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| Help / Advice |
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| Welcome to our Help and Advice section. Please browse our articles below. |
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| Impeller and Fuel filter questions. |
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 Many questions we receive here are about properly maintaining the cooling and fuel systems Nautique boats.
While there are too many different styles and models of engines to write one article pinpointing a "how-to" guide, we can give you an overview of proper guidelines.
First - Fuel Filters.
Depending on the year of the boat (and engine type) you could have just one filter or as many as three! Most newer models (say from 2006 up) have two. While I will not dig into FCC filters, in line filters, pre-filter, canisters, etc, the most important thing you can do is to change the filter. PCM (the engine supplier for Nautique) just released an updated schedule for filter maintenance. Do it with your oil changes. That's right, every 50 hours or once a year. Lets face it, our fuel supply is sub par here in the USA. The onslaught of ethanol blended fuels is only making it worse. Change that filter!!!
Second - Impellers
What the heck is an impeller? That is a common question asked of those new to the boating world. Think of your car: it has a radiator. We all know that a radiator cools the car's engine. Now think of your boat: it has a body of water it rides in. That water cools the engine-but it has to get to the engine. The impeller is the rubber "gear" that spins inside of a pump that pulls the water to your engine- giving it that lifesaving cooling water.
If that impeller fails, game over. No more boating till you replace it. It is very wise to keep a spare one onboard. Even if your not the mechanical type, keep one!! You many have friends that can help do the job, or even a very kind fellow boater who is willing to lend a hand. Again there are way too many types to describe a "how-to" guide here. Call us if you need help.
Now, many want to know when should I replace the impeller? A large number believe once a year, about an equal number every two years... then there is the crowd that changes it after they break down. No mater what camp you belong to, a failure can happen any time. Keep a spare on board! Think of it like spare tire on your car! |
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| Winterizing Advice |
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 Its getting cold! Is your boat ready for the winter? Many people question should I winterize? How do I winterize? When should I worry?
The short answer is YES you should winterize if you boat will be exposed to freezing temperatures. It typically takes 24 hours of below freezing or when the day time highs are close to freezing, to affect the engine. There are many styles of engines and too many differences to list the proper methods for winterizeing in this article. We suggest visiting the service section of our web site to view a owners manual for your year and model boat. You may contact us directly and we'd be happy to give you one on one advice.
You can also find some information on line. The BoatUS Web site has some tips http://www.boatus.com/seaworthy/winter/
Don't think its cold enough in your area? Check out BoatUS's web site and see where most freeze related damage happens. |
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| Spring pre-startup checklist |
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Change oil & filter
Check and change fuel filter (if needed)
SAFETY EQUIPMENT:
LIFE VESTS - make sure you have a good condition USCoast Guard approved vest for each person you will have on board.
THROW CUSHION OR RING - need one
FIRE EXTINGUISHER - have a fully charged marine, type BC, fire extinguisher.
CHECK:
belts for tension
transmission fluid
Vee-Drive oil
and clean flame arrestor
impeller (replace if any doubt)
and clean water strainer
bilge blower
bilge pump
navigational lights
battery (fill fluid level/charge)
ballast pumps (if equipped with)
Have engine cover up when start engine and viaually look for fuel, water, and exhaust leaks.
TRAILER:
check lights, wheel lugs, brake fluid (if trailer has brakes)
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| CARE OF STAINLESS STEEL RUBRAIL |
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SLIGHT scratch – first tape off the area then remove the scratches by light buffing with a finish/polish compound.
Deeper scratch – first tape off the area and lightly sand (i.e. 400 grit) then buff with a finish/polish compound.
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| Vinyl Care |
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About ready to start cleaning up your boat? Great!! Before you start it is wise to know the do's and don'ts of cleaning your vinyl upholstery.
Lets start with the DON'TS list:
Do not use ArmourAll, 409, Softscrub, or any strong cleaner. If it states it cleans vinyl and grills, tires, and a list of other items, it may harm your upholstery. How? Two ways: By removing the SRT (stain resistant topcoat) from your vinyl, and by chemically changing the properties of the vinyl. Ever see a boat with hard brittle upholstery? Just using the wrong cleaner will cause that, as will UV Light from the sun.
Do use 303 Protectant ! Its the best item you can use to prevent the effects of UV rays from destroying your boat. There are a couple of other products like 303 on the market. Normal mild boat soap is fine, as is the Ephx cleaner we sell. See your owners manual for more detailed information.
Point here is there are a lot of cleaners that can harm your boat!
If you have to use a harsh cleaner, follow over it will fresh water to help wash off any residue from the cleaner. Then put down a coat of 303 Protectant. |
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