Pre-Season Checklist: Getting Your Water Toys Ready for the Med

Why Pre-Season Commissioning Matters

Water toys that sit idle for 4-6 months degrade in ways you won't see until something fails. Lithium cells self-discharge and can drop below safe voltage thresholds. Rubber perishes, especially in Mediterranean heat. Firmware falls behind, and manufacturers patch safety-critical bugs between seasons.

Catching problems on the dock costs hours. Catching them mid-charter costs the season: a guest injured by a faulty tow rope, a Seabob that won't power up during a VIP day, an e-foil battery that's lost 40% capacity because it sat at 5% charge for five months.

This checklist covers the seven most common equipment categories aboard superyachts. Work through it 6-8 weeks before your first charter, and you'll have time to order replacement parts if anything comes up short.

Seabob: Annual Service Requirements

Battery Conditioning

Charge the battery to 100%, then discharge to 20% through normal operation, then charge back to storage level (50-60%). This full cycle recalibrates the battery management system and gives you an accurate capacity reading. Check cell balance through the Seabob Connect app; any cell deviating more than 0.1V from the pack average needs attention.

Impeller Inspection

Seabob recommends inspecting the impeller every 50 operating hours. Look for nicks on the blade edges, debris wrapping around the shaft, and bearing play. Spin the impeller by hand; it should rotate smoothly with no grinding or wobble. A damaged impeller reduces thrust by 15-25% and can burn out the motor if left unchecked.

Hull Seal and O-Rings

Replace all O-rings annually, even if they look fine. Rubber hardens with heat cycling and salt exposure. A seal that passed inspection in October can crack in April. Apply silicone grease to new O-rings before installation. Check the hull drain plug seal at the same time.

Firmware Update

Open the Seabob Connect app and check for firmware updates before the first use of the season. Seabob releases updates that affect motor control algorithms, battery management, and Bluetooth connectivity. Don't skip this step.

For our full Seabob range and pricing, see Seabob F5 and F5S.

E-Foils: Fliteboard, Lift, Awake

Lithium Battery Health

Check resting voltage on every e-foil battery. Cells stored below 3.2V per cell may have permanent capacity loss. Ideal winter storage is 50-60% charge in a cool, dry location (15-25°C). If any pack was stored below 20% charge, run a full calibration cycle and compare capacity against the manufacturer's rated spec. A pack that's lost more than 20% of original capacity should be replaced before charter season.

Firmware and App Updates

Fliteboard and Awake both release seasonal firmware. These updates often include motor efficiency improvements, new ride modes, and safety patches. Update the companion app first, then connect to each board and apply any pending firmware. Lift eFoils use a similar process through the Lift app.

Foil and Mast

Inspect the mast-to-board connection for corrosion, especially at stainless steel joints where dissimilar metals meet aluminium. Check bolt torque against the manufacturer's spec. Look for hairline cracks in the carbon fibre mast, particularly around mounting holes. Run your fingernail along the foil's leading edge; any chips or dents create drag and reduce performance.

Propeller

Inspect all blades for chips, dents, and erosion. Replace the propeller if the leading edge is damaged. An imbalanced prop causes vibration that accelerates bearing wear in the motor housing.

Motor Housing

Flush the motor housing with fresh water and check the seal integrity. Look for any salt crystal buildup around the seal ring. If the motor was stored without a fresh water flush last season, expect corrosion on internal components.

Browse our e-foil range and review lithium battery safety protocols.

Inflatable Platforms: NautiBuoy and SeaRaft

Visual Inspection

Look for delamination, punctures, and worn seams. Inflate the platform to its rated pressure and leave it overnight. A pressure drop of 10% or more indicates a slow leak. Mark suspected areas with soapy water and look for bubbles. Small punctures in PVC can be patched, but delamination at a seam usually means the panel needs professional repair or replacement.

Valve Function

Each valve should click firmly between inflate and deflate positions. Push the valve pin in and release; it should snap back cleanly. Replace any valve that won't hold position or that hisses when sealed. A leaking valve can deflate a platform while guests are standing on it.

UV Treatment

Apply UV protectant (303 Aerospace Protectant or similar) after cleaning. Malta sun degrades PVC and Hypalon faster than northern latitudes. A platform stored outdoors without UV treatment from October to April will show visible fabric degradation: chalking, colour fade, and micro-cracking on the surface. Apply protectant every 4-6 weeks during the season.

Pump Service

Electric pump filters clog with salt residue over winter. Open the filter housing, clean or replace the cartridge, and test airflow before you need the pump on the swim platform. Carry a spare filter and a manual backup pump aboard.

See our inflatable platform range for NautiBuoy and SeaRaft options.

Jet Skis: Sea-Doo Commissioning

Coolant System

If the jet ski was stored without winterising, flush the coolant system with fresh water before starting the engine. Check coolant level and top up with the manufacturer's recommended antifreeze/coolant mix. Inspect hoses for cracking and squeeze-test each one; a hose that collapses or feels brittle needs replacing.

Battery

Charge with a marine battery tender (1-2A trickle charger). After a full charge, the battery should hold 12.6V or above. If it drops below 12.4V within 24 hours of charging, the battery's reached the end of its life. Lead-acid batteries in PWCs typically last 3-4 seasons with proper maintenance.

Oil and Filter

Change the engine oil and oil filter before the first ride of the season, regardless of hours. Oil that's sat for months absorbs moisture and loses viscosity. Use the Sea-Doo recommended oil grade and torque the drain plug to spec.

Trailer

Inspect wheel bearings (spin each wheel and listen for grinding), check tyre pressure, test the winch strap for fraying, and verify all trailer lighting works. Salt corrosion on trailer frames is common in Malta; wire-brush any rust spots and apply cold galvanising spray.

View our jet ski range including Sea-Doo models.

Towables and Inflatables: Jobe, O'Brien

Fabric Condition

Inspect all fabric surfaces for abrasion, UV damage, and delamination at seams. Pay attention to the underside where the towable drags across the swim platform. Nylon covers degrade faster than the PVC bladder inside, so surface damage doesn't always mean the tube is compromised, but it does mean the fabric won't protect the bladder much longer.

D-Ring Attachment Points

Tug-test every tow point with firm, sustained pressure. The D-ring should feel solid with no movement at the fabric base. If the fabric around any D-ring is softening, stretching, or showing thread pull, replace the towable. A tow point failure at speed is a serious safety risk.

Inflation Pressure

Inflate to the manufacturer's rated PSI. Check with a gauge, not by feel. Over-inflation in Mediterranean heat (towable sitting on a hot deck in direct sun) can burst seams. Under-inflation makes the towable unstable at towing speed. Most Jobe and O'Brien towables specify 1.5-2.5 PSI.

Tow Rope

Inspect the full length of every tow rope for fraying, UV damage, and stretch. Check the splice at each end and the hook/carabiner for corrosion. Replace ropes that are more than 3 seasons old, even if they look acceptable. UV exposure weakens polyethylene braid internally, and you can't see that degradation from the outside.

Service Interval Reference Table

Use this table as a quick reference for your bosun or deck team. Print it and post it in the water toys storage area.

Book Pre-Season Commissioning

Mercer Yachting handles full fleet toy commissioning at your berth or in our workshop. We'll inspect, service, and test every piece of water sports equipment before your first guests step aboard.

We carry replacement parts for Seabob, Fliteboard, Awake, Jobe, and Sea-Doo. If something needs swapping, we'll source it and install it as part of the commissioning package.