DIY Shopping
If you're interested in servicing and maintaining your boat, here's what to look for when shopping for a new model.
by David Yetman
January 29, 2008
S
hopping for a new boat is one of the most popular activities for those of us who must
suffer through an "off" season. But whatever the season may mean for you, rest assured there will
be no shortage of boat shows, dealer sales and factory incentives designed to lure you into
purchasing the boat of your dreams. You'll be tempted by curvaceous lines, outrageous graphics,
eye-popping horsepower ratings and flexible financing arrangements.
But before you get blinded by all the bling, take time to look for some of the features that
can make ownership more convenient and enjoyable, especially if you're going to service and
maintain the boat yourself. Most of what you should look for falls under the heading of "service
access," but there are other sometimes-subtle things that will give you clues as to how well the
boat was manufactured and how well its systems will stand up. The size of the boat doesn't matter.
A poorly designed small boat can be as difficult to maintain as a larger one, so look carefully
before you take the plunge.
Convenience Is Key
Ease-of-maintenance features should be high on your list of priorities. Boats are often
built by installing their internal mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems into an open
hull before the deck or top structure is attached. This process makes the job of installing things
much easier, but may not take into account the difficulty someone may encounter in accessing or
maintaining individual parts later. Batteries are a perfect example. They're often tucked away in
transom compartments or behind other equipment, so removing them requires a Herculean effort. This
also makes accessing them for routine maintenance - such as checking electrolyte levels - virtually
impossible.
If this is the case with the boat you're considering, see if the manufacturer or dealer is
willing to install maintenance-free batteries that don't require fluid level checks before you take
delivery. The location of the battery switch is important too, not for maintenance purposes, but
for safety. It should be in an area that's instantly accessible in an emergency - like a fire - so
it doesn't require you to put yourself in danger trying to shut it off. The worst possible place
for it is next to the fuel filler or in an engine compartment.
Fuses and circuit breaker access are additional things to look for. It's nearly impossible
to detect a blown fuse or tripped breaker when the panel is tucked up under the dashboard or hidden
in some dark corner of a compartment. Tracking down an electrical failure when you're a mile from
shore is difficult enough without having to stand on your head or peer around a corner with a
mirror to look for the source of the problem. And while you're looking for the fuse panel, check
out the wiring that leads to it. Wiring that is neatly tied into bundles and secured so that it
doesn't flop around is a good indicator of a quality boat and a safety-conscious builder. On the
other hand, a rat's nest of loose wires going in every direction can make trouble-shooting
difficult and may serve as a sign of problems to come.
Out of reach: The battery in this photo is easy to see, but it's difficult to get
to.
Engines 101
Outboard motors, both 2-stroke and 4-stroke, have become much more complex in recent years.
There's more to maintain than there was on your father's old Evinrude Twin, so make sure you can
get to it conveniently. Once you've removed the cover, you should be able to access all regular
maintenance items without any further disassembly. Fuel and oil-filter cartridges should be right
at hand and placed so they can be changed without the danger of a spill. Another convenience to
look for is a flushing port that allows you to attach a hose and purge the engine's cooling system
after a day on the water. This is especially important if you boat in salt or brackish water. A
flushing port may also be helpful in winterizing, but be sure to check the manufacturer's
instructions before using it in this manner.
Boats that use an automotive-type engine in either an inboard or sterndrive arrangement have
their own accompanying set of features to look for. The oil filter on many automotive-type engines
is often located in a position that may make it difficult or impossible to access when the engine
is installed in the confines of a boat's engine compartment. In such cases, the cure for the
problem is a remote mounting kit, where a separate receptacle for the filter is mounted on a
bracket and connected to the engine by stout, aircraft-type hoses. This allows the filter to be
placed in a convenient location where it can be accessed and changed without the danger of a messy
spill into the bilge. Even if such an arrangement is in place, you should still check to see that
filter access isn't restricted in other ways.
Engine life in inboard or sterndrive boats that are used in salt water can be greatly
extended if the engine is equipped with a closed-circuit cooling system, which uses a heat
exchanger to insulate the engine from the effects of raw sea water. Closed-circuit cooling can be
an expensive option, but one that will pay for itself over time and make winterizing a simpler
chore. Make sure the engine's coolant expansion tank is placed where you can check its level.
Close at hand: It's especially important to have easy access to all maintainable parts of
the engine, such as the fuel filter, oil filter and flushing port.
Side Notes
Other features to look for in a boat that brings raw water aboard for any purpose are inlet
strainers and proper seacocks. Whether the raw water is used for cooling, to fill bait tanks or for
washdown purposes, the presence of strainers or filters in all water inlets is important. Raw-water
strainers protect pumps and plumbing systems from being clogged by debris and are inexpensive
insurance against possible failures. Pumps for washdown systems and baitwell filling are
particularly sensitive to incoming debris - even small particles - which can stick in their valves
and greatly reduce their pumping ability.
A seacock is a through-hull fitting that incorporates a shut-off valve in the same body.
It's a more expensive device that's used instead of the combination of a separate though-hull
fitting, which has an ordinary valve attached to it by a plumbing connection. The drawback of the
latter is that the connection between the inlet and the valve can fail or be damaged, leaving you
with no way to stop the inflow of water. In addition to the safety aspect, the lack of proper
seacocks can also be an obstacle in obtaining boat insurance.
So, shop 'til you drop. There are few events more exciting than buying a new boat and having
the knowledge of what to look for, and knowing why its importance will make you a wiser shopper.
And it will make your life with the new boat simpler as you service and maintain your boat in the
years to come.
Safety Apparatus: Proper seacocks help protect your boat against system failures.
Quick Tips
1. Look for a boat with ease-of-maintenance features.
2. Make sure fuses and circuit breakers are easy to access.
3. See if it's difficult to get to the engine.
4. Invest in closed-circuit cooling; it's worth the cost.
5. Be sure to get inlet strainers and seacocks if you have a boat that brings
raw water aboard.
