Don't Be a Rookie! Tips to Prepare Your Boat for the Summer Season

Memorial Day Weekend is just a week away, and at Eagle Point Fishing Camp, we’re ready to help you prepare your boat for a fun summer season on Galveston Bay.  After all, we’re all about fishing made simple, and a part of that is not running into problems!  We can’t say enough how important boat maintenance and preparation are to not only have a safe experience on the water but also an enjoyable one.


Here are our four tips to getting your boat ready for Galveston Bay this summer.
1.  Thoroughly Inspect Your Boat:

• Check for any signs of damage, cracks, or leaks, especially in your thru-hull fittings if they are plastic. Also, inspect the propeller. Make sure to check all of your lights and electronics, as well as your safety equipment.

2.  Service Your Engine:

• If it’s been awhile since you’ve had your boat out, just because you or someone else has performed maintenance, that doesn’t mean the engine will work properly under a load, full of people, gear, and miscellaneous items, such as ice, bait, tackle, etc. in the middle of Galveston Bay.  Each season, you should either have your engine serviced or take care of the maintenance yourself. Change the engine oil and filter, inspect the fuel system, and replace any worn-out belts or hoses. Clean or replace spark plugs and ensure the cooling system is in optimal condition.

3.  Check and Update Safety Equipment

• Before leaving Eagle Point Fishing Camp, make sure you enough life jackets for all passengers. Check your fire extinguishers, flares, and other signaling devices for expiration dates and functionality. It’s also a good idea to to keep a stocked first aid kit on your boat and decide ahead of time how you plan to clean a wound if you get injured on the boat.

4.  Stock Up on Supplies:

• Check your anchor, ropes, and dock lines to make sure they are in good shape.  Don’t go out fishing with last year’s fuel.  Make sure to gas up with fresh fuel.  We currently only sell non ethanyl gasoline at Eagle Point Fishing Camp.  Everyone should have extra outboard oil onboard because your engine won’t run if it’s low on oil.  That’s one of the number one requests we get midday at the marina during the busy months.  Make sure you have yours.  Of course, water, food, and sunscreen are musts.  You can purchase most of these at the Eagle Point Fishing Camp bait shop.

Finally, keep your first trip on the water close to the marina and short.  Make sure everything is working properly during your first trip.  Then, plan on the longer trip after you work out any potential kinks. 

​We’re excited for you to get your boat ready and head down to Eagle Point Fishing Camp this summer.