If you are like me, you have stared at your boat all winter. If fact, if you are like me, you probably will talk to your boat when you walk by, just to make sure it knows you care. But spring is settling in, the ice is coming off the lakes and it won’t be long before you and your two thousand pound best friend head off together for some good times on the lake.

Checking the Boat and Trailer
If you are like many boat owners, you will have performed some winterization to your boat prior to putting it away for the last time. A typical winterization, at a minimum, will normally include filling the gas tank up to full to prevent condensation, adding a fuel stabilizer such as Sta-Bil, and using fogging oil in the cylinders to lubricate the cylinder walls and pistons. Finally, most will apply water resistant grease to propeller shaft and threads, and change the gear oil in the lower unit and perform an oil change. Additionally, if you store your boat out of the water, it is recommended that you remove your battery and keep it charged through the winter.

A visual inspection of your boat and trailer will tell you if there are any glaring problems that have developed over the winter. Depending on your chosen storage location, you may find that you have to deal with damage caused by rodents, or water seepage through the tarp. I have been told that rodents will avoid your boat if you put mothballs or old dryer sheets in your boat prior to tarping it for storage. I can say that it has worked for me. Additionally, you can avoid water seepage in your tarp by “tenting” your tarp with some wood beams placed across your boat prior to storage. This will allow the water to roll-off more affectively instead of pooling on your tarp.

Provided that you don’t have any issues there, it would be a good time to re-install your battery. Make sure that all batteries are fully charged. If they need water, add it as necessary. Make sure all of the terminals are tightened and correctly fastened to the correct positive and negative posts.

Start the engine to make sure that everything is running properly and check your gauges. Please be aware that most engines are water cooled and that you should only start your motor out of water if you have a correct size motor flusher to keep water flowing through the cooling system when you are on land. If you are unsure, check with your local boat dealer for advice.

I should mention that this is a GREAT time to install the drain plug on your boat if you have removed it for storage. Remembering to install the plug after it has sunk at the ramp is a bad idea. In fact, you should install the drain plug now and then check it again when you are doing your final launch walk around which we will talk about in a bit.

If you haven’t already done this, now is also a great time to clean your boat, stem to stern. While you have the boat out anyway, it’s a great time to get out the vacuum cleaner, the window cleaner, and make your pride and joy SHINE!

After you have started the boat and made sure things are functioning properly, it’s time to visually inspect your trailer. Check all hardware, rollers and bunks for signs of wear or cracking (checking your rollers and bunks may actually be easier after you launch the boat for the first time). Make sure that all of your nuts and bolts are tight. Grease the bearings in your wheels as needed (Bearing Buddies are great for this). Plug your trailer into your tow vehicle and make sure that your brake lights and turn-signals are working properly. Also, make sure that your tires are properly inflated. This will not only improve trailering, but also improve your gas mileage.

Finally, make sure your boat is properly secured, both front and back, with the proper straps and tie-downs to keep your boat from bouncing off or shifting on the trailer.

Checking for the Correct Gear
Now is the time to check your gear and make sure everything you need on your boat is there. This is both a legal requirement and a common sense requirement.

Life Jackets: the most important equipment on your board. Statistically, about 80% of boating fatalities could have been avoided if the victim were wearing a life jacket. There must be at least one wearable life jacket onboard for each person. Most boats must also carry a throw cushion or life ring style flotation device to throw to persons having trouble in the water. The exceptions to the throw cushion requirement are personal watercraft, sailboards, canoes and kayaks, although for the life of me, I don’t know why canoes are exempt—of all the vessels most likely to cause a trip in the drink, canoes are it!

Children under the age of 13 must, by law, wear their life jacket at all times when on a boat. People on a personal watercraft must also always wear their life jacket.

For everybody else, the wearable life jacket must be "readily accessible." Of course, the best place to be readily accessible is ON YOUR PERSON. Barring that, on or next to the seat is the next best location. Life jacket technology has improved in the past 10 years, and lightweight life jackets or new inflatable models are great to wear.

If you spend any time around the water, you should buy a comfortable, quality life jacket that you will use. Filling your boat with the cheap, ugly, uncomfortable life jackets that nobody will wear may squeak you by a boat inspection, but may not save a life. The law requires that your life jacket be the proper size—do not put adult size jackets on kids, it is dangerous and illegal. Also, make sure that there are no rips or tears, all buckles work, and the jacket is labeled to meet U.S. Coast Guard approval. If your jacket is so old you can’t read the label anymore, it is time to replace it.

Fire Extinguisher: A common sense rule is that if you are carrying gasoline on your boat, carry your fire extinguisher. Law requires one onboard most motorized boats with the exception of outboard motorboats under 26 feet in length of open construction and not carrying passengers for hire. All other motorized boats must carry at least one U.S. Coast Guard approved type B-1 fire extinguisher. Boats over 26 feet in length must carry larger or multiple extinguishers—check out the regs to be sure you have what you need.

Check your extinguisher often, using either the gauge or the pressure button to be sure it is still charged. It also needs to be mounted somewhere it is easy to find and access in an emergency—the engine compartment is not a good location.

Sound producing device: All vessels must have an efficient whistle or other sound-producing device (canned-air horn, installed horn, etc.). Your voice will only hold out for so long if you have to yell for help, so a mechanical device is imperative.

Oars: Every vessel, except personal watercraft, sailboards or similar devices, and Class 3 or 4 motorboats (boats 26’ and up—ever try to paddle a 30’ boat?), shall carry an oar or paddle.

Bailing Bucket: Every vessel, except personal watercraft, sailboards or similar devices, shall be equipped with a bailing bucket, efficient bilge pump or sponge.

Miscellaneous: Mufflers, flame arrestors, and ventilation systems are required for many boats. These items come installed at the factory and should not be removed or bypassed.

There are a number of other rules for enjoying water sports such as SCUBA diving, water skiing, tubing, wakeboarding, etc. Those we will visit later.

Another item that is worth considering in your boat is a first aid kit. Considering the close proximity of knives, hooks, and other pointy objects to bare hands and feet, its always a good idea to have a small but stocked kit in the boat. Additionally, I like to keep some Tylenol in my kit so it's a good idea to replace those old pills from last year.
Having a way to contact someone in an emergency is good too. VHF radios are not routinely monitored in Nebraska, and cell phone coverage can be scarce at some rural lakes, so have a plan on how you could get help if needed.

Final Walk Around
There are three complete walk-arounds I do with my boat. Before I leave my house, before I launch the boat, and before I trailer it home. It may seem like a lot, but a quick mental checklist will keep you from forgetting some things that are vitally important and could damage your boat.

Before I leave my house, I will check that the boat is properly connected to my hitch. That includes that the trailer is properly secured to the ball, the lynch pin is secured, and both safety chains are secured to the back of my truck. In addition, you should again check that the wiring is correctly hooked up and that both your left/right blinkers and brake lights are functioning correctly. I make sure all tie-downs are affixed, that the motor is raised for travel, and the transom saver is properly secured. One of my big mistakes every year is that at least once, I will forget to raise my trailer jack. I don’t get far before I remember. You don’t mistake that noise. So make sure your trailer jack is raised.

Upon arrival at my lake, but prior to getting on the ramp, I do another walk around. The first thing I do is unplug the electrical from my trailer. This will allow time for the tail light bulbs to cool so they don’t crack when they hit cold water. After that, I remove the rear tie-downs, the transom saver, and lower my motor slightly. Be careful not to lower it all the way until it is in the water. Otherwise you will scrape your motor on the concrete (another sound you can’t mistake). Finally, unhook the boat in the front. You are ALMOST ready to go. One last thing, check your drain plug and make sure that it is securely fastened. If it is, you should be ready to go. Only after I do my final walk around do I approach the ramp.

My final walk around involves all of the things previously mentioned only I do them when I remove my boat from the water and prepare to trailer it home. Make sure the boat is properly secured both front and back with chain and tie-downs, motor is lifted and transom saver is installed (if you use one), and electrical is hooked back up with a quick check of turn signals and break lights. Additionally, I make sure that all loose items in the boat are secured for travel and will not fly out.

Launch Ramp Etiquette
One of the common frustrations of many boaters is the hectic and sometimes confrontational time at the boat launch site. It seems the longer you have to wait, the more likely frustrations are to flare. So some common etiquette tips can help a great deal.

• Prep your boat and do your walk-around inspection BEFORE you get in line at the ramp.
• Once you are completely ready, then get in line at the ramp.
• When it is your turn, back your tow vehicle down promptly, launch your boat and quickly move your vehicle to the parking lot.
• It is recommended that someone on your boat start the motor and move the boat to one of the waiting docks nearby.
• Do NOT wait until your boat is in the water to prepare and load it with gear.
• Always be forgiving of those who are struggling with backing down the ramp. Remember, you had a first time too.

Hopefully, with a little extra time spent in preparation, you can have less wasted time at the docks, fewer unexpected and costly surprises, a safer boating experience and more time spent on the water!