Get your boat ready for the 2024 season

The following is an article from the Marine Activities Advisory Committee:

(April 8, 2024) Here are some tips we hope you can use to get your boat safely out on the water this year!

Temperatures are getting warmer. Spring flowers are up. This is the time when many of us think about the start of boating season! Time to make a plan to get your boat ready to put in the water, get it out of storage or get it ready to go on the trailer.

Whether you’re a veteran boater or a new boat owner, it’s worth reviewing a few basic steps to take to properly de-winterize your boat and give it a safety check before getting out on the water:
 

• Inspect Your Engine – your boat won’t run without a fully functional engine, so make sure it starts. Check condition of the oil. If it’s sludgy and opaque you’ll need to change it; if it’s clear but low, you should be able to just top it off. Change the oil filter at the same time. Flush the cooling system and replace the antifreeze from winter with a 50/50 coolant/water solution.
• Charge your battery.
• Check your fuel system, including proper ventilation of the fuel tank before adding new fuel. And whether you’re at the marina or your own dock, if suddenly you find yourself with gasoline or diesel sloshing around where it shouldn’t be, the first step is to stop the flow. Click off the nozzle and pull it out of the road holder. If the engine’s running and spewing fuel, shut it down and close the fuel valves. Turn off the bilge pump so you don’t discharge fuel overboard. Pumping fuel into the water can cause big fines and cleanup costs.* (see details below)
• Safety Check – make sure your boat is fully equipped with all the necessary safety and emergency supplies, and that they’re in good shape. Check the date on your fire extinguisher and replace it if necessary. Take out your life jackets and make sure they are still in good condition. Make sure you have flares in working condition, and a fully stocked first aid kit. ** The Ocean City Power Squadron offers free safety checks throughout the season. See the detailed information at the end of this list and how to contact them for a check of your vessel.
• Check your boat’s cover and upholstery for any damage or mold. Use an eco-friendly marine or other cleaner. Check to make sure the windshield is in good shape and there are no scrapes or damage that could hamper visibility.
• If you use a trailer to get your boat in and out of the water, make sure your trailer is in good condition, that the tires are fully inflated, and that your hitch works well.
• The DNR will make sure you don’t go too far if your registration is not up to date! Make sure you have current stickers and registration cards, and that your proof of insurance is readily available. It’s a good idea to have a waterproof packet or other storage device on the boat to keep these things handy and dry.

Enjoy! Have a safe and enjoyable 2024 season!


*Sometimes fuel spills happen. Maybe it’s small -- there’s a spurt of fuel that shoots out of the vent if the tank is topped off too high when refueling. However, the government says that anything that creates a sheen on the water is considered a spill, and federal law says a spill has to be reported. If you cause a spill, the law says you must notify the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802. Reports can also be made to the EPA regional office or the Coast Guard Marine Safety Office. If this happens at a fuel dock or marina, the local fire department is usually called in – and you are responsible for cleanup costs.

**The Ocean City Power Squadron (with many members here in Ocean Pines) offers a FREE vessel safety exam for anyone who wants it. All the examiners are certified and will perform the free check at your home or wherever your boat is being stored. There is no penalty should the vessel fail. The boat owner is given instructions on how to correct any problems before a free re-exam. When your boat passes, you receive a sticker that shows the Coast Guard you have undergone a successful safety check.

Bela Gulyas is the chair of vessel examination for the Power Squadron and welcomes boaters to contact him at 410-208-9747 to schedule a safety check.