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Show Boaters should plan ahead Utah Outdoors IttJrJ byMike P J till I Hemin9way you have tried, do you realize the truth of this statement. Check out your starter and alternator alter-nator as well as other electrical equipment. If you find that your starter motor or alternator needs to be replaced, do no replace them with automotive parts. Only use marine parts which are "flash protected." pro-tected." This means they don't give off sparks that could ignite fumes that may have gathered in the bilge of your boat. Check the bilge pump and the bilge blower. The pump will keep you afloat. The blower will clear your bilge of dangerous fumes. Get in the habit of using the blower when your boat engine is idling to clear gas fumes from the bilge. Finally, flush start your engine to make sure it will run before you take it to the lake. Flush starting means that you have water hooked up to flush the engine before you turn it over or fire it up. Starting a boat engine or outboard without a water hookup will damage the motor, regardless of how little time the engine runs. I mentioned to Roger that I have seen many people fire up their boat engines on the boat ramp to ensure that they will start when in the water. "Every time they turn it over, it costs them $100" was Roger's comment. He want on to point out that starting a dry engine not only endangers burning it up completely, but tears up the water pump and other parts that need the water to help them last. As a final thought, Roger gested that you check out the bt plug, and take an extra plug alonl A good boat plug is cheap insurance. in-surance. When you get to the lake, be sure to put in the plug before you launch the boat If all of this sounds like too much work, you can take your boat to Roger's Marine and they will check it out and get it ready for summer for you. After you know that your boat is in good running condition, it helps to check out the life jackets to make sure they still fit the kids. Also make sure your bailing bucket is still in the boat and that no one has taken the paddles and anchor out to store somewhere in the garage. With everything in top shape, you are ready for a fun and safe boating season. If the past couple weeks of warm weather hasn't been enough to make you want to get out the boat and head for the nearest lake, then you probably don't have a boat. If you do have a boat, there are some things that you need to do before you take it out on the water for the first time this season. First on the list of items to take care of is to make sure it is properly registered and that you have put the new tags on the side of the hull. If you registered your boat in Utah last year, these tags should have been sent to you in the mail If you haven't received them this year, track them down and put them on before heading to the lake. Since your boat has been sitting all winter, it needs to be serviced to ensure you have a safe boating season. For some expert advice on getting a boat ready, I called Roger Barker at Roger's Marine in West Centerville. I have had Roger work on a couple of my outboards over the years, and he and his people really know what they are doing. The first thing Roger suggests is to service your trailer. Inspect your trailer brakes if your trailer is equipped with them. Then check your bearings to ensure they are clean and free from rust Lubricate them if necessary. Make sure the trailer ball on your vehicle is tight and the hitch on the trailer is in good working order. Finally, check out the spare tire. Roger mentioned that many people tow their boats without a spare tire or a jack designed for their boat. Make sure you have both before you head for the lake. The next step is to check out the electrical system. Start with your batteries. They should be replaced every two years. After sitting through the winter, they should be checked and charged. "It's hard to jump start a boat in the middle of the water," was a wise observation that Roger made concerning dead batteries. Only if |