Is your boat ready for the spring season?

Before you know it, spring will have sprung. Catches of gafftop and hardhead catfish have come from the surf. Spring break is around the corner. Are you ready? That is, is your fishing equipment up to par? Have you spooled your reels with new line? Replaced rusted hooks on lures? Replenished your tackle?

Now more importantly, what about your boat? Many people forget they even have a boat during the winter. Then, all of a sudden, when the weather breaks, they rush down to the boat ramp only to find out the boat has some problems. Sometimes, that angler/boater doesn’t even make it to the boat ramp because their boat trailers’ hubs fail, or worse, the axle breaks.

So, you make it to the ramp, then the engine fails to start, or it starts but leaves you stranded on the bay. Then you have to take your boat into the shop, and you’ll usually have to leave it for a few weeks. Now is the time to check on your boat, and make sure that it’s ready for the season.

There’s now a place on the West End of Galveston to take your boat and trailer for repairs. West Galveston Outboard provides service for Yamaha, Suzuki, Evinrude, Tohatsu, Mercury and old Johnson outboards. They also install trolling motors, GPS/depth finders, and are a Power Pole Dealer.

They can’t perform manufacturer warranty work on outboards, but will work with your insurance company if needed, like, for example, replacing a lower unit that was damaged by a submerged object. They do offer a mobile service.

They have a parts department, and keep it stocked with general required maintenance parts, oil filters, fuel filters, perko switches and more. Your boat’s battery dead? No problem, because they’re a Continental battery dealer. Boat storage is also available on site.

West Galveston Outboard is owned by Ian Fundling and is located at 12410 Stewart Road in Galveston.

Phone numbers to the shop are 409-497-4229 or 409-761-0318, and you can text this number for quicker assistance. Hours are as follows: Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

There’s no excuse to not have your boat ready for the spring season.