on the car before it goes to the Australian coast for the first time in order for any effects to be noticed in case of any mechanical discrepancies while out at sea. Here’s a checklist to help you prepare:
1. Boat Hull:
Look for any sort of scratches, dents, chips, cracks or any form of fading of colors they may have on the boat hull especially if their boat was disused during the winter season.
– Make sure the boat has no form of marine growth or any form of debris on its body, which is the hull.
2. Motor:
Underwater examination of the cruiser is confined to the outboard motor, the general state of which should be assessed, especially the propeller, the propeller shaft, and the lower unit.
– Look into the oil section such as dipstick oil, fuel line, and filters, and ensure they are either replaced or refilled.
– Check the state of spark plugs and the types of the ignition system.
3. Electrical Systems:
Perform electrical check of all equipment onboard; this can be the navigation lights, bilge pump, any other electronics onboard the boat.
Maintenance of the battery includes checking the level of charge within the battery and the connections must also be tightened and free from corrosion.
4. Safety Equipment:
Check with your boat rental company about safety equipment onboard; items that are needed, life jackets for passengers, flares, fire extinguishers, first aid kits etc.
A look at flare and other perishable safety equipment to ensure that they have not expired and replace them if required.
5. Tools and Equipment:
– Make sure you have a standard toolbox on your vessel; this is your spare parts, tools, and emergency repair box.
– Inspect ropes, anchors, and docking lines for signs of wear and tear and to put new ones where necessary.
6. Environmental Considerations:
Be aware of the existing local weather conditions and those of the marine for your area of operation.
It is important to always check for any special ordinances that have been put in place anywhere nearby that would prohibit or limit boating in that particular area or zone as well as prohibitions on speed as well as no wake zones.
7. Skills and Training:
Make sure that both you and any passengers have the appropriate boating license and permits mandatory in Australian rules and regulations.
Get a boating safety course or if you need a refresher course to take as it will update you with new knowledge and skills.
This article brings out some of the fine details that one should check both in the boat and the outboard motor before beginning use during a trip in Australia for the first time. Taking the time to triple check this list will give you the peace of mind and confidence needed for the exhilarating water activities a head.
Also visit our other websites focused on:
– boats for sale in New Zealand