At the first sound of birds singing their praises of Spring, many boaters develop an unyielding itch to be out on the water after the long months of winter. In their excitement, it may not occur to them that just as they prepared their boat for winter, they must also prepare it to get back out on the water. When you've got family and friends happily loading up the boat for a great day of fun is not the time to find out your boat is not ready.

The checklist compiled here will help you to avoid any possible embarrassing or frustrating situations. Checking it against the recommendations in your owners manual will be doubly helpful.

Some say that you will only need to change the oil and the oil filter if you did not do it in the fall, while others admonish that you do. I say, better safe than sorry. Take the time to do a complete change of this system before making plans for that first expedition.

Ideally, you drained the cooling system when winterizing your boat. Now it's time to check the hoses for leaks or cracks and fill it back up after rinsing the strainer.

During winter, hoses in the fuel system can become brittle and crack. Check these lines, and change the fuel filter. Make sure lines are attached. There should be no need to add fuel, as you would have filled the fuel tank when winterizing.

Take off the distributor cap and check it for corrosion. Even if it looks good, it should be cleaned out. Make sure all connections are good.

Check belts for tightness. They should only push down a little bit. If a belt does not fit snugly into it's pulley groove, it is a good idea to change it, as it may be worn. Belts that do not fit tight will be prone to slipping, something you don't want happening on your next fishing trip! To know if a belt is worn, check for black soot near the pulley.

A few other tasks you will want to accomplish are:

Lube the engine

Check flotation devices

Make sure you have an anchor

Check power steering, rudders and shaft, as well as all hoses

Change spark plugs

Check prop

Test the horn

Taking care of the necessities may take a bit of your time, but it will be well worth it when you know you can enjoy your boat for several months to come.