On a clean hull, run your engines flat out every so often to make sure they are performing to spec and not overheating!
I can’t reinforce enough the importance of flushing and or removing your engine heat exchangers every few years. Yet another pre-owned boat this week has presented itself with overheating engines which may impact on the sale. The cooling system is THE most important part of your marine engine and the most commonly neglected item. Every mechanic carrying out a pre-purchase inspection will run the engines at wide open throttle not just to check they are achieving specified revs but also to determine if they will over heat. The fact that you never run your engines flat out and therefore they are not over heating does not necessarily mean that certain systems on the engine are not blocked up or getting too hot.
Ten years is far too long between inspections …regardless of engine hours.
Boat owners often say to me that their mechanics never mentioned this in the past. Every mechanic I speak with say they always recommend cooling system inspections but mostly it falls on deaf ears. Well, the cost saving in the short term will cost you double in the long term, both in maintenance and sale price.