Good habits to adopt before relaunching your powerboat

Recreational boaters who do not sail all year round are always impatient to get back on the water. Are you eager to set sail now that the good weather has arrived? Before setting out to sea, read BENETEAU’s advice on good habits for a successful relaunch of your powerboat.

RELAUNCHING YOUR powerboat

A successful relaunch of your motorboat depends on rigorous pre-season maintenance and servicing. After wintering, all motorboat equipment and components must be re-inspected; it is best to be accompanied by a professional when making the inspection. 

Engine maintenance: a crucial step to be carried out prior to relaunching the boat

Even if the engine has been serviced during the wintering period, the very first thing to do before the start of the sailing season is to carry out another round of basic maintenance (e.g.: check the oil level), for both inboard and outboard engines. Reminder: to ensure that an engine remains in perfect working order, this servicing must be carried out according to the engine manufacturer’s recommendations. Arrange a rendezvous with your nearest BENETEAU boat dealer to schedule the servicing of your engine.

Check the motorboat hull  

Next, it is vital to inspect the motorboat hull and check for any evidence of impacts. If you do see traces of impacts, tell your BENETEAU boat dealer and have them repaired as quickly as possible to prevent any further damage or deterioration. For boats submerged in harbour, this inspection also provides an opportunity for careening the boat, and renewing its antifouling if necessary.  

Relaunching your boat: the perfect occasion for an overall inspection      

In addition to checking the engine and the hull, the spring launch is also the perfect time to make a general inspection of the boat. This will ensure you enjoy safe sailing under the best possible conditions.

It is important to check that all the boat’s equipment is in perfect working order (GPS, VHS, depth sounder, etc.) and that all safety equipment is present and complete (life jackets, whistle, flares, etc.). Read through your boat’s owner’s manual to be sure that everything is OK.
  

Relaunching the boat can also be a good time to give it a good, top to bottom clean. Apart from keeping your boat in good conditions, this cleaning helps to identify any equipment and/or fittings that are showing wear and tear, as well as flagging up any minor repairs that need to be dealt with. This check can also be performed by your dealer, who will then carry out any necessary repairs. If you have a trailable boat, your dealer will also check the condition of the trailer: vehicle suspension, lights, tyre pressure, etc.

ARRANGE A RENDEZVOUS FOR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICING OF YOUR MOTORBOAT