In some circumstances, such as encouraging romance or growing a business, falling into a routine can scuttle your chances of success. When boating, however, adhering to a routine of regular bilge checks can help save you from sinking.Nowhere are bilge checks more critical than when launching your fishing boat. The first step once the boat is in the water – even before it’s off the trailer – should be a bilge check. Open the bilge hatch for a look while the engine’s warming up. If there’s an issue, you’ll see it immediately: Water pouring into the bilge means a hose has rattled loose or a fitting has busted. Or maybe you forgot to put in the drain plug.In any case, you should be OK, because the boat’s still on the trailer, right? Just shut off the engine, tilt up the lower unit and have the tow-vehicle driver pull the boat out (make ...![Sport Fishing Mag]()
