Routine Maintenance for anew boat owner

I'm sure this info is 100 different spots, and its obviously in the owners manual. but what say you???

As a fairly new boat owner what do I need to keep an eye out for? Preventative maintenance type stuff.

I had a prop ding the other day and I was under the boat changing it out and noticed where the shaft enters the boat has a tiny bit of water dripping. What type of job is that or is it normal? These are things I dont know.

Obviously, I'm up on an oil change. Plan to do the transmission fluid change this winter.

What else? Feels like a full year of boat ownership has been fairly easy....which makes me nervous!

One thing to look for is the the bolts that hold the prop shaft on the vdrive, make sure they are tight periodically. Change the water pump impeller annually, it's a fairly easy job especially if you have an impeller puller.

Water impeller (black) are good to change annually. I have 1.5 seasons on my current one b/c of a mid-summer change the year before. You will also find people that swap them out every-other spring depending on boat usage.

If you have reversible pumps, the ballast pump impellers (green) are good to change out every-other season. If you use your boat enough, you know how long it takes to fill up bags. When the pumps get slow, it's time to change out.

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Originally Posted by Beas

I'm sure this info is 100 different spots, and its obviously in the owners manual. but what say you???

As a fairly new boat owner what do I need to keep an eye out for? Preventative maintenance type stuff.

I had a prop ding the other day and I was under the boat changing it out and noticed where the shaft enters the boat has a tiny bit of water dripping. What type of job is that or is it normal? These are things I dont know.

Obviously, I'm up on an oil change. Plan to do the transmission fluid change this winter.

What else? Feels like a full year of boat ownership has been fairly easy....which makes me nervous!

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Your prop shaft entry point should be a dip seal on 2008. Which means a drip every 1-2 minutes into the bilge is normal. Also if there is water dripping on the outside that is normal and means the water is circulating correctly and cooling the prop shaft bearing.

Maintenance on these boats is no different than cars, tractors, etc. Engine, drive train, cooling system, and body are the 4 main things and all require different items. Change fluids and filters, keep them clean, make sure winterization is done correctly.

I do oil change and transmission fluid change at the end of every summer before I winterize the boat. The screen strainer on a direct direct transmission is a real pita to get to. To avoid having to get to the strainer I’ve swapped trans fluid every year for 18 years and had no issues. I also change my impeller every year. Not worth the risk of a failure. Pull it in the winter and install new one in the spring. One other item always turn your steering wheel all the way to port when boats not in use. This will keep the steering from getting stiff. I had to replace my original steering cable at like 4 years. Haven’t needed another one since…


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Originally Posted by PatL

One other item always turn your steering wheel all the way to port when boats not in use. This will keep the steering from getting stiff. I had to replace my original steering cable at like 4 years. Haven’t needed another one since…
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I have not heard of that before.

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Originally Posted by MJHSupra

I have not heard of that before.

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I'm with ya. not sure I understand the "why" behind this one.

I know in the world of io's and outboards with hydraulic steering, they say turn one way or the other to reduce stress on the transom and the fluids in the system but not sure I understand why it would matter on wakeboats that use a simple cable in a sheath.

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Originally Posted by sandm

I'm with ya. not sure I understand the "why" behind this one.

I know in the world of io's and outboards with hydraulic steering, they say turn one way or the other to reduce stress on the transom and the fluids in the system but not sure I understand why it would matter on wakeboats that use a simple cable in a sheath.

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Perhaps turning it to one side puts the cable all the way inside the casing to protect it?


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Originally Posted by larry_arizona

Perhaps turning it to one side puts the cable all the way inside the casing to protect it?


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Larry exactly. By doing that at least on the rudder for the older boats it keeps the cable completely covered inside the casing. Mine is still like it’s brand new. The original one bound up within the first 4 seasons.


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It may be worse for me as we are in brackish water than for others. Either way it’s a simple thing to do.


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