Your Crest Pontoon maintenance schedule can be broken down into monthly and annual maintenance. There is always plenty to do to keep your boat in top shape. Creating and following a schedule will ensure that you maintain your vessel to the best it can be. A few aspects may vary from boat to boat but in general, these are great rules to follow.  

Monthly Boat Maintenance Checklist 

1. Wash the exterior

You should rinse your boat off after each use, but a good monthly cleaning will keep salt and dirt at bay and extend your gel coat. 

2. Clean the interior

Simply wipe down surfaces and scrub the head. 

3. Check the bilges

Check and make sure these are staying nice and dry. 

4. Run the engines

If your boat has been sitting for a few weeks to a month, let the engines run for 30 minutes. 

5. Check the fluid

Check your coolant levels, transmission oil and engine oil. 

6. Pump out your waste tank

Do it yourself or schedule a pump-out service at least once a month.  

7. Check your boat’s hull

Another one you can either do yourself or hire someone to do- it’s a good idea to scrub your hull every quarter. 

Annual Boat Maintenance Checklist 

1. Wax the gel coat

Give your boat a detailed wax once a year to help maintain a shiny exterior and protect it from the sunshine and salt. 

2. Wash and waterproof canvas

Give your covers and Biminis a good washdown and reapply any waterproofing solutions or sprays once a year. 

3. Change the fluids

Change the fuel filters, engine oil filters and engine oils once a year or every 100 hours of engine runtime. 

4. Clean out water tanks

Clean the tank to kill off any mold or mildew that may have built up over the last year. Keeps things clean and fresh. 

5. Service waste treatment systems

Whether you use an onboard sanitation system or storage tanks, it’s a good idea to have these systems looked at yearly.  

6. Request a vessel safety check

The U.S. Coast Guard offers free safety checks for all boat owners. 

Other Boat Maintenance Tips 

You may also consider a yearly top-to-bottom boat inspection. You can hire a mechanic or do it yourself if you have enough knowledge. Depending on the water conditions where your boat sits, you may want to take it out every few years to repaint the bottom.  

Regular boat maintenance is a lot of work but it’s an important part of owning a boat in order to keep it in top shape and keep up with you and all your activities!