Taking your boat to a professional will save you money!  Experienced and certified mechanics at marine facilities can narrow down the cause of your boat’s problem(s) faster, eliminating the purchase of several unnecessary parts.  Warranties (and most insurance coverage claims) do not honor parts that are not installed by a technician employed by a fully functioning repair center.

DO NOT RUN YOUR MOTOR WITHOUT AN AMPLE WATER SUPPLY!!  Damage to your water pump occurs in 10 to 15 seconds.

It is recommended that the water pump impeller is changed every two years for optimum performance. 

Change the gear lube once a year, preferably prior to storage.  It should not be stored without lube in the gearcase.

The engine oil and filter should be changed every 100 hours or yearly.

Manufacturers recommend, even for the older motors, that they run with a 50:1 fuel to oil ratio.

Using substandard oil in your fuel may save a few dollars now, but it will eventually cause your motor to run poorly and require servicing.  Use the recommended oil for your motor and it will perform better longer.

Storing your battery indoors for the winter will prolong its life, if you charge it every month or so.  Otherwise, as long as its cables are disconnected it will survive storage in your boat with a full charge at summerizing.

While on the trailer, or for long periods of time in a hoist, remove the transom drain plug (bilge plug) from your boat to avoid water collection from rain.  DON’T FORGET TO PUT THE DRAIN PLUG BACK IN THE BOAT!

Check your fluid levels and navigation lights each trip out on the water.

If you use your boat only a few times a month or less, have a battery switch installed to extend its life or disconnect your battery between uses.

It is recommended to change the spark plugs on your four stroke outboard once a year and to run a factory fuel cleaner in the gas.  Fuel cleaner is NOT the same as a conditioner and should be used in every tank.