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The temperatures have been climbing and so has your eagerness to feel the wind against your face.  To feel the rubber on the road.  Or the crash of the waves.  Winter is finally behind us, and your motorcycle, boat or watercraft has been stuck in storage long enough.  But, before you start shining your bike or backing your trailer down the boat ramp, you’ll want make sure your “toys” ready for spring.

Get Ready to Ride

First things first… mind the maintenance.  Before you even think about twisting the throttle, make sure your bike is covered with quality New Jersey motorcycle insurance. Nobody plans on a crash or theft, but if you find yourself in unlucky circumstances, you'll want the comfort of knowing you have the best motorcycle insurance coverage.  Plans cover everything from Collision, Comprehensive, Medical Payments, Property Damage, Bodily Injury Liability, Pedestrian PIP/ Guest Liability and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist Bodily Injury.  Are you covered?

Next, assuming your bike has spent a long winter’s night out of service, it’s time to think about preparing it for the road. The following tips will help you get on the road faster and stay there longer.

Battery:  Give it a regular service (fluid level and slow charge).  Replace it if it looks sickly. Make sure the vent tube is connected and properly routed.

Valves: Adjust them when the engine is cold. Give the cam lobes a shot of oil. Torque the cylinder head.

Oil: If you didn't change oil before storage, replace it now. Change the filter unless it was fresh. And use a torque wrench on your drain plug.

Fuel: Disconnect the fuel line and drain the tank completely.  Clean your fuel filter and check tank for rust. If you didn't drain your carb float bowl(s) before storage, pull them off and check for clogged jets

Engine: A shot of oil in each spark plug hole and some spins of the engine with the plugs removed will protect the cylinder walls and rings during the first few revolutions. When you pull the plugs, check the gaps. Air filter, carb synch, drive-line fluids, etc., should be checked.

Brakes: Install fresh fluid. Check the pads or shoes too. If thin, get new ones.

Suspension & Steering: Prop the front wheel off the ground, sit in front of the bike and grasp the fork lowers. Move them forward and back to feel for steering-head looseness. Tighten.

Finish protection: Pull things apart and thoroughly wax everything. Add a nice thick layer of leather dressing for leather saddlebags.

Routine stuff: Check tire pressure and condition, wheel true, spoke tension, wheel bearing condition, control function, lubrication and adjustment, lights, sprocket and chain condition. Look for leaks. Tighten every fastener.

BEFORE YOU HIT THE HELM

Whether you’re the sole sailor taking seas to alleviate the stress of everyday life or you round up the whole “fam damily“ to go tubing at the sandbar, the water is calling you and your boat. 

Sailboat or yacht, motorboat or dinghy, no matter your boat of choice, you’ll want to be sure you have the right boat insurance policy before you hit the water this spring.  You never know when an accident is around the bend, so it’s best to insure yourself and your boat for safety. You’ll want the best New Jersey boat insurance agency to protect you against liability and damage with affordable boat insurance. With the right guidance, you can have a policy that covers Damage to other boats or docks, Bodily Injury or Death, and Medical Payments. 

With insurance in place, it’s time to wake you boat from its winter sleep.  After all, what fun will you have if it’s plagued with mechanical failures throughout the season?  Here are a few quick and easy tips to consider before taking the plunge:

Mechanical Maintenance: Replace the fuel filter, change the engine oil and oil filter, lubricate fittings, top off gas tanks and use an additive that will absorb moisture that developed while the boat was in storage.

Inspect the Exterior:  Inspect propellers looking for cracks, dings, warping or misalignment, which could cause damage to the drive train. Check the hull for any chipping, blistering and peeling.  Wash with an environmentally safe cleanser.

Prep your Gear:  Ensure your stock of boating supplies is full and ready for action. That includes water safety gear like personal floatation devices (PFDs), water sports supplies like tow ropes for waterskiing or tubing, and a safety kit.

Up-to-date documentation: Every watercraft needs to be registered. Ensure your boat license is current.

WAKING UP YOUR WATERCRAFT

Jet ski, WaveRunner or Sea-Doo, your personal watercraft lets you feel the freedom of a motorcycle and the speed of a boat.  While you may feel like king or queen of the waves, these sporty water rides can throw you right into an unlucky situation if you make the wrong turn. 

Before you hit the waves this spring, take a moment and get a solid watercraft insurance policy.  Whether you ride it alone or loan it to a family member, New Jersey jet ski insurance will protect you and your watercraft from accidents, vandalism and liability. You won’t be up a creek when you encounter damage to other crafts or docks, Bodily Injury or Death or require towing assistance.

Before the fun, make sure your watercraft is in tip-top condition by following these simple steps:

Fuel: If stored with fuel in the engine and no fuel stabilizer, add a fuel cleaner and stabilizer before starting it up.

Oil: Change the engine oil and filter. Drain the pump oil and replace it with new oil.

Lubrication: Add grease to all seals and bearing fittings.

Wiring:  Inspect all the wires, including trim and throttle cables for loose or damaged parts. Replace if necessary.

Exterior:  Clean the exterior, seat, windshield and entire body of the watercraft. Do so every time you take it out of the water to prevent corrosion or staining.