We were asked at the weekend by a fellow boater why we spend
so much time and money on servicing and maintaining our boat. To us the answer
was simple; we use our boat, cruise extensively on our boat and rely on our
boat. We can’t afford for it to become unreliable. Prevention is most certainly
better than the cure in our case.
It may seem strange to some that we give the boat a full
service in March each year and then change the engine oil and filter again in
June or July and again in November or December. It may seem excessive but with
the use we give the boat it is good to keep it serviced and the oil clean. The
winter service is perhaps the most important as during the quieter winter
months the engine can be stood around unworked for weeks on end, much better to
be stood with clean oil then with dirty contaminated oil.
It isn’t a cheap affair keeping the big green lump serviced
but at the same time it isn’t a cheap affair replacing it with a new one
either. Regular servicing highlights the early signs of any potential problems
which can then hopefully be rectified before they become a major and expensive problem.
It is equally important that we keep the stern drive and
underwater gear in good order. The boat is of no use if the propulsion system
isn’t functioning as it should. A yearly fettle and oil and seal change helps
keep it running smoothly. Also important and more often than not overlooked is
to check the anodes and ensure that they are working properly and also that they
are wearing evenly. Changing them on a regular basis isn’t high on the list of
some people. Excessively worn anodes can
lead to corrosion of the stern drive, which is why it is important to check and
change them.
So people may think we are strange or overly obsessive with
our maintenance regime, but we think that they are strange and a little bit
unkind in expecting to get away with years of use with little TLC given back in
return. It is of course often the exact same people who are the first to complain
when they are let down by their boat. You can’t have it both ways I’m afraid!
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