To a certain extent the work involved in getting a boat ready for summer depends on how well the boat was prepared for winter. Not all facilities winterize boats in the same manner. Some drain most of the fuel; others leave the tank fulll. Some remove hoses and disconnect batteries. Others don’t. So the specific steps that you’ll have to take to get your boat up and running may be different than the ones your other boating friends follow. Here are some general tips on what to do so you can enjoy you boat as soon as the boating season commences.

Be prepared for winter damage
If you didn’t winterize your boat be ready for the possibility that you will encounter freeze damage in areas such as the potable water system, the head, even the engine. Anywhere water runs inside the boat is susceptible to freezing. Look for cracks and water leaks before you fire up the engine. Even boats that were winterized may be victim to some freeze damage, particularly when winter temperatures drop drastically, as they have this winter.

Charge the battery
No matter how you stored you boat’s battery over the winter, make sure it has a full charge before attempting to start the engine, as starting the engine on a low battery can be detrimental to the starter.

Perform a visual inspection
Look for water in the fuel lines or tank, water in the oil, leaks and cracks in hoses, belts and so on. Check all your electrical connections and check your lights and electrical systems. Make sure the bilge pumping is functioning correctly. Inspect your safety equipment to make sure that you have all the equipment the Coast Guard requires for the type of boat that you own, and that all the equipment is in working order.

Check your oil and fuel
Some marine facilities recommend storing your boat for the winter with a full fuel tank, to avoid condensation build-up. Others recommend draining the tank until it almost empty to avoid having a full tank of degraded-quality fuel on your boat in the spring. Whichever option you’ve selected for winterizing, your fuel tank and your oil levels should be full — and you should verify that the fuel and oil hasn’t been contaminated or degraded — before you start the engine for the first time.

Get a tune-up
Many boat owners perform tune-ups on their boats in the fall or early winter, after the boating season is over. If you neglected to do this get it taken care of in the spring, before the boat gets put into heavy use. Even if you did have a tune-up performed in the fall, you may still want to consider having a marine mechanic giving the boat a spring maintenance review.

Inspect the trailer
One piece of boating equipment that boat owners frequently neglect to consider as they prepare their boats for spring is the boat trailer. At a minimum the bearings on the trailer should be checked by jacking the trailer up and spinning the bearings.

Take a test run
Before you plan any social outings, take the boat out on a short cruise. Sometimes problems aren’t apparent right away and a short dry run can show you what needs attention, before your friends and family are waiting impatiently on the dock to take off for a day of boating fun.