There’s something different about spring commissioning work, as compared to the usual chores and tribulations that you boat owners have likely been through (read Boat Ownership Advice: Embrace the Hacksaw to get a taste of what you're in for, if you're new to boating). 

Although boat projects can provide a great sense of satisfaction, nobody likes to be burdened with tasks that prevent them from enjoying a beautiful day on the water. Spring commissioning, however, brings us one step closer to being able to indulge in boating once again. While not everyone may enjoy spending their weekend applying antifouling paint, completing such tasks is worthwhile when you consider the ultimate goal: taking your beloved boat out for its first run of the season.

Spring Commissioning For Boats - Getting Ready For The Water

Above: Getting your boat ready for the boating season every spring is a key aspect of boat ownership and regular boat maintenance. Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.



In order to ensure that your initial boating excursion goes as smoothly as possible, we have created a useful checklist of tasks that you should complete before you set sail. Additionally, the editors of boats.com and our partner site boattrader.com have provided numerous supplemental articles to assist you. So, let's get started!

How to Spring Commission Your Boat



  1. Remove and wash the cover or recycle the shrink wrap

  2. Clean inside and out of the boat

  3. Recommission water systems

  4. Check your Zincs (Anodes)

  5. Antifouling

  6. Teak care

  7. Systems check

  8. Check safety equipment


A row of covered boats await their grand unveiling come springtime.

Above: A row of covered boats will pop out of their shrink wrap cocoons come springtime. Photo via Gary Reich.


Grand Unveiling


Hopefully you carefully covered your boat before the winter set in, or even better, had it carefully shrink wrapped to seal out the elements. Either way, get started by pulling off the cover. If you have a custom canvas cover, it's a good idea to take it home, carefully scrub it down, and let it dry before putting it away. Shrink wrap should be taken off and recycled. Luckily most marinas have an area where shrink wrap can be deposited for recycling. Read Shrink Wrap Recycling: Easier Than You Think to find out more about doing the right thing with your old shrink wrap.

Nothing says spring like freshly polished topsides.

Above: Nothing says spring like freshly polished topsides. Photo via Gary Reich.


Wax on Wax Off


At the beginning of the season, it is essential to have a boat that is completely clean, both on the inside and outside. Even if your boat was carefully stored during the winter, some cleaning and polishing will be necessary. Giving your boat a thorough cleaning and waxing not only improves its appearance but also provides protection from weathering throughout the season.

Get started by reading 12-Step Pre-Season Boat Preparation and then check out Easy Cleaning: A Lazy Man’s Guide to Spring Cleaning, to learn which polishes and cleaners to use on everything from stainless-steel to vinyl. Then make the Karate Kid's trainer Mr. Miagi proud by polishing and waxing your gelcoat or two-part paint system before you launch. You can get the skinny on the best methods and materials to use by reading:

Recommissioning water systems is an important step in getting your boat ready to rumble for its first run of the year.

Above: Recommissioning water systems is an important step in getting your boat ready to rumble for its first run of the year. Photo via Gary Reich.


Water, Water, Everywhere


We're going to assume that you properly winterized your boat's sensitive systems before Old Man Winter swept into town. If you didn't, you're in for some unpleasant and expensive surprises. If you did, now's the time to commission areas such as fresh and raw water plumbing systems, raw water engine cooling circuits, bilge and shower sump pumps, marine heads and macerators, and any other system you ran antifreeze through at layup time.

Fill up your water tank and run fresh, clean water through all your fixtures; open up raw water intake through-hulls and reintroduce raw water to your engine(s), marine heads, and raw water washdown pumps; and flush your bilge pumps and shower sumps with clean water. We've compiled a handy checklist to help you make sure you don't forget anything in our Get Your Boat Ready for Summer: Checklist feature.

It's important to check your zincs before launch each spring.

Above: It's important to check your zincs before launch each spring. Photo via Gary Reich.


Know Your Anodes


Lots of people think that sacrificial anodes–aka zincs–are found only on gear such as props, shafts, struts, rudders, and other underwater appendages. But other areas like engine and generator blocks and outboard lower units also have zincs, which often go overlooked at commissioning time. Used up zincs in an engine or lower unit can cause wallet-busting problems down the line.

To get a better understanding of what zincs do for your boat and the places you should look for them, have a look at the following features. You'll be glad you did.

Adding a fresh coat of bottom paint is a traditional spring commissioning routine for many boaters.

Above: Adding a fresh coat of bottom paint is a traditional spring commissioning routine for many boaters. Photo via Gary Reich.


Bottoms Up


If your boat spends even part of the season in the water, a good, fresh coat of antifouling paint on the bottom at the beginning of the season is a must. If your boat's bottom already has bottom paint on it and is in good condition, all that's needed is a thorough sanding and reapplication of new paint. But if layer upon layers of flaking bottom paint is your reality–or you've never painted a boat bottom before–give these handy features a read.

And if your entire boat needs a new paint job, check out our How to Prep a Boat for Painting and How to Paint a Boat videos.

Chris-Craft's woodwork is renowned in the boating business, and for good reason. The foredeck on the Capri 25 is smothered in gorgeous teak.

Above: There's nothing like a beautiful boat draped in well-maintained teak. Photo via Gary Reich.


What Wood You Do?


Ahh, there's nothing better looking than a beautiful boat trimmed with lots of well cared-for teak. To keep it looking that way, teak, mahogany, and other marine woods all require annual care. And there's no better time than the beginning of the season to spruce it up. That is, unless sanding and varnishing are at the top of your summertime boating plans list.

If you've got wood on your boat that looks less than stellar, or some that simply needs a springtime tuneup, have a look at these helpful features on keeping your brightwork in tip-top shape.

Giving all of your boat's systems a once-over during spring commissioning can go a long way toward preventing in-season headaches later.

Above: Giving all of your boat's systems a once-over during spring commissioning can go a long way toward preventing in-season headaches later on. Photo via Gary Reich.


Systems Check Up


Once you've recommissioned all of your systems as described above, it's never a bad idea to check and double-check how well these systems and their components are working. By going over every piece of your boat with a fine-toothed comb you can prevent a lot of problems that could conspire to ruin your summer happy hour cruise. Not sure what to look for? The following articles will give you plenty of ideas about where to check for trouble on your boat, before it happens.

If you don't check your safety gear before your first turn, there's likely a marine police officer out there who will... at a cost.

Above: If you don't check your safety gear before your first trip, there's likely a marine police officer out there who will... at a cost. Photo via Gary Reich.


Safety First


As you're crawling through your boat commissioning systems, you should take the opportunity to inventory your safety gear. In addition to making sure you have the correct U.S. Coast Guard approved equipment, you should also check to ensure flares are not expired, personal flotation devices are in good repair, and that first aid supplies are not out of date.

If you're unsure of what you should have aboard or how to do your own safety check, give the following features a look.

Once you get through the spring commissioning process, Mom's Mink will be ready for all of your boating season adventures. You say you're not sure where this year's cruising will take you, or what you'll be doing? Read 5 Extreme Boating Adventures, to make a few additions to your boating bucket list. And rest assured that if you follow the advice in all of these articles, your boat will be ready for action the moment summer arrives.

Editor's Note: This article was last updated in April 2023 and was originally published in March 2012.

Written by: Gary Reich
Gary Reich is a Chesapeake Bay-based freelance writer and photojournalist with over 25 years of experience in the marine industry. He is the former editor of PropTalk Magazine and was the managing editor of the Waterway Guide. His writing and photography have been published in PassageMaker Magazine, Soundings, Fly Fishing in Salt Waters, Yachting Magazine, and Lakeland Boating, among others.
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