Caring for a small boat is a much simpler process than caring for a large boat with an engine. This is why many boaters choose to purchase small fishing boats for their normal boating activities.
Although you can’t fit a large group of people on your small boat for a boat party, small boats are the perfect option for people wanting to enjoy relaxing fishing trips.
Caring for a small fishing boat is not as difficult as caring for a larger boat, but there are still a few maintenance tips you should know about in order to keep your fishing boat in perfect condition. To get the most out of your small boat and keep it in great shape, you’ll want to continue reading below.
Here’s everything you need to know about maintaining cheap fishing boats.
Drain It Completely After Each Use
Storing your boat out of the water is a great way to prevent the boat’s material from corroding.
Removing it from the water isn’t the only way you’ll ensure it’s dry, however. It’s also essential for you to drain it completely after each use.
This is especially true when using the boat in saltwater. Once you get the boat to land or back to your house, make sure you allow it time to drain properly. You might need to keep the boat at an angle to get all of the water out.
Remove All Items From Inside It
While the water is draining from the boat, make sure to remove all items from inside it. Keep in mind that some of these items could prevent all of the water from draining if you don’t remove them. The items themselves can also hold water in them, which will then sit on the boat for a long period of time if not removed.
Once you remove all the items from inside the boat, take a few minutes to rinse them off as well. You’ll want to remove all the saltwater from them to prevent any damages.
Rinse It Out Well After Salt Water
When creating your own maintenance checklist for your small boat, consider where you’ll be using it the most. What type of fishing do you enjoy? Will you be using the boat in freshwater or saltwater?
If you tend to fish in saltwater, then you’ll want to not only drain the water out but rinse it out as well. After all of the items are removed from the boat and the water’s drained, take a hose and rinse the entire boat off. Make sure to rinse the inside and outside.
An aluminum boat will form a hole in it if saltwater sits inside it. If you have a plastic boat, then rinsing is not as necessary.
Do be sure to remove any mud or sand, which can clog the drain and hold saltwater.
Flush the Trolling Motor
After purchasing your small fishing boat, you’ll want to purchase a high-quality trolling motor for it as well. A Haswing trolling motor is one great option, but you’ll need to take good care of the motor also.
Another maintenance tip you’ll need to follow if using your boat in saltwater is to flush the trolling motor. Flushing the trolling motor will remove all of the saltwater inside it.
When flushing it, the motor should run for about 8-10 minutes while you hose it down. You’ll need to attach the suction cups to the motor with the hose. You can purchase these suction cups from a local auto parts store.
Then, remove it and store it indoors until the next use.
Remove Battery to Charge
Unless your trolling motor has a built-in generator, you’ll need to remove the battery after each use also. Remove the battery and charge it up until full. A trolling motor with a built-in generator will charge itself while the motor’s running.
Otherwise, the battery will need charging after each use to prevent a dead battery while out on the water. To be safe, you should always have a pair of paddles on the boat with you at all times in case the battery or motor malfunctions or dies.
Having a fully-charged battery before each time you take the boat out is the best way to ensure a safe and problem-free fishing trip.
Clean All Boating Electronics
If you have any boating electronics on your boat, then these will need cleaning after each use too. If you allow saltwater to sit on the electronics, it can cause damage to them. Rather than rinsing them off with a hose, you can consider taking a wet rag and wiping them down.
Then, be sure to store them inside or in a covered area to prevent rain and sun damage. A shed is a perfect place to store all of your fishing and boating accessories and electronics between uses.
Care for Your Small Fishing Boats Properly With This Guide
Small fishing boats are much easier to care for than large boats, but they still need regular maintenance and care. Be sure to follow all of the cleaning tips listed in this guide above. When in doubt, refer back to this guide to ensure you’re not forgetting anything.
If needed, take a few moments to jot down these tips and create your own small boat maintenance list.
For other posts on sports and recreation topics and a few other topics, be sure to visit this page on a daily basis!
