Outboard tips
When storing your outboard on a trailer, tilt the engine all the way down. This will allow any water to drain out of the lower unit and keep the housing from freezing. We also recommend you store your boat with a full fuel tank with the correct amount of fuel stabilizer added. With a full tank, there is a smaller chance that water can develop from condensation within the fuel tank. We also recommend spraying storing fogging oil into the carburetor to help lubricate the internal parts of your engine.
Inboard tips
If you are going to store your inboard outside or in a place where freezing could be possible, make sure that the engine block and manifolds are completely drained. Your inboard boat should also be stored with a full fuel tank and treated accordingly. Fogging oil should also be sprayed into the carburetors.
You can perform any of the above outboard boat tips yourself, or you can bring your boat to Just Add Water Boats and let our service technicians take care of these items plus any other mechanical needs.
Winterization
Depending on the time of year you take delivery of your boat, it may be winterized. Before using your boat for the first time, check to make sure all the drain plugs are in place and all water hoses are connected. If you are unfamiliar with this procedure, consult our Service Department or let us recommission your boat following storing. Subsequent winterization of your boat and protective measures to keep your engine from freezing are your responsibility and are considered normal maintenance.
24-hour break-in procedure
- For all inboard or outboard boats, before each day's use check the crankcase oil level and add oil if necessary. The oil level should be checked with a cold engine on a level surface. It is normal for an inboard or outboard boat to use some oil during the break-in period.
- Allow your engine to warm up to normal operating temperature before accelerating to higher speeds.
- Observe instrumentation carefully. If an abnormal reading occurs, stop your engine and determine the cause.
- Do not operate your engine at idle speeds for extended periods of time during the first 10 hours.
- During the first 10 hours, occasional operation at full throttle (5 minutes at a time maximum) is permissible.
- Do not run your boat's engine at the same speed for long periods of time.
- Avoid full-throttle acceleration from the idle position.
- For all inboard or outboard boats, add gear lube to the remote reservoir as necessary to maintain the full mark.
Scheduled maintenance
- For all inboard or outboard boats, Just Add Water Boats recommends your first service be performed at around 20 hours (Volvo owners) or at 100 hours (Mercruiser owners). This is a very important service. Your oil should be changed and your engine serviced.
- Check your engine manual for a complete schedule of periodic inspections and maintenance procedures.
- Have your engine and other systems winterized before the first freeze. Freeze damage is not covered by warranty and can be an extremely expensive repair.
General tips
- Your boat’s throttle arm regulates your speed and shifts your transmission in and out of gear.
- When moving your throttle from neutral to forward or reverse, always let your transmission engage before accelerating. When shifting your throttle, it should be a quick, positive movement of the lever.
- Do not ease the shift lever into gear. You may damage your transmission if you use your reverse gear to slow your boat down at engine speeds above idle.
- Before you start your engine, make sure your kill switch is in place and in the Run position and place your drive in the full down position. Make sure the boat is in the water deep enough to cover the water inlets on the lower unit.
- Using the shift lock out neutral button on your throttle arm, pump the throttle about 3 to 5 times, leaving the throttle arm at about 10 percent before neutral, then start the engine. Once the engine has started, leave the engine at neutral running at about 1000 to 1200 RPMs. After warming up, pull throttle back to neutral and proceed.
- For EFI stern drives, start the engine in neutral position. No throttle advance is required for starting. Do not pump throttle.
- Consult the owner's manual or see Just Add Water Boats’ Service Department for instruction on how to run your boat while not in the water.
Trailer
- It is the owner's responsibility to check lug nuts, maintain proper tire pressure, maintain proper amount of grease in hubs (bearings should be serviced and repacked annually) and check tire condition before using your trailer.
- Make sure that your trailer hitch is sufficient to pull the boat you are purchasing. Your trailer ball must be the same size as what is on the trailer coupler. Never tow your boat without a safety chain or tie down straps. Do not tow your boat until you personally check the capacity of your hitch, size of the trailer ball, your trailer lights and ensuring that your trailer is properly attached to your tow vehicle. You should perform this inspection yourself.
- Disconnect your trailer lights from the vehicle before you back your trailer into the water.
- Put in drain plug(s) before you put the boat in the water.
- Do not disconnect your winch strap from the boat until your trailer is in the water.
- When taking your boat and trailer out of the water, turn the engine off, put the drive in the full up position, attach the winch strap and secure your boat before pulling your trailer up a ramp.
- Remove the hull drain plug(s) as soon as you take the boat out of the water.
- Replace your tie down straps.
- Reconnect trailer lights and check.
