Blog @ Deep Blue

Boating Pre-Season

Ryan Charles — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 19:33:53 GMT

What do the baseball, football, and boating seasons have in common? They all have pre-seasons.

In boating, Spring is the time to get your vessel ready for the greatest season of the year. It is also an opportunity to avoid potential safety problems.

The pros at Deep Blue Yacht Supply have designed a powerful playbook to help you prepare for boating season.

Dust off the owner's manual. Always consult your manual for specifics and for items that may deviate from this checklist.

ENGINE

Change the Oil

Did you change the oil when you winterized your boat? Even if you did, the oil usually absorbs unwanted acids and chemicals from the engine during the long winter's sleep. You may want to change the oil again to remove these deposits.

Reconnect Spark Plugs

If you left the spark plugs disconnected during the winter, it's time to re-install and re-connect.

Reconnect Fuel Hoses

As with the spark plugs, the same applies to outboard

Intake Sea Strainer

Double check that the strainer is free of debris and corrosion.

Inspect all belts and hoses.

Clamps should be snug and free of rust. If they show signs of cracking, rotting, or feel mushy, it's best to replace them now.

Here is a neat trick that we use to test fuel lines and clamps. Take an old white rag and run it up and down the fuel clamps and hoses. If you see or smell fuel on the rag, it is best to tighten the clamps and inspect the hoses more carefully.

To replace any hoses or belts, check out our selection of Buck Algonquin® hoses and clamps.

Sterndrive Boot and Hydraulics:

Inspect rubber boot for cracks or holes. Check fluid levels in lift pumps and hydraulic steering.

PROPELLERS AND SHAFTS

Inspect Propeller

Remove prop and lubricate if necessary.

Inspect prop for dings or damage. Even a slightly dinged prop can cause excess vibration on the engine / lower unit.

If ding exposes aluminum, then excess corrosion can occur from electric currents.

Have propeller repaired or consider purchasing a new propeller.

Deep Blue Yacht Supply offers the following tools:

Propeller Guide

Inboard Propellers

Ski and Wakeboard Propellers

Inboard Propeller Pullers

Inspect shafts and struts for proper operation.

We offer stainless steel boat shafts in Aqualoy® 17, 19, and 22 material. Please refer to our Shaft Guide for specifics about custom stainless shafting.

Inspect Shaft Cutless Bearings

Replacement is due when the prop shaft starts to shimmy or when the shaft shows movement of about 3/16 of an inch. Deep Blue Yacht Supply carries a wide range of Metallic, Non Metallic, and Flanged Cutless Bearings

ELECTRICAL

Check water levels

Fully Charge the battery

It's been sleeping for a while.

Clean Battery Terminals

Remove all the corrosion

Inspect Electrical Connections

Check for wear in electrical wires. Repair if necessary.

Shore Power Cable

Inspect cable for burns and wear

Test your electrical systems for proper operation

Gauges

VHF Radio

Antennas

GPS Units, Plotters, & Fish Finders

Water Pumps

Lighting

Bilge Pump

SAFETY & EMERGENCY

Inspect Life Jackets / PFDs

Get them out of the back of the locker. Inspect them for rips. Double-check the seams. Do you have enough for each person onboard? Do you have enough sizes for younger kids?

Have you ever had to put on a life jacket in an emergency? How about one that is still in the plastic? Take out a stop watch and time yourself. Can you put in on and adjust the straps in less than 15 seconds? To avoid potential problems, we use the following technique for all our trips:

Pull out your PFDs. With a Sharpie, number each one. When your guests board your boat, assign them a number and throw them a life jacket with the appropriate number. Ask them to adjust the straps to their size and try it on for size. This helps in two ways. First, in an emergency, there will be no time messing with the straps.

Secondly, it helps get the life jackets out from the back of the locker, and closer to the surface.

Throwable Flotation Device

The U.S. Coast Guard requires that you have one throwable PFD. Let's say that you throw it and miss your target. Now what? I keep two throwables on my boat. One with a line attached. In an emergency, I first throw the regular cushion. If I miss, then I'll have the one with the line to throw over and over again.

Fire Extinguishers

Make sure the extinguisher is fully charged. In addition, the extinguisher has been sitting in its mount for a while without any movement. To avoid the chemical from settling into a hard rock at the bottom of the canister, slowly invert the canister 20-25 times. You should feel the chemicals slosh back and forth through the canister.

Lastly, if the expiration date has passed, or is coming due, it would be best to buy a new fire extinguisher. If you can find an ABC extinguisher, I would definitely pick one up.

Flares / Visual Distress Systems

Check the expiration date on your flares. 42 months is the usual life of flares. If the flares have expired, you can donate them to your local USCG Auxiliary Flotilla or Fire Department.

Re-organize your emergency box

By re-organizing your emergency kit, you'll see if something has gotten wet, or if something has expired. If you don't have a kit, it's time to buy one. I keep a fully stocked waterproof box onboard.

Here are some of the items that we store in the box.

First Aid Kit

Screwdrivers

Vise-Grips Pliers

Spare Navigation Bulbs

Spare Spark Plugs

Spare Fuses

Flares

Extra Knife

Extra Batteries

...and even more batteries

Check your compass

What if your GPS unit loose powers. This is your non-electrical friend.

Liferaft Inspection

Is it time for servicing? Please use a local facility or your OEM for this one, as they can repack it properly.

Have the liferaft supplies expired? Are they still in good condition?

Test the Smoke Detectors

EPIRBs

Check expiration date. Use the manufacturer to replace batteries.

Abandon Ship / Ditch Bag

You hope it never happens, but just in case. Here are a few items worth considering.

EPIRBs

Sea-Dye Packet

Handheld VHF Radio

Flashlight

Batteries

Watertight Bag for Electronics

Flares

Whistle

Passports

Protein or Granola Bars

Water Packs, Water Maker, Desalinization Packs

Water Container

Inflatable Distress Flag (can catch rain water, too)

Fishing Line / Hook / Sinkers

Sunscreen

First Aid Kit

DECK / HULL

Bow

Inspect the lifelines, pulpits, and stanchion.

Inspect the anchor, ground tackle, lines, and fenders.

Hardware

Inspect all deck hardware including cleats, deck pipes, hatch lifts, brackets, vents, and scupper plates for damage or wear.

If you are in need of deck hardware, check out our wide selection of Buck Algonquin® Marine Hardware.

Inspect dingy and life raft clamps

Inspect bimini canvas and covers

Inspect Hull for Damage

Look for and repair any scratches and gouges.

Inspect for blisters.

Inspect Trim Tabs

Be sure to test the trim tabs to make sure they function properly. Refer to your owner's manual for specifics.

Replace Zincs

These sacrificial pieces of metal protect the precious metal components of your boat including lower units, propellers, rudders, shafts, and struts. They should be replaced when one-third of the original zinc remains. I like to replace mine once a season when the boat is out of the water.

Be sure to check out our wide array of Zimar Zinc Anodes.

Inspect Rubber Gaskets and Seals

Renew caulk and gaskets. If in doubt, you should replace.

Inspect rudder / steering components and fittings. Deep Blue Yacht Supply provides a wide range of Steering Components.

Inspect Drain Plug

FRESH WATER SYSTEM

Fill the water tanks

Reconnect the hot water heater

Non Toxic Antifreeze

Although it's non-toxic and alcohol based, nobody likes it. Flush out the antifreeze that you added in the winter. Run all the faucets including the shower heads.

BILGES

Verify that bilges operate properly

Verify connections to battery. Clear debris from float.

Make sure bilge has oil

DOCUMENTS

USCG Auxiliary Safety Check

The Coast Guard Auxiliary performs complimentary safety checks. This helps confirm that your vessel meets both Federal and State regulations. There are no citations issued and violations are not reported to law enforcement.

Visit SafetySeal.net to locate an examiner in your area.

Check you boat's registration

Insurance Policy

While your insurance company will usually send you the renewal bill, use this time to make sure your coverage meets your needs.

Boat Towing Service

Is it time to renew your service?

Outboard Propellers by Engine

Ryan Charles — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:13:12 GMT

Deep Blue Yacht Supply now allows you to view all propellers by outboard engine. Deep Blue Yacht Supply has the lowest prices in the industry on all Outboard Propellers

Buy Outboard Propellers by Engine

Deep Blue - Acme Ski Propellers are now in Stock

Ryan Charles — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:09:34 GMT

Precision machined 3 blade NiBrAl propellers by Acme have revolutionized the propeller manufacturing industry. All Acme Propellers are cast in their own North American foundry and 100% CNC machined in one of two QS-9000 manufacturing facilities. Computer Numerically Controlled milling machines provide an extremely accurate and consistent means for removing metal. This method of production, relative to hand-finished, translates into Acme Propeller perfection, and the elimination of one big variable in boat performance. Precision machined, each propeller is box-to-boat ready. Note: 2003 & newer Mastercrafts use Spline bore.

Buy ACME 3 and 4 blade Ski Props now

NOT ALL BOAT ZINCS ARE CREATED EQUAL, EXPERIENCE THE ZIMAR® DIFFERENCE.

Ryan Charles — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:29:14 GMT

Before you decide which zincs you use to protect your boat, compare the quality of Zimar® Zincs and the competition: Zimar Zinc Anodes are made of 99.99% zinc, compared to 99.9% Zimar Zinc Anodes last longer than traditional competitor zincs. Zimar Zinc Anodes are individually made to assure the highest possible zinc concentration and lowest amount of porosity. But don't take our word for it. Compare the two images, and decide which one you want protecting your boat. There is a reason most discerning boat/yacht owners use Zimar® Zincs to protect their vessel, experience the Zimar® difference.

Zimar Competition

Deep Blue Yacht Supply.com now able to be translated into 60 languages

Ryan Charles — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:51:39 GMT

The DeepBlueYachtSupply.com website/on-line storefront is now able to be translated into 60 different languages

2009 Fort Lauderdal International Boat Show

Ryan Charles — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:41:17 GMT

Fort Lauderdale Boat Show this weekend.... Come visit us and hang out Saturday and Sunday at Booth 1225 at the Bahia Mar location. All boat show orders over $100.00 will save an extra 5% off our industry leading low prices. We look forward to see everyone out there at the best boat show in the land

Annual Deep Blue Yacht Supply Labor Day Sale

Ryan Charles — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:18:39 GMT

Deep Blue Yacht Supply is currently having it's Annual Labor Day sale. Use LABORDAY7 as the promo code to save an extra 7% off all in-stock boating essentials. The Labor Day sale goes til midnight est on Tuesday 9/8/2009. Tight lines and smooth seas.

Deep Blue Yacht Supply Labor Day Sale>>

ReadyCleat® - Portable Instant Cleat Solution

Ryan Charles — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 02:01:03 GMT

ReadyCleat® is a portable instant cleat that is used as an insert to the rod holder, when a fender is required for docking and no permanent cleat is available along the beam in the cockpit of a boat. ReadyCleat® is inserted into any standard size rod holder, up to 9.5 " in depth, providing an instant fender cleat ready for action. Made from high-impact lexan GF to withstand the harsh marine environment, and a one-piece construction with no breakable parts.

Buy ReadyCleat Deck Hardware Now

Michigan Wheel MP3 Sailboat Propeller

Ryan Charles — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:00:39 GMT

For the cruiser over 30', the 3-blade MP propeller has the blade area to get the job done. The thrust provided not only produces cruising performance when the sails are down, but also offers excellent maneuverability while docking.

Our 2-blade and 3-blade fixed pitch propeller series for sailboats are available in diameters of 10" - 24", in a wide range of pitch. Custom sizes are also possible. The typical material is Manganese Bronze Michalloy K, although NiBrAl Michalloy XX (Nickel, Bronze, Aluminum) material is also available.

0.53 E.A.R.
Diameter range: 9" - 18"

Buy Michigan Wheel MP3 Propeller

Michigan Wheel M-500 Inboard Propellers

Ryan Charles — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 23:54:00 GMT

The M-500 is selected by many operators for new boat construction, repowers, and upgrading of propellers. The excellent design and increased blade area provides superior and higher performance without increasing propeller diameter, which may be impossible to due to clearance or tip speed consideration.

The M-500 is the top choice on installations where heavy vee-struts, dead wood, or other hull appendages are agitating the water flow to the propeller. In addition, the M-500 is the choice where vibration caused by resonance is a problem. The blade design reduces vibration caused by the propeller, achieving smoother and quiet cruising.

Available in NiBrAl (Nickel, Bronze, Aluminum) & Manganese Bronze.

0.86 E.A.R.
Diameter range: 22" - 44"
Pitch range: 0.75-1.3 dia/pitch ratio

Buy Michigan Wheel Inboard Propellers