Boating can be a real delight, but for responsible boat owners, it is not all fun and games. You cannot just purchase a boat, toss it in the water, and visit it on weekends with no thought to maintaining it. Like any engine, a sterndrive or inboard or outboard engine needs certain care to stay in running order. While the sterndrive has many qualities to recommend it, it does have the unfortunate disadvantage of having some vital parts beneath the waterline, including hoses, rubber bellows, oil lines, and, of course, the propeller which drives the boat. Obviously, it is more difficult to examine and maintain at top working condition elements which are beneath the water surface. It is imperative to give these parts proper attention, however, as unseen damage can cause problems. Just as a car has certain parts which will need eventual replacement, like brakes and windshield wipers, certain boat parts need eventual replacement. A major part that needs to be monitored is the transom, which, through the drive shaft, powers the engine. The transom can take only so much stress and strain without incurring damage, even when a boat is well maintained and driven only under normal conditions. A troubled transom could cause collateral damage to the engine or even sink the boat. Therefore, regular inspection of the transom is imperative! At the beginning and end of each boating season there are maintenance chores that must be tended to. Particularly before winter sets in, the oil should be changed, spark plugs checked, and the impeller, which performs the important task of cooling the engine, should be checked. It must be occasionally inspected during the off season as well. Your boat will reward you with reliable performance if given the regular care it requires. Boat ownership is a tremendous responsibility, but the rewards are even greater. The joys of boating-fishing, water skiing, cruising, or just being out in nature taking in the sparkling glint of sun on water-are worth the job of careful boat maintenance.
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