maintenance.....

[markymarc]

Alright. well I could not find an answer to my question using the "SEARCH" button for all you nazies out there so ima ask here....

I was wondering since I am considering getting a boat what kinda of weekly or monthly or quarterly maintenance and/or cost will your average wakeboat run? Like how often to change oils and how much it usally runs all that kind of stuff to keep the boat in good shape....

Thanks

[lcap]

Interior depends on how anal you are:

I don't put my boat away without cleaning. Vaccum, 303 on the Vinyl, wash down the outside.

Mechanics:

For the winter layup, I change the oil, filter, transmission fluid, fog engine, remove impeller, loosen belts, clean sea water strainer, drain tanks, heater, clean bilge, fill fuel tank, put in staybil and run motor, clean interior, cover, daydream about next season.

In the spring put everything back together, drain antifreeze, change oil after several hours.

Check owners manual for any "dealer only" items and have those done as required to maintain warranty (first service).

The cost amounts to a few oil/filter/transmission fluid changes if you do the work yourself. My dealer charges around $260 for winterization and any "dealer only" items on a v-drive.

Trailer

Check/grease bearings
Check tires and pressure
Check Winch, lights, brakes

[tommyadrian5]

in terms of you regular maintenance, oil and filter is normally every 50 hours and before winterizing

i've never heard of any "dealer only" items that require regular maintenance, if there are, i'd stay away from that boat, with any modest mechanical know how you can do anything regular maintenance wise to these boats

[markymarc]

Thanks for the info

[MrBlean]

lcap's pretty much covered it. All I would add is that these things always take 10 times longer than you think. Boat's deteriorate from the day they leave the factory. Covers rot, stitching breaks, instruments stop working for no reason, props get dinged. There's always something to do. If you want to keep your boat looking absolutely A1, it takes a lot of work. Personally, I'm not that anal but I do what I can to keep it looking OK and preventative maintenance still takes quite a lot of time.

Think of it as owning a second car. If it's brand new its under warranty and the dealer will fix most things. You take the depreciation hit but someone else has to spend time fixing it if it does break/go wrong. You'll also care a lot about its appearance.

If it's used, there's little or no depreciation, you're not so concerned what it looks like (less time spent tarting it up) but you probably invest significantly more time fixing it yourself (if it does break down) as the dealer is too expensive.

You pays your money and takes your choice. And as the expression goes, time is money.

Perosnally I would say that above the purchase cost, insurance and fuel costs, the incremental costs aren't that high. Finding the time to do the maintenance is always my main concern.

[D-GOOSE]

In Ca I have to pay a boat tax every yr. $100
my biggest cost is GAS. I have to maintain a full tank be for going out.

[vawakemonster]

if you keep the recept for gas you can get 17 or 18 cents for every gallon used in the boat because there is 17 or 18 cent tax on gas that goes to the roads you get it back if you turn it in with taxes.. for more info do a google search

[D-GOOSE]

you have to be kidding me. Thats sick. But your right. I have not heard you could get it back, I will have to call my tax person/ sistor