Summer Startup

[SeaDooSam]

I'm not up to it yet. Just planning for the future. Besides check all the fluids and putting in the battery is there anything I have to do before turning the key?

 

[Grub54891]

I see by your signature, you have a good handful of watercraft. What if any maintaince have you done in the past?

 

[SeaDooSam]

The Chap with a merc is mostly what I am asking about as this is the first winter we have had it. For the jet skis, we just put gas in, make sure he registration is in it, check the oil and go.

 

[Maclin]

Kinda depends on what all was done for the seasonal layup. What was your winterization checklist?

 

[SeaDooSam]

For the chaparral, we brought it to our trusted mechanic for winterization. Then cleaned the hull and interior. Put some mold inhibitor and damp rid. Then shrinkwrapped

 

[Chris1956]

Make sure you run her on the flusher until she is warm, and then for a few minutes. My experience with Mercruiser is that the issues you can have are usually at spring startup.

i.e. During spring startup, the alternator shorted and nearly started a fire. Another spring startup, the manifold/riser gasket failed and I was hydrolocked. Both of these are better when the boat is on the trailer.

 

[Grub54891]

I back them in the lake for spring warmup, that way you know the impeller is doing the work of keeping the motor cool and everything is as it should be. Now some ramps are fairly steep, which makes the engine sit at a pretty good angle and sometimes they have a difficult time pumping water up to the block. Only seen that happen once with a new impeller. We revved it a bit then she cooled down and launched. No problem.

 

[Scott06]

I check fluids, which I changed in the fall, remove spark plugs, ground ignition foil wire, run on starter until oil pressure shows on the gauge. Plugs back in and start it on the muffs. Raise lower drive check shift fwd and rev, check bellows for tears. Hook up trailer and go to ramp, look leaks, let it come up and maintain temp before I leave the dock. Minimum three beers along the way...

 

[oldjeep]

I check the oil, back it in the launch to fire it up check for any hose leaks and that is about it.