12-24-2025, 07:42 AM
I just bought a used sixteen-foot aluminum boat with a five-year-old outboard motor, and I want to make sure I'm starting off with a solid maintenance routine before the season really gets going. The previous owner wasn't meticulous with records, so I'm planning to do a full service myself. For experienced boat owners, what are the essential tasks you perform at the beginning of each season beyond changing the lower unit oil and spark plugs? How do you properly fog the engine for storage if you're in a climate with mild winters, and what's your process for testing and maintaining the water pump impeller to avoid overheating issues on the water?