Boats, especially in salt water, need a lot of maintenance to ride the waves. Here are three tips to ensure your boat doesn’t become a one-way submarine. Your friends at Assure-Us, serving Miami Beach, FL, want to remind you that a small amount of maintenance today could save hundreds in boat repairs tomorrow.

Clean your boat thoroughly once a year

Every year, ensure your boat has been washed of corrosive seawater and brought up on dry land to inspect it. Marine life still makes its home on the bottom of boats and can ruin the hydrodynamic performance of your hull – or worse, ruin your hull itself. It can be expensive to get rid of an infestation. Take care of it early for carefree boating.

Flush your engine regularly.

Marine engines are water-cooled. Your boat is always surrounded by water. But water cooling also means you have to flush your engine after every sail to ensure that seawater can’t turn your expensive boat into an even more costly lawn decoration. Every time you bring your boat back into the harbor, be sure to flush your engine according to the instructions from the dealer that sold it to you.

Use safe cleaning products.

For a first-time boat owner used to the simplicity of doing routine maintenance on your home, the temptation may be to bring the same chemicals you use to clean your bathroom to clean the bathroom on your boat. But these chemicals – safe as they are for home use – may not meet the EPA’s requirements for marine use. Make sure you use approved, secure, and biodegradable boat cleansers.

Call or visit Assure-Us today in Miami Beach, FL for a free, no-obligation boat insurance quote.