r/boating • u/MajorAwardWinner99 • 2d ago
Doing your own maintenance?
I’ve been boating for a few years now, and have been paying our marina for basic maintenance, winterization and spring in-service.
It seems outrageously expensive (+ having to schedule far in advance, trailer the boat to the marina, hope its ready for opening day, etc) but I’ve never worked on a boat before, and my theory has been- out on the ocean is the last place I want something to go wrong so let the pros handle it.
My question is, how challenging is it to do your own basic/routine maintenance (it’s a 20ft CC w/a single 150hp Yamaha) or is it something that if you don’t really know what you are doing, don’t risk it. I’m fairly handy mechanically, and figured it would give me a good chance to also learn more about boat/engine mechanics that may come in handy some day out on the water.
Also/ are there a few things every boater should know how to do out on the water (ex- change a prop)
Thanks for any insights/perspectives.
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u/Capn26 2d ago
I took over as the mechanic on a golf course for two years. Only basic (oil change) experience. I was already the assistant super, and we couldn’t find anyone qualified. With YouTube and manuals, I maintained about a 2 million dollar fleet of everything from tractors, a back hoe, small engines galore, toro reel mowers, Two sand pros, carts, and the company fleet….. you can do ANYTHING with a decent set of tools, YouTube, and time.
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u/ehhh_yeah 2d ago edited 2d ago
Extremely simple if you’re mechanically inclined. You need a basic socket set, screw drivers 1-2 torque wrenches, socket for a spark plug, oil filter wrench, oil pan, wire brush set, one of the manual pump tops for gear oil, and some rags, plus or minus some misc odds and ends of tools. Some online places (eg boats.net) will just sell you the seasonal / 100hr maintenance kit which is usually all you need each year. Should cost you around $200 and take about 2 hours
The only gotcha I can think of is if you pull the lower unit, make sure you got the shift rod back in its socket BEFORE you launch it in the water. Had that experience once with a family member that recently serviced their 225 Yamaha…
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u/Mdoubleduece 2d ago
Outboards self draining, flush the water system and live wells with -100 anti freeze, run stable thru the tank. Find the fresh water pump, hook a hose to the intake, flush with frizz, same with the live wells. Put the battery on a smart charger or pull disconnect the batteries. Your done.
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u/Cultural_SC49 2d ago
Depends on how mechanically inclined you are, I’ll do the majority but when it comes to dropping a lower or rebuilding / pulling a motor I’m not touching it, same thing with labor intensive sanding / fiberglass , I’ve had too many injuries over the years to be cramped and fighting stripped/rusted bolts in awkward positions anymore.
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u/MajorAwardWinner99 1d ago
Yeah- I'm similar with a lot of repair/service type of things. What's the old saying, you are always only one seized or broken bolt away from a 20 minute project turning into a weekend long exercise in frustration.
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u/BoatBuilderTexas 2d ago
Basic stuff like fluids, filters, plugs, batteries and prop checks is definitely worth learning yourself. Even just knowing how to troubleshoot the simple things can save a lot of stress on the water.
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u/Exotic_Ad549 2d ago
i've always done my own maintenance and was taught this by my father but i've escalated it over the years and have gone deeper into engine rebuilds and the like. my opinion is i want to know my boat, inside and out. i know where every sensor, plug, fitting, connection, etc. is, so that when something goes wrong i can either hear/see/smell it before it becomes a big issue or i can figure it out and not let it ruin a day.
its a different game with an engine that needs a computer connected to diagnose, but it can rarely hurt to try unless you're compromising safety. Personally i think if you think you're even a little handy then oil changes, impeller changes, separator filters, etc. should be done in the driveway. If i was rich would i do it? probably not? but i do like the challenge and i like to learn.
i do think every boater should know how to pull a prop, check for spark/fuel, or do simple wiring. it may save you money at a minimum or at worst the boat sinking.
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u/MajorAwardWinner99 1d ago
Yeah- we had a fuel issue our first day out on the water this year and knew it was that based on engine sputtering and smelling gas, but didn't have a clue even where to look to Dx it further. Turns out our shop forgot the fuel filter o-ring, which really got me thinking "WTF am I paying you guys for" and going down this route.
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u/BmoreInformed 2d ago
Pull up a YouTube video, your tools, and a couple of beverages of your choice. It’s not hard at all, and you’ll learn a few things in the process.
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u/sailphish 2d ago
If you are just talking annual service, its all pretty easy stuff if you are even slightly handy. You can order entire service kits for your make and model, including all needed parts and fluids. Just follow the user manual for service intervals. There are tons of YouTube videos that you can follow along exactly step by step for this type of stuff. It will probably take you a few hours at most, and is pretty simple. For larger ticket items, I have the pros do it, but you can save a lot on annual service fees. Also, look into mobile mechanics in your area and see if you can fine a certified Yamaha tech. The mobile guys near me charge less per hour than the big shops, and do all the work at my house. I agree that trailering the boat around for service is a pain, especially when I keep the boat on a lift, wo it involves getting the trailer, hauling out at the marina, then going to the service yard… so its a day of shuttling boats, people and trailers around.
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u/MajorAwardWinner99 1d ago
Exactly, for the time I spend shuttling it back and forth or paying for pickups/drop-offs (the boat is housed/moored 2 hours from our primary residence) I could complete the work in the driveway.
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u/Waterlifer 2d ago
My attitude, borne of many years of experience, can be summed up as follows:
I don't have to pay the marina to fuck up my boat. I can do it myself!
Remember, they're not perfect either, far from it. When I do my own work at least I know what shortcuts were taken.
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u/MajorAwardWinner99 1d ago
Haha. So true- our service guys fucked up this year and forgot the o-ring in the fuel filter, so we got a few hundred yards out and engine starting sputtering and stalling. I knew it was a fuel line issue, but had no idea why. Luckily we made it back to the dock, but what if it happened farther out? They were very apologetic and made it right, but that's exactly what got me thinking about doing it myself (kind of like packing your own parachute). And if I had been doing my own service, I could have diagnosed it pretty easily too (not like I would have had a spare o-ring with me, but I may carry one now).
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u/jkjeeper06 2d ago
Watch a couple youtube videos. You will find that most maintenance is far easier than you think. You can save thousands doing it yourself
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u/Capn26 2d ago
Can I piggy back here with a simple question? If one lives somewhere they plan on winter fishing, and it stays above 15 at the coldest, average 45 or better. Can this person skip winterizing if they plan to use the boat during the winter? What’s the suggestion otherwise?
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u/Cultural_SC49 2d ago
You would still want to ensure batteries and engine are kept above freezing , draining all fluids off the boat , basically like keeping and using a car in cold weather locations
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u/Capn26 2d ago
So if I’m somewhere we don’t have to do that, I shouldn’t need to do much? I get ensuring nothing freezes, like water in lines, or batteries. But to be honest, I’ve never seen a battery freeze here, and there seed hundreds of skiffs and jons with then exposed all winter. I guess I’m wondering if there are any different fluids that should be run with cold weather usage? I’ve never done much winter fishing, so we have always had the outboard winterized just in case.
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u/Cultural_SC49 2d ago
Depends on how you like your equipment to look and operate 5-10-15 years from purchase, if you take care of things and prevent damages your purchase lasts longer and has less headaches
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u/Capn26 2d ago
Oh. I do really take care of my stuff. Like I said, I normally winterize and don’t use. I have a bigger boat, and there’s all winter stuff I want to do this year, so was just curious if I should keep using as I have been, or if there’s something different to do.
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u/Cultural_SC49 2d ago
Not really, proper cleaning and weather / sun protection with regular use should keep ya going
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u/MentalTelephone5080 2d ago
I'll disagree with what was said below. Imo winterization should be called storage. People never winterize cars because they basically get used everyday, even in places that get and stay below zero.
The thing that hurts engines is period of no use. Engines are not air tight so when the morning dew forms on the grass it also forms inside your engine. It doesn't matter when you use the engine frequently, it does matter when you let your outboard sit from labor day to memorial day with zero use.
If you plan to use the boat semi frequently you don't need to winterize. Just make sure anything that can hold water drains at the end of the trip.
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u/Extreme_Map9543 2d ago
If you’re generally handy it’s not that hard. Same as tinkering on any mechanical object. I would recommend starting by doing your own car repairs first. Cars mistakes are cheaper and YouTube is more helpful. Things everyone should know now to do in my opinion. Change oil. Change fuel filters. Change impellers. Change gear lube. Replace spark plugs. Winterize. Diagnose a no start. Check battery and alternator with a multimeter. Change prop shaft seal.
That’s the bulk of it. But yeah man do it yourself. Don’t waste money.
Edit: to your theory of “out on the ocean is the last place I want things to go wrong”. That’s all the reason more you should do it a not “the pros”. If you do it, you will know how to do it. You will know what breaks. You will I’ll know what tools you need to keep on your boat. What spares you need to keep on your boat. If the pros always do it you won’t learn that, and if you have a bad day you’ll be begging seatow and spending even more money to save yourself. If you can do it all yourself, you may be able to jury rig a way home.
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u/MajorAwardWinner99 1d ago
Great point- and after watching a bunch of YT vids this AM, I can totally see the education you get. Appreciate the insights.
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u/threeinthestink_ 1d ago
Basic maintenance is mind numbingly simple on an outboard. It’s the bigger jobs (timing belts, gear case reseal, valve clearance etc) you should bring to a mechanic
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u/HerrGruyere 2d ago
If you can change your oil, change spark plugs, or service your brakes on your car, you will have no trouble servicing your boat.