Even heavy-duty equipment like a stabilizer needs consistent maintenance. Boat owners in Fort Lauderdale, FL who don’t realize this will greatly reduce the lifespan of their stabilizers.
Incorporate these tips into your annual maintenance check so you can maximize the stabilizer’s lifespan.
Flush the systems once a year
Manufacturers recommend conducting tests on the hydraulic, electrical and cooling systems once a year. Yacht owners in Fort Lauderdale, FL who sail more often should check these systems after 1,000 hours on the water. Annual maintenance will help you detect issues early on so they can get fixed and extend the lifespan of your stabilizer.
The raw-water pump in particular needs to be in good working order because it prevents the stabilizer from overheating. Once the stabilizer has finished warming up, it can reach between 5,000 and 10,000 revolutions per minute, depending on the model. Such high speeds generate a lot of heat and need a cooling system that never breaks down.
Replace the zinc anodes
The zinc anodes on your stabilizer prevent salt water from corroding the metal components. Anodes are meant to deteriorate over time, so expect to replace them approximately once a year. Yacht owners have a better time remembering to examine the zinc anodes when they schedule it alongside the stabilizer’s annual maintenance routine.
Don’t let zinc anodes whittle down to nothing. Once the anode is gone, salt water will begin to corrode the stabilizer’s metal parts. Check the zinc anodes frequently and replace them once half of the original anode still remains. Doing so will help the stabilizer’s lifespan.
Clear away salt water
The role of zinc anodes tells you just how dangerous salt water can be to your boat’s stabilizer. Some are retrofitted to the boat’s stern and remain partially submerged below the water level. If this is the case, hose down the stabilizer right after towing your boat out of the water. Salt deposits that accumulate on metal components will shorten the stabilizer’s lifespan.
Sign up for a warranty
Boat owners in the market for a stabilizer should check out Seakeeper’s line of products. All their recreational stabilizers come with a complimentary two-year warranty that covers up to 2,000 hours, and their larger models are guaranteed four years and 4,000 hours. A warranty is essential because the stabilizer itself costs tens of thousands of dollars. Imagine paying out of pocket for repairs!
Seakeeper offers a range of extended warranties depending on how frequently you traverse the Fort Lauderdale, FL waters. Consider adding two more years if you’re concerned about not hitting the 2,000-hour mark within the scope of your original warranty. Boats for commercial use need a much longer warranty (five years and 6,000 hours) because they’ll more quickly burn through the expected lifespan of a stabilizer.
If your boat’s stabilizer broke down or simply needs its annual checkup, reach out to the experts at Starboard Yacht Group LLC.
Our partnership with Seakeeper has given us an inside look at their technology and guarantees your stabilizer is in good hands. When a problem arises, you know who to call!