Spring Boat Prep: 10 Easy DIY Project Ideas
Easy boat projects you can do in your own driveway or backyard this spring season.
May 14, 2024
The start of each boating season brings new and exciting opportunities. With the arrival of warmer weather, it's the perfect time for some fun DIY projects to enhance your boating experience. We've put together a list of simple projects and ideas that will make you feel proud of your DIY efforts and have your boat ready for the season, regardless of your mechanical skills!
Above: Tools for spring DIY boat project ideas. Photo by Kim Stiver licensed by Pexels.
DIY Boat Upgrades and Add-on Ideas
We spoke with some boaters recently who had great ideas for DIY add-ons and upgrades you can do in your own backyard or driveway. Here's a roundup of some of their ideas:
1. An Easy Boat Cleaning Tip: Vinegar And Baking Soda
Have you heard the saying that a clean car runs better? The same is true for boats. Said another way, a well-maintained boat more often than not provides a better experience out on the water.
Fish stains? Dirty vinyl seats? Before sinking money into new upholstery or expensive, harsh soaps that typically aren’t good for your health, your boat’s surfaces, or the water, first try good-ole vinegar and baking soda to clean your boat this spring. Vinegar makes water spots vanish and has purifying power on par with bleach. Baking soda, stainless steel’s best friend, does a number to odors and has gentle but mighty scrubbing strength. You’ll be patting yourself on the back using this DIY cleaning hack.
Suggested recipe ratio: Keep it to one cup white vinegar mixed with two gallons of water for an all-over cleaning solution. There’s also a lot of new eco-friendly boat cleaning products out there to check out in 2020.
2. Keep it Fresh with New Flags
While last season’s tattered boat flags (the stars and stripes, yacht club burgees, private signal flags, etc.) are a reminder of time well spent on the water, Brian in Maryland says they don’t send the right message about your maintenance! That’s why this simple swap, that takes only a few minutes, makes the top of this list.
3. Install A Premium Sound System
We agree with Sam in South Florida that a premium marine sound system on your boat takes even a great day out on the water up a notch. “Installation is fairly easy and upgrading from a budget radio or basic stock speakers to a true entertainment package makes an impact on your listening enjoyment!”
4. Check Fixtures and Plumbing
Stephanie in Florida told us she and her husband installed a new shower fixture to make it functional again. She said, “Right now, we’re inspecting all our systems because doing simple fixes now will make all the difference later. Replacing the shower fixture in the head, which only took two hours for the two of us to do together, checked-off a must-do maintenance project that will be appreciated all summer long.”
5. Fishing Gear Add-Ons
Jessica suggested adding some budget-friendly fishing gear to up your fishing game. “I recently added additional rod holders. We only had a few on the boat and it wasn’t enough when we were out fishing. Now...hopefully we’ll catch more fish!”
Greg O. said, “On the top of my boat projects list this year is updating and installing new electronics. I’m pretty excited about the new 3D sonar fish finding unit that I bought.” We're with Greg on this one - adding even a small new electronic toy onboard can be an easy way to get pumped for this season's fishing adventures! A few ideas to consider: A new FishFinder (Checkout Garmin's Striker Plus 4 GPS or SiriusXM Marine's Fish Mapping Service).
6. Other Affordable Boat Accessories
Maybe consider a transom BBQ grill to create the Summer afternoon boat picnics with your friends and family? Check out Kuuma's Profile 150 Propane Gas Grill that can be mounted on cockpit rails and hang off the boat to protect fiberglass and gelcoat from spills and splatters (also can be mounted on a stowable pedestal). Or do you have an onboard drysack to help keep your gear safe? What about a handheld Anemometer like Benetech's GM816 - for measuring wind?
7. Safety Check
No spring to-do list is complete without a proper boat safety check. There’s plenty of emergency equipment to inventory! Flares, horns, fire extinguishers, life jackets, life raft, EPIRB, flashlights, fresh water in the ditch bag - and the list goes on.
8. Check Onboard Communication Tools
Make sure you have everything you need to stay in-touch out on the water, in case an emergency arises. Every safe boater should have at least the most basic, essential onboard communication tools with them at all times, including a VHF radio and a charged mobile phone. If you'll be heading offshore, it's wise to make sure you have an EPIRB onboard. Spring is a great time to make sure the VHF radio is in working order. (Pro tip: consider installing a cell phone charger on your boat if you don't have one - and small onboard solar panel isn't a bad idea either - in case your engine fails due to a dead battery you'll still be able to get a little juice to make a call.)
9. Trailer Inspection
Every Spring you should check your trailer's vital components including the leaf springs, winch, tie-down straps, tire pressure (check for dry rot, tread level, etc.) and make sure all the trailer lights are working properly! We have a great trailer maintenance checklist for you to review before you head out.
10. Check Your Boat Documentation
Ryan McVinney with Boat Trader says: “Every year I have to dig out my folder with boat registrations, mooring permits and trailer registrations to make sure everything is up-to-date. With 4 boats and 3 trailers in the yard, sometimes it feels like a part time job just staying on top of that!”
Additional Spring Boating Tips
Beyond these 10 tips from boaters, there are some further basic tasks boat owners should consider as part of the annual spring season ritual.
Mechanical Maintenance (for those inclined)
Starting after winterization can be a special process - that we like to call "Summerizing" your boat! (Also known as spring commissioning.) Here you should have a basic maintenance checklist to run through including the following:
- Check fuel and treat for water if necessary
- Check oil levels
- Water pump impeller test (check stream, replace if needed)
- Test all batteries
- Check your bilge pumps (replace wires or sensors if necessary)
- Check the condition of your hull's bottom paint and re-apply as necessary (we recommend non-toxic, non-biocide antifouling paints like SLIPS Foul Protect™ bottom paint)
- Start the motor attached to muffs and water if possible to make sure everything is running before going to the boat ramp to launch
Going Green - Sustainable Marine Products
When it comes to the health of our waterways, we're all in the same boat. That's why we’re excited about innovations like non-toxic, lead-free sinkers, biodegradable fishing line, and people making gear bags made from up-cycled hip waders! Don’t throw away those mint tins or old pool noodles either, because they make handy, floating hook holders and tackle storage, among other things! Spring is a great time to pick up some of these items and add them to your boat inventory.
Finally, have you checked your drain plug? It may be time to pick up a new one if it looks at all worn. After all, what can be cheaper and more important than the little plug that ensures your boat doesn't end up at the bottom of the sea!
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in April 2020 and was updated and republished in May 2024.
