HIGHPERFORMANCE SPRING COMMISSIONING

It’s almost here. While many pine for baseball’s opening day, boaters long for the ice to break and spring weather. For high-performance boaters, there’s no better time to think safety. When your boat can travel at speeds upward of 60 mph and more, ensuring a safe rig is even more important. Here are some questions regarding safety checks for highperformance boats. —John Tiger

(Answers are below)

1. What’s perhaps the most important system and components to check for wear, damage and proper operation after winter layup?

A. Mooring cover (canvas, tie-downs, support poles)

B. Steering system (engine attachments, cables/hydraulic lines, helm)

C. Engine attachment points (mounting bolts, jack plate, power-trim system)

D. Floor (carpet, gelcoat)

E. B and C

F. None of the above

2. If you don’t have one, what’s the best safety investment you can make before the season starts (or anytime, for that matter)?

A. Hydraulic jack plate B. New trailer bunks and rollers

C. High-performance/racing life vests for you and passengers D. Windshield 3. Your spring engine check-over and maintenance should include:

A. Checking gimbal housing and power-trim ram attachments for wear and slop (sterndrives)

B. Checking for any high-performance parts you can add for more speed

C. Checking propellers for hairline cracks D. Checking for sexier decals and paint options for your cowl (outboard)

E. A and C 4. Checking your hull should be a standard practice. What should you look for? A. Check hull bottom for softness,

gelcoat cracking, peeling and blisters. B. Check for abnormalities (hook or rocker) in the running surface. C. Check for paint fading, and look online for a good hull painter.

D. A and B E. None of the above

5. If you are checking your outboard’s controls, you should look for: A. Worn or frayed throttle/shift cables B. Nicer-looking covering for engine hoses, wires and cables C. Stiff throttle controls, especially if they do not allow the engine to return to idle

D. A and C E. All of the above

6. When checking hydraulic steering, key areas to look at include: A. Weathered, kinked or otherwise worn hydraulic hoses B. Leaks at fittings, and cylinder and helm seals C. Sloppy steering or poor response to the steering wheel turning D. Interference when engine is

tilted up E. All of the above