Boat maintenance
Scheduled maintenance, fluids and boat-system service.
Below are the maintenance services we offer. Services apply to the equipment installed on your boat and follow manufacturer requirements.
Fluids and systems we service
| Liquid or system | Typical service |
|---|---|
| Engine oil | Drain and replace; replace filter where equipped |
| Lower-unit or sterndrive gear oil | Drain, inspect, and replace |
| Transmission or V-drive fluid | Replace according to manufacturer requirements |
| Closed-cooling engine coolant | Test, drain, and replace |
| Hydraulic steering fluid | Inspect, replace where specified, and bleed |
| Power-steering fluid | Inspect and service where equipped |
| Tilt-and-trim hydraulic fluid | Check level, correct leaks, and service |
| Hydraulic trim-tab fluid | Check and service |
| Hydraulic jack-plate fluid | Check and service |
| Hydraulic shallow-water anchor fluid | Check and service |
| Generator oil and coolant | Replace according to the unit’s schedule |
| Gasoline or diesel fuel | Inspect, stabilize, remove contamination, or replace stale fuel |
| Two-stroke injection oil | Replenish and inspect the delivery system |
| Trailer brake fluid | Replace and bleed |
| Freshwater tank water | Drain, clean, sanitize, and flush |
| Raw-water cooling circuits | Flush; descale when appropriate |
| Black-water wastewater | Pump out, rinse, and service the holding system |
| Gray-water wastewater | Drain, clean, and service the holding system |
| Watermaker circuits | Flush and preserve using approved procedures |
| HVAC refrigerant | Diagnose and service when indicated |
| Winterizing antifreeze | Apply or remove according to the system’s requirements |
Scheduled maintenance and inspections
- Manufacturer-specified engine service by operating hours or calendar interval
- New-engine break-in service
- Annual boat and engine maintenance
- Preseason inspection and commissioning
- Midseason maintenance
- End-of-season service
- Pre-storage inspection and preparation
- Return-to-service inspection after extended storage
- Complete boat-system inspection
- Electronic scans and fault-code review and clearing as part of service, where supported by the installed equipment
- Fluid-leak inspection
- Corrosion inspection
- Hose, clamp, belt, seal, and gasket inspection
- Fastener inspection and tightening to specified torque
- Operational verification after service, using testing methods appropriate to the boat and the work performed — this may include diagnostic equipment, an appropriate cooling-water supply, and lake testing when needed
Diagnostic checks are part of maintenance and repair. Clearing a fault code does not by itself correct its underlying cause.
Outboard engine maintenance
- Four-stroke engine oil and filter changes
- Two-stroke oil reservoir, lines, and injection-system inspection
- Lower-unit gear oil changes
- Gear oil inspection for water contamination or metal debris
- Drain-plug seal replacement
- Lower-unit pressure and vacuum testing when indicated
- Spark plug inspection and replacement
- Fuel filter and fuel/water separator replacement
- Air-intake and applicable air-filter service
- Water-pump impeller and housing service
- Thermostat inspection and replacement
- Cooling-water passage flushing
- Timing-belt inspection and scheduled replacement
Sterndrive, transmission, and propulsion
- Sterndrive gear oil changes
- Drive removal and scheduled inspection
- U-joint inspection and lubrication where serviceable
- Gimbal-bearing inspection, lubrication, and replacement where applicable
- Driveshaft, exhaust, and shift-cable bellows inspection and replacement
- Shift-cable inspection and adjustment
- Engine alignment checks
- Drive-shaft spline lubrication
- Drive seals and drain-plug gasket service
- Trim-cylinder and hydraulic-line inspection
- Marine transmission and V-drive fluid changes
- Transmission filter or strainer service where equipped
- Shaft-coupling inspection
- Propeller-shaft inspection and alignment
- Strut and rudder inspection
Fuel system
- Fuel filter replacement
- Fuel/water separator service
- Fuel sample testing for water and contamination
- Fuel-tank inspection and cleaning
- Stale or contaminated fuel removal
- Fuel stabilizer treatment for storage
- Fuel hose and primer-bulb inspection
- Fuel fitting and connector inspection
- Fuel-tank vent and fill-hose inspection
- Fuel sender and gauge testing
- Fuel-pump pressure testing
- Carburetor cleaning and adjustment
- Vapor separator tank service where applicable
- Anti-siphon valve inspection
- Fuel-system leak testing
Cooling system
- Freshwater flushing of raw-water cooling system
- Raw-water cooling-circuit descaling when appropriate
- Raw-water strainer cleaning
- Intake screen and pickup inspection
- Water-pump impeller replacement
- Pump housing and seal inspection
- Thermostat service
- Cooling hose and clamp replacement
- Closed-loop coolant drain and refill
- Heat-exchanger cleaning
- Intercooler and aftercooler service where equipped
- Oil-cooler and transmission-cooler cleaning
- Temperature sender and overheat-alarm testing
- Winterization of applicable cooling circuits
Steering, controls, and hydraulics
- Hydraulic steering fluid inspection and replacement where specified
- Hydraulic steering bleeding
- Steering leak inspection
- Helm pump and steering-cylinder inspection
- Mechanical steering cable inspection and replacement
- Steering linkage lubrication
- Power-steering fluid and filter service where equipped
- Throttle and shift cable adjustment
- Electronic throttle and shift checks
- Tilt-and-trim fluid service
- Trim-tab hydraulic fluid service
- Trim-tab actuator and hinge inspection
- Jack-plate hydraulic service and lubrication
- Hydraulic shallow-water anchor fluid service
Propellers and underwater running gear
- Propeller inspection for damage
- Propeller shaft lubrication
- Propeller hub inspection and replacement
- Propeller nut, cotter pin, and hardware replacement
- Shaft inspection for bending or wear
- Rope and fishing-line removal
- Shaft-seal inspection
- Underwater hardware corrosion inspection
- Anode replacement
Batteries and electrical
- Starting, house, and trolling-motor battery testing
- Battery charging and replacement
- Electrolyte checks for serviceable flooded batteries
- Battery terminal cleaning and corrosion protection
- Battery cable and connection inspection
- Battery tray and hold-down inspection
- Battery switch testing
- Battery isolator and charging relay testing
- Onboard charger testing
- Alternator output testing
- Starter circuit testing
- Fuse and circuit-breaker inspection
- Wiring inspection for corrosion, damage, or loose connections
- Grounding and bonding connection inspection
- Parasitic battery-drain testing
- Inverter and converter inspection
- Shore-power inlet and cord inspection
Freshwater plumbing, sanitation, and holding tanks
- Water filter cartridge replacement
- Supply hose and fitting inspection
- Freshwater tank draining, cleaning, sanitization, and flushing
- Freshwater system flushing and sanitization
- Freshwater-system winterization and recommissioning
- Black-water holding-system pump-out, rinsing, and service
- Gray-water holding-system draining, cleaning, and service
- Holding-tank winterization
Livewells, baitwells, and fish boxes
- Livewell and baitwell cleaning
- Aerator and circulation-pump service
- Fill and drain pump testing
- Intake screen cleaning
- Hose and valve inspection
- Timer and switch testing
- Overflow and drain cleaning
- Fish-box macerator service
- Seal and lid inspection
- Winterization of water-containing components
Hull, deck, and exterior care
- Boat washing
- Salt removal
- Hull and waterline stain removal
- Oxidation removal
- Gelcoat polishing and waxing
- Fiberglass surface inspection
- Hull seam and weld inspection
- Blister and crack inspection
- Deck hardware inspection
- Hatch, portlight, and window seal inspection
- Rub-rail inspection
- Swim-platform and boarding-ladder inspection
- Non-skid deck cleaning
- Teak cleaning and care
- Stainless steel cleaning
- Upholstery cleaning and conditioning
- Mold and mildew treatment
Corrosion prevention
- Sacrificial anode inspection and replacement
- Engine internal anode service where equipped
- Galvanic isolator inspection
- Electrical connection corrosion protection
- Exposed metal surface protection
- Aluminum and stainless component inspection
- Saltwater exposure cleanup
Anchoring, docking, and deck equipment
- Anchor and rode inspection
- Anchor-chain corrosion inspection
- Windlass lubrication and service
- Windlass motor and electrical connection checks
- Chain locker cleaning and drainage inspection
- Dock line and fender inspection
- Cleat and mounting hardware inspection
- Deck winch servicing
- Davit and tender-lift inspection
- Boarding ladder service
- Bimini frame, hinge, and fastener inspection
Safety equipment
- Fire extinguisher condition and service-date inspection
- Fixed fire-suppression system inspection and scheduled service
- Carbon monoxide detector testing
- Smoke detector testing
- Gasoline vapor detector testing
- LPG detector testing
- Engine-compartment blower testing
- Navigation light testing
- Horn and sound-signaling device checks
- Life jacket condition inspection
- Throwable flotation equipment inspection
- Emergency beacon battery and service-date checks
- Life raft inspection and servicing through an approved station
- Emergency bilge pump testing
- First-aid kit replenishment
- Emergency equipment inventory
Life raft servicing is arranged through an approved life raft service station. Interstate Marine is not a life raft service station.
Boat trailer
- Tire pressure and condition checks
- Tire replacement
- Wheel lug torque checks
- Trailer light and wiring service
- Connector and ground inspection
- Winch and strap inspection
- Bow stop and roller inspection
- Coupler inspection and lubrication
- Safety chain inspection
- Tongue jack service
- Trailer brake-fluid replacement and bleeding
Trailer brake-fluid service does not include complete brake overhauls.
Maintenance questions
Do you do oil changes?
Yes. Engine oil is drained and replaced, with the filter replaced where equipped.
Which flushes do you perform?
Freshwater flushing of raw-water cooling systems (with descaling when appropriate), cooling-water passage flushing on outboards, freshwater tank and system flushing and sanitization, and watermaker circuit flushing and preservation using approved procedures.
Does every item apply to my boat?
No. Services apply to the equipment actually installed on your boat and follow manufacturer requirements.
Can you service a life raft?
Life raft inspection and servicing are arranged through an approved station. Interstate Marine is not a life raft service station.
Helpful articles
- Building a Boat Maintenance Schedule That Fits Your Equipment
- A Preseason Boat Inspection Is More Than Starting the Engine
- Raw-Water Flushing, Descaling, and Coolant Changes Are Different Services
- Boat Battery Testing: Starting, House, and Trolling-Motor Banks
- Hydraulic Boat Steering: Leaks, Fluid, and Bleeding
- Boat Freshwater Tank Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Flushing
Discuss maintenance for your boat
Tell us the boat, engine and installed equipment, and which services you’d like. Customers bring their boats to our Belton shop.