Annual Maintenance

[BigBlueHouse]

Hey everyone,

I just picked up my first boat. A 2005 Regal 1800LS with a Volvo Penta 4.3 GL. The boat runs great and was just dewinterized when I picked it up. This is the first boat that I actually own, so have been doing lots of research into what to expect. As far as annual maintenance, it had always been taken to a shop for services but I was thinking about doing it myself since I have pretty much always done my own work on cars and think learning more about my boat would probably be smart. Other than changing the oil, what else do you guys do annually or after dewinterizing? Any tips or tricks? Thanks!

 

[bruceb58]

Pull the drive and props
Check drive alignment
Replace Gear oil
Replace water pump impeller every other year
Replace fuel filter

 

[garbageguy]

when it was dewinterized (summerized?), did it get a new oil/water separator?
how's the engine oil? plugs and wires?

 

[bruceb58]

when it was dewinterized (summerized?), did it get a new oil/water separator?
how's the engine oil? plugs and wires?

what is an oil/water separator?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Make sure to also grease the prop shaft.

 

[Lou C]

When pulling the drive to check alignment, check the driveshaft bellows for water, and check it carefully for cracks, if you see small cracks forming it is time to replace it. Any sign of water replace it. If the gimble bearing has any roughness at all, replace. U joints, if loose or stiff, replace.
If the gimble bearing and ujoints have grease fittings grease both. Also grease the driveshaft splines.
For the engine, check oil level and condition, check all cooling hose clamps, and fluid in the tilt n trim and power steering systems. If you see any rust trails starting from the joint between the exhaust manifold and the exhaust elbow, it is time to inspect the exhaust system to see if it needs to be replaced, or if at least the gaskets between those parts may need to be replaced. This is common in salt water, not as much in fresh. But it is very important in inboard water cooled exhaust systems.

 

[dypcdiver]

Not sure where you are located, but if it gets below freezing then drain all the cooling water from the block and ancillaries, along with the above recommendations, plenty of advice on this site if you do a search.

 

[muc]

Read the owner’s manual. If you didn’t get one with the boat. Google “Volvo penta owners manual“ if you enter the engine serial number on the Volvo website they will give you a free downloadable copy. Now contact the boat dealer who did the maintenance and ask for copies. Compare what was done to what should have been done.