The throttle was stuck in the no-wake zone. The deck flexed in the middle. The hull groaned under minimal speed. All of this happened because someone skipped their spring checklist. That boat spent the rest of the summer waiting for parts that could have been avoided with an hour of prep.
At Tahoe Runabout Co., located in Lake Tahoe and trusted by antique Chris-Craft owners throughout the region, we’ve spent seasons undoing what spring neglect does in a single weekend. These boats aren’t just expensive. They are cultural artifacts, family heirlooms, and high-performance machines—none of which respond well to being ignored. This is your no-shortcuts, no-guesswork spring checklist. Complete it, and your boat glides. Skip it, and you’ll be paying more to float less.
Hull Surface: Where Damage First Shows Its Face
Position your boat in full sun and inspect the hull surface slowly from bow to stern. You must look for hairline fractures, inconsistent varnish reflectivity, and waterline discoloration that suggests moisture entrapment beneath the finish. These aren’t cosmetic issues—they are the first warnings of a hull that won’t survive the season. If anything looks even slightly off, sand, seal, or replace before that weak spot spreads silently under stress.
Deck Integrity: Test Every Seam Like It Could Cost You a Launch
Walk the deck while applying steady pressure at plank joints, trim edges, and hatch borders. If the surface compresses, creaks, or shifts, moisture has already begun softening the substructure. Don’t let a false shine trick you—spring thaw causes expansion beneath even perfect-looking varnish. We recommend using a Fein MultiMaster tool to assess tight corners and board ends without invasive disassembly. One soft seam now means a full rebuild later.
Hardware Mounts: The Failures You Never Hear Coming
Hardware loosens subtly over winter, and if unchecked, turns into structural intrusion points that invite rot. Focus on high-load areas—bow eyes, stern handles, cleats, and rub rails—by testing for lateral motion or lifted fastener heads. If you can move it with your hand, lake water will move it harder. Pull it, reset it, and seal it. And never assume a “tight last fall” mount is still trustworthy in spring.
Bilge Check: The One Step That Most Owners Skip Entirely
Open the bilge and do more than glance. Use your hands, eyes, and nose to identify trouble. Damp stringers, discolored frames, and musty air all indicate that water sat too long. This isn’t a cleaning task—it’s a structural one. Fully dry the space using ventilation fans before relaunch or risk rot that hides until it hollows out your keel.
Fuel System: Prevent Engine Failure Before It Happens
Today’s fuel doesn’t play well with yesterday’s engine materials, and spring is when damage shows up. If your gas wasn’t treated over winter, it may have separated and started attacking rubber lines and gaskets. Replace hoses showing any stiffness or cracking. Flush old fuel before you fire the ignition. Every rebuild we’ve done from carb varnish could’ve been prevented by a $12 filter change in May.
Wiring and Battery: The Silent Systems You Must Hear From Now
Electrical issues don’t start with sparks—they start with silence. Test your battery under load, not just with a charger. Trace every visible line for green corrosion, brittle jackets, and loosened terminals, especially near moisture-prone storage areas. If a wire looks questionable, replace it now, not after you lose GPS, throttle control, or ignition on the lake’s far edge. Use a Fluke multimeter to verify full continuity and live circuit health.
Varnish: Your Boat’s Only Armor Against UV and Rot
Spring light exposes what winter warped. Use an angled beam and inspect varnish for dullness, cracking, or uneven absorption. These signs indicate exposure, not character. Sand and recoat immediately—waiting until midseason could allow UV and water intrusion to sink into the grain. Remember, varnish isn’t for gloss. It’s for protection. And once it fails, it doesn’t warn you—it just lets go.
Flotation and Safety Gear: Inspect It Like It’s the Only Thing That Works When Everything Else Fails
Inflate every life jacket. Test every extinguisher. Check flare kits and signal gear for expiration. Antique boats don’t leave room for doubt during emergencies. Don’t treat safety gear like decoration—treat it like your insurance against mistakes.
System Simulation: Fire It Up Before It Touches Water
Connect a hose to simulate load, run the engine at full warm-up, and cycle all systems. Look for stalling, sputtering, pressure loss, and lag in throttle response. Do this while it’s still on land. You’ll either find the issue now or discover it during a rescue call later. Simulation isn’t optional—it’s proof your boat is ready to return.
Preserve the Legacy Before the Lake Gets to It First
Every spring detail you overlook becomes a story you don’t want to tell by summer. At Tahoe Runabout Co., we help Lake Tahoe Chris-Craft owners prep with precision and avoid the nightmare repairs that come from assuming your boat is “probably fine.” Call (775) 315-0309 before a soft seam, loose cleat, or weak spark ruins the launch you waited all winter for.