WebreaderAbo-ShopNewsletter

Season start specialCast off - How to get the new season off to a smooth start - with video!

Leonie Meyer

 · 10.03.2025

At the start of the season, many people get out their cleaning products...
Photo: Torsten Moench
Passionate boaters are already counting down the days until the boat can be put back in the water. However, to ensure a smooth start to the season, there are a few things you should take care of and inspect on board. In this special, we explain the most important steps in detail

As winter slowly draws to a close and the first rays of spring sunshine knock on the doors of the winter storage facility, the start of the season is not far away. Every skipper wants to get their boat into the water as quickly as possible and without any hassle. But even small omissions can cause major problems. So that you can enjoy the first few hours without any delays, we provide you with the necessary preparation steps in this season start special - including a detailed video.

Firstly, an overview of all areas of the boat that require attention. It provides an initial rough overview and can also be downloaded as a PDF:

In addition, we will go into the most important areas separately.

In this season start special:

Spring cleaning on board

If the boat has not been carefully cleaned before winter storage, it will come out of the shed at least as dirty as when it was put in. This dirt is usually more difficult to remove now than in autumn, as it has dried for months. In addition, new dust and dirt has usually accumulated on the boat, not least because of the work done by other owners. If you have already worked on the boat in autumn, it is usually annoying to have to clean it again now. But regardless of whether you clean twice, in autumn and spring, or do it all in one go: the dirt has to come off in any case. Read these articles to find out the best solutions for removing dirt from your boat:

Most read articles

1

2

3

Don't neglect the trailer

Every year before the start of the season, it should be checked whether the boat trailer is still in working order. Of course, this first requires a valid TÜV certificate. The following aspects, among others, should be taken into account: How can flat tyres be prevented? Is the towing head worn? Are there any cracks in the weld seams? With the following articles, you can make sure that you don't forget anything for the trailer at the start of the season.

When a specialist should carry out repairs

Just because many boat owners like to carry out repairs to their boat themselves doesn't mean that they can. To ensure that they don't end up saying "quite good for self-made", which is the worst praise for a handyman, an expert from the insurance broker Pantaenius advises in an interview what boat owners should rather have done by a professional.

Don't forget to change the engine oil

Always a much-discussed question: oil change before winter or only in spring? The important thing is that it is done. The prescribed viscosity (e.g. 15W/40) and specifications (API classification) are particularly important. In these articles you can read how you should proceed, which pump is best suited for your engine and why the engine should warm up before the change:

Testing the cooling circuit for a long-lasting engine

Technology needs to be maintained - and so does engine cooling every spring. If you have already changed the oil and filter, you can now turn your attention to the engine's cooling system. In this article, you can find out what you should pay attention to during the inspection and when repairs or replacements are necessary:

Does the antifouling need to be renewed?

As soon as the boat is in the water for a longer period of time, algae and mussels settle on the hull. For this reason, proper care of the underwater hull is also important and should not be neglected at the start of the season. Read this article to find out how to recognise whether there is still enough antifouling left:

For safety on board

On board, attention should also be paid to safety for everyone. Are there enough lines in different positions? Is there a non-slip deck covering if the railing is too low? You can read here what you should pay attention to, not only at the start of the season, but also with outboards:

Our tips for the start of the season

We hope you enjoy reading and browsing and hope that this season start special will help you get off to a smooth start with your boat in the 2025 season.

All topics at a glance:

Home
Season start special

Most read in category Knowledge