Expiration dates

Nothing in this world is permanent.  And boat owners may be more aware of this fact than most folks...  

How many things (besides food) on your boat have an expiration date? 

• flares 
• fire extinguishers
• smoke alarms
• hose clamps (they don't come with an expiration date - they just expire)

What little click in your mind makes you think of expirations?  For us on Eolian, it is early spring - that time of year when you yearn to be off the dock but the weather disagrees and keeps throwing cold storms at you.  This is a good time to get involved with your boat at the dock in anticipation of the coming season.

For us here on Eolian, this is the winter/spring task list:

• Change the engine oil & filter
• Change the generator oil & filter
• Check the transmission oil level
• Inspect the engine raw water pump impeller.  Change if necessary.
• Inspect the generator raw water pump impeller.  Change if necessary.
• Give the engine a once-over inspection, looking for oil or water leaks.  
• Give the generator a once-over inspection, looking for oil or water leaks.  
• Top up the batteries with distiller water from the dehumidifier
• Inspect all below the waterline hose clamps (there are a lot of them!).  Do you know where all of yours are?
• Exercise all the seacocks
• Check the flares to be sure they will not expire during the season
• Check the fire extinguishers  to be sure they will not expire during the season
• Check the smoke alarms to be sure they will not expire during the season.  Install new batteries.

Expiration dates