Ben's Boat Repair

Pre-trip checklist:

• Visual trailer inspection: tires, wires, lenses, winch, tongue

• If trailer has brakes, check fluid level

• Check fuel (shake boat and sniff) is it fresh? Check gauge, does it work?

• Check oil- is it full? How does it look?

• Check life jackets- do you have enough? Are they a proper fit for your passengers?

• Oars, Anchor, cell phone charger/ fully charged cell phone

• Fire Extinguisher

 

Hitching up:

• Is hitch properly lubricated?

• Hitch and lock, cross chains, plug in lights

• Check lights to make sure they work

• Have a helper pull the boat forward a few feet, listen for wheel bearing noise

• Make sure boat is strapped down in the back, winch is tight

• Tie down bimini, seats, etc- make sure contents are secure so nothing will blow out

 

Towing:

• Moving forward

• Stopping

• Turning

• Backing

 

At the Gas Station:

• Fuel & Fuel Stabilizers

 

At the Boat Ramp:

Before backing down the ramp:

• Install drain plug tightly

• Remove straps at back of the boat

• Load the boat (toys, coolers, etc…. not every ramp has a dock)

After backing, before unhooking:

• Lower drive

• Warm up engine

• Check for leaks

Dock tie-off:

• The importance of bumpers, proper placement

• The right way to wrap a cleat

• Basic boating knots

On the boat:

• Rules of the “road”

• Navigational Markers

• No Wake Zones

• Tilt/trim/plane

• Blowers & bilge pumps

• What’s this switch do?

• Don’t pollute/leave only “footprints”

 

Reloading procedures:

• Centering the boat

• Re-hooking

• Rocking the boat to ensure it’s centered

After leaving the ramp:

• Pull off the ramp if it’s busy

• Remove the drain plug

• Check for debris (required by law to remove before leaving)

• Unload the boat

• Strap it down, secure seats, etc

 

Returning home/post-trip checklist:

• Wash down your boat after each use to keep it looking nice, prevent buildup and invasive species

• If there’s gas in the tank, add a fuel stabilizer if none was added when the fuel was purchased

• Drain & clean live wells, coolers, life jackets, toys, etc

 

Invasive Species – texasinvasives.org

• Where they hide

• Proper boat cleaning techniques, recommendations from TPW

• Don’t dip your boat in different bodies of water without a thorough cleaning in between!

 

What to do if you get in trouble on the water:

 

Anchors:

• Best type/weight for the boat

• Make sure your line is long enough, know the depth of the body of water you’re boating in

 

Oars:

• Proper use

• Paddling solo

 

Fires:

• Fire extinguisher basic operations

• Common sense: Don’t try to use water to put out an electrical or gas fire

• Common sense: Don’t try to use your shirt to put out an electrical fire

Rescue

• Waco Fire Department- 254-750-1740

 

When to see mechanic vs doing it yourself

 

Trip logs, maintenance records, seasonal & annual maintenance