The 2025 summer boating season is on the horizon! We’ve returned to our boat after another enjoyable winter of RVing, and we’re excited to switch to boating again. In this video, we look at how it survived the winter in storage. Also, I will go through some of the tasks ahead of us this next couple of weeks to get the boat ready for the summer cruising.
After an incredible snowbird journey, Ann and I have finally made it back to our home base in Lund, British Columbia, where our boat awaits. We’ve settled into Sunland RV Park, a cozy spot just steps from the marina and a five-minute drive from the boatyard. It’s early in the season, so the park is quiet—only a handful of RVs and a few cabins nestled in the forest. Perfect for some peace while we dive into boat prep.
Our plan? Spend a few weeks at Jack’s Boatyard preparing the boat for the season. First up, I checked how it fared over the winter, and I’m thrilled to report the cover held up like a champ—no leaks, no mildew, no rodents, and everything inside was bone dry. That’s a win! But there’s plenty to tackle. The dinghy needs patching due to some pesky pinholes from last season, so I’ve got a solid patch kit ready. I’m also swapping out the old lead-acid house battery bank, four hefty golf cart batteries, for lithium banks. One will power the windlass and bow thruster, and I’m setting up a main and backup system with Xantrex and Wattcycle batteries. The old batteries are going to the guy who kept an eye on the boat, fair trade!
On the engine front, our Ford Lehman diesel needs dewinterizing, and I’ve spotted a bit of coolant seepage, so I’ll inspect the hoses. I’m also upgrading the secondary fuel filters to spin-on adapters—no more fiddling with those annoying O-rings. A new impeller, fan belt, and some bilge paint to spruce up the battery box area are on the list, too. Meanwhile, Ann’s tackling the brightwork, sanding, and repainting the teak. She’s up there with a heat gun and scraper, stripping off old Cetol and battling blackened spots. That tedious stuff? Not for me, I’ll stick to the engine, electrical, and plumbing.
The boatyard’s buzzing with everyone prepping their vessels, and we aim to wrap up in a couple of weeks. No lingering—we’re itching to hit the water! I’ll keep you posted on any cool projects, like the battery installs or new gear reviews. For now, it’s all about getting the boat shipshape and soaking in these calm Lund vibes.