Spring Electronic Checkup

Spring commissioning is an exciting time, full of anticipation for the season ahead! Ensuring that your boat’s electronics are ready to go can help you avoid any unexpected hiccups during your first cruise. Even if everything was working perfectly when you decommissioned your boat last fall, a quick spring commissioning checkup can make all the difference in keeping things smooth and stress-free on the water.

Today’s radars, GPS receivers, depth finders, radios, and other electronic systems are highly reliable and generally low-maintenance. A little time spent inspecting and testing during spring commissioning will help ensure they perform at their best all season.

To start, dust and clean the housings, display screens, front panels, and dials. Then, inspect all exposed terminals, cable ends, and connections. Look for any signs of corrosion or damage, and replace any plugs or connections that look worn or bent. Once checked, apply a light coat of moisture-displacing spray on fittings and connectors designed for electrical use to keep everything well-protected.

Spring surprises can often be traced back to corrosion on connectors, damage to wiring from off-season maintenance, or worn internal backup batteries. Many of these issues are simple to fix once identified, and an early inspection can save time later on.

Check all antennas on board for cracks, loose fittings, or worn connections, as these are common sources of trouble. Carefully clean each antenna, including the base, collar, or mounting pad. If your old antenna shows any signs of wear, consider investing in a new one for optimal performance.

After commissioning, connect each piece of electronic equipment and let it run for a few hours. This extended test helps reveal any potential issues that may not show up with a quick on-and-off check. While the equipment is running, test various controls to confirm they work smoothly and reliably. If anything needs servicing, there’s still plenty of time to handle it before the season kicks off.

Some equipment, such as VHF and single sideband (SSB) radios, benefits from professional bench testing to ensure sensitivity, power, modulation, and frequency are within specifications. After testing, transceivers should be re-installed for a complete system test of the radio, antenna, wiring, and grounding, ideally with a wattmeter to confirm efficiency across all components.

Inspect transducers and through-hull sensors for signs of wear, mechanical issues, or sealing problems. Systems like autopilots, depth sounders, GPS, AIS, and SSB radios are best evaluated in the water or during a shakedown cruise. Although this extra step may take some time, it’s invaluable for identifying issues that only appear underway.

Keeping a record of any minor issues or quirks noticed during the season is another helpful step. Tracking patterns or repeated occurrences can be a great reference for future maintenance or for a technician working on your equipment.

Lastly, check the condition of the boat’s batteries, clean cables, and battery posts. Inspect and tighten the terminals on the DC electronic panel and verify that all fuses and circuit breakers are in good shape.

Even if electronics are labeled as water-resistant or waterproof, it’s wise to use any protective caps provided with the equipment to shield displays and controls. It’s a small step that extends the life of your equipment and enhances safety for you and your crew.

Need help with your spring commissioning? The team at Revolution Yacht Experience is here to help you get your boat cruise-ready. Visit their website to book a technician.