Hull and bottom
- Wash the hull and inspect it for cracks and osmosis blisters.
- Check the sacrificial anodes – inspect them every year and replace them when about half is worn away. Never paint the anodes.
- Antifouling: choose a paint approved for the area where the boat is kept, or skip the paint and wash the hull during the season. In lakes and the Gulf of Bothnia, only biocide-free paints or alternative methods may be used.
- Removing old paint: sand or scrape with a vacuum attached and protect the ground with plastic sheeting.
- Check through-hulls, seacocks and hose clamps.
Engine and drive
- Refit the impeller if you removed it in the autumn – or replace it if it's stiff or cracked.
- Check belts, hoses, oil level and coolant.
- Replace the fuel filter if it wasn't done in the autumn.
- Check the drive bellows, propeller and the drive's anodes.
- Outboards: check the gearcase oil – milky oil means water in the gearcase.
- Always follow the engine manufacturer's manual for service intervals.
Electrics and batteries
- Charge and connect the batteries, clean the terminals.
- Test navigation lights, bilge pump, VHF and navigation equipment.
- Check that paper charts or chartplotter charts are up to date.
Safety
- Correctly sized life jackets for everyone on board. All life jackets sold in Sweden and the EU must be CE marked.
- Inflatable life jackets: check that the gas cylinder is intact and screwed in tight and that the firing mechanism is intact. They require regular servicing.
- Children and non-swimmers should wear a lifejacket rather than a buoyancy aid.
- Fire extinguisher, anchor with line, oars or paddle, bailer.
- Keep a charged mobile phone in a waterproof case so you can call for help.
After launching
- Check right away that nothing is leaking at the through-hulls and shaft seal.
- Check that the bilge pump works.
- Start the engine and check that cooling water comes out steadily from the tell-tale hole or exhaust.
- Keep an eye on temperature and oil pressure for the first few minutes.
- Do a short test run before heading out on longer trips.
Short on time?
Many boatyards offer spring service with hull washing, anode replacement, engine service and launching. Ask for a quote listing what's included so the quotes can be compared. State your boat's dimensions, engine and what you want done.
Frequently asked questions
Which antifouling can I use?
It depends on where the boat is mainly kept. On the west coast and the east coast there are paints approved by Kemikalieinspektionen (the Swedish Chemicals Agency) for each area. In lakes and the Gulf of Bothnia, only biocide-free paints or alternative methods may be used.
Do I have to antifoul every year?
No. Transportstyrelsen states that if you clean the hull mechanically a few times a season, for example at a brush washing station, you don't need to apply antifouling.
What should I check right after launching?
That nothing leaks at through-hulls and the shaft seal, that the bilge pump works, and that cooling water comes out when the engine is running.
How do I know if the anode needs replacing?
Replace it when about half is worn away. An anode that hasn't worn at all may have poor contact with the metal it's meant to protect.
Sources
- Sjösäkerhet, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se
- Regler om båtbottenfärg, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se
- Ren båtbotten utan färg, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se
- Sjöräddningssällskapet sjoraddning.se
- Anoder till båtmotorer, Biltema biltema.fi
- Säkra flytvästar, Konsumentverket konsumentverket.se
- Sanering av båtbotten, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se
- Färger för båtar i insjöar och Bottniska viken, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se