Want an easy spring? Then look under your boat now. That’s the advice from Charles Greaves of Bayview Marine in Oakland Beach. Take a moment and do a visual inspection of your propeller. There are a few clues that something might be wrong. For example, were you going 20 knots at 3,400 rpm at the beginning of the season, but by the end the same 3,400 rpm was yielding only 18 knots? Have you had a vibration in the engine? It’s probably the prop. Vibrations can prematurely wear out the seals on your drive train, your O rings, etc.  Look for obvious things – any visible distortion or the blades, maybe a small chip out of the edge? Any of these will affect your speed and fuel efficiency. Look for pitting around the hub too. This can easily be mistaken for electrolysis. Getting these problems fixed now can increase the speed and decrease the fuel cost next boating season. Over time, bronze propellers need to be re-tempered back to the correct shape. Stainless steel props have superior strength and performance, but the difference between stainless, bronze, and aluminum is not as great as it was a decade ago. The recent vacuum casting of aluminum props makes them more rigid and the quality control is better.  It is also possible that a bent shaft may cause a vibration. If your prop has a wobble, the shaft is chief suspect, and this can be damaging bearings and seals as well.  Outdrives can be a point of concern.  Flexible boots, seals and hoses can make for a bad start to your season next summer. Look for deteriorating rubber and get it replaced now.

Charles said some of his customers asked about the stuffing box. They were thinking about installing a dripless water seal. It does not drip, but is more expensive and when it fails, the water will rush in and you are in trouble. The old water seal has to be packed but it is less expensive and more rugged and reliable. If it starts to drip, you can repack it at your leisure at the cost of a small harmless drip. Learn how to handle your boat properly. Whether it is a ski boat, speedboat, or bass boat, being a throttle jockey puts too much pressure on the shaft.

Don’t forget to look for areas of chipping paint.  If the same area is chipping every year, it may be due to blisters or water intrusion into the fiberglass.  Have a small area fixed before it gets worse.

Being pro-active is the key inside and outside your boat. Plan ahead for a great spring and summer season.

Trivia Question: What popular anchor for recreational boats is good for mud and sand, but not for grassy or rocky bottoms. For the answer and more information, go to:  www.northstarflotilla.com