Boating Season
Boating Season
The weather this year has been rather unpredictable. In some areas of the country it was a record cold. Boston was buried under snow, New York wasn’t not much better, and parts of Florida were a freezing 55 degrees. Even though pontoon boats and catamarans are great waterboat craft, they don’t do so well when the lake is covered with a thick layer of ice. Luckily you can stop making vroom noises while imagining you are on the lake and actually take your boat out now. February marked the relative end of the cold weather, and the temperature continued to rise throughout March. Now with April around the corner, we have prime sailing weather.
This year it started to seem like Winter doesn’t want to leave, but the weather has climbed back into the warmer temperatures. It may slip back down into the cold now and then, but the cold season can only last so long. So what does this mean for you? Time to get that boat back in proper working condition.
Give it a Wash: If you have not had the ability to enjoy your pontoon boat or catamaran then maybe you should start off with a good cleaning. Rinse it down, scrub any rough spots, and flush out the engine. You don’t want anything in the valves of the engine that could clog it up. Follow the typical steps in cleaning out the engine.
Inspection: Once the boat is cleaned up, check the normal items such as the oil level. Once the preliminary items are out of the way, turn the engine on and let it run. Make sure there are no odd sounds or smells coming from the engine or controls. If your boat has any form of lights or electronics turn them on to make sure they are still functional.
Resupply: Before hitting the water again, make sure that your boat is stocked with the typical supplies. If your inspection showed some lights had a dead bulb or your flashlights had a dead battery, then it is time to replace them. Make sure your first-aid kit is properly stocked up as well, just in case
Take it Slow: Once you are cleaned up, resupplied, and ready to go it is time to set sail. Don’t overdo it at first. Test the waters a little before going full throttle. Don’t venture too far out until you are sure you are not going to get stranded on the waterways.
If you are like us, you are eager to get out of the house and off of dry land. Don’t get in too much of a hurry though. The rivers and lakes are not going anywhere, they will be waiting for you once you are finished getting your boat back in shape. To make sure you have a boat that can survive both the open waters and the off seasons at the dock, visit Fiesta Marine today for quality pontoon or catamaran boats.