Got some spare time this off-season? Here’s what you can do to fill that gap and help yourself later.
The winter season is showing its teeth right about now — but that’s no reason to let your boat collect dust. On the contrary, now is the perfect time to tackle some of those small projects that can be hammered out quickly. Here are 20 great tips to fix minor ailments and have your boat ready to rock once the weather begins to warm.
- Get a Grip
Place sandpaper around a filter — between filter and filter wrench — to make removal of greasy, slippery fuel and oil filters easier. - Screwed
You broke a screw off flush, or nearly so, and need to extract it? Cut a slot with a Dremel tool grinding-wheel attachment, and then remove it with a screwdriver. - Wing Ding
Replace wing nuts on battery terminals with lock nuts (typically three-eighths-inch for positive and five-sixteenths-inch for negative) for season-long resistance to loose connections due to vibration. - Push, Push, Push
For cleaner caulk lines, use a cartridge gun, not toothpaste-style tubes, and always push rather than pull the gun. - Move It or Lose It If your trailer is used only for spring launch and fall haul, make sure to move it a few feet once in a while to prevent the bearings from taking a set; alternatively, jack it up and spin the wheels once in a while. It’s also a good idea to tow the trailer a mile or so to exercise the tires and help prevent belt separation.
- KY
Lubricate filter gaskets with a dab of oil before installing to ensure the O-ring doesn’t bind.