February is here and the winter of 2012 has been mild so far. We boat owners need to start planning for the spring launch now so we don’t run into snags at the last minute.
Virginia has a boating education requirement for ALL personal watercraft operators and most boat operators; there are exceptions, so check out this article or the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries website for details.
Remember all that gear you took off last winter? Now is the time to find it all and check its condition. Pay special attention to the PFDs – are they in good condition? Straps and buckles all working? Give them a pull test, just like your friendly game warden, deputy sheriff or Coast Guardsman is likely to if you get boarded. Tug hard on those straps to make sure they are not weakened by rot or too much sunlight. Often the straps will hold but the fabric and/or stitching will give way. Test them and see before you get an expensive ticket!
Do you have any inflatable Type V PFDs? Most Type V PFDs require annual servicing, so check yours and make sure. If the device needs service, then it fails an inspection during a boarding. You can take it where you bought it for servicing, or you can buy the kits to do it yourself.
Have you checked on the boat lately? Is it full of water and leaves, or did you cover her up? This is a good time to check that no leaves or other stuff made it under the cover and left a mess. If you shrink-wrapped your boat, you should wait until closer to launching to open it up; shrink-wrap cannot be resealed once it is removed.
Make sure any storage compartments are clean and mold-free. If you find mold or mildew, get it out in bright sunshine; sunlight kills the stuff in just a few hours. Clean up any stains and leave it dry, dry, dry. Cover the boat back up, leaving a way for air to circulate to avoid any mold or mildew buildup.
If you carry distress signals such as flares, be sure to check their condition. They should be dry and not swollen. Look at those expiration dates, too. Best to replace any that would expire during your boating season so you won’t have to worry about them. What to do with the old ones? Don’t just throw them in the trash! Call your city or county waste department as those old flares are hazardous waste. Check with your local Coast Guard Auxiliary or U.S. Power Squadron flotilla unit; they may be able to use them during a training exercise.
Hopefully you winterized the boat engine(s) and systems. It’s still possible to get a hard freeze in the Richmond region until late March or early April. To avoid problems on the launch ramp or lift, it’s best to test run the engine before we get on the ramp. Make sure that you have plenty of cooling water going into that engine before you try to run it. Remember, February is still too cold to leave untreated fresh water in that engine block or water lines, so save this step until closer to launching!
Depending on your boat, there may be more to your list than just this…the point is to think about that now, before that springtime rush to the mechanic and the launch ramp begins, so you will have a smooth, trouble-free launch in just a few weeks.
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