Finally! It’s time to launch and you’re minutes away from a summer of boating fun. Just make sure you go over these last minute items, courtesy of Kingman Yacht Center in Pocasset, MA.
• Test the steering. Outboard steering cables often freeze over the winter,and hydraulic steering systems can lose pressure from extreme temperature changes.
• Check stuffing box(es) and all through-hull fittings for leaks as soon as you go in the water.
• Clean the raw-water intake strainer before starting your engine.
• Clean and test the manual and automatic operation of all bilge pumps.
• Run bilge blower for at least 5 minutes before you start your engine(s).
• Start the engine(s) and run them up, checking again for leaks in raw water strainers and hoses. Make sure that water is pumping through the exhaust. If not, shut down and make sure that seacocks are in the open position and that through-hulls and intakes are free of obstructions and debris.
• Make sure that engine cooling water is pumping before heading out.
• Run the engine for a little while, looking around again for adequate waterflow and listening for anything that doesn’t sound right. Check fluid levels again after everything’s warmed up – and you’re ready to go!
