Winter maintenance reminder: Keep your vessel ‘trip ready’
Taking the opportunity now to inspect and service your vessel means it will be ready to go when the weather warms up again, without any last-minute issues or delays.
Some dedicated boaters will continue to get out on the water throughout the winter months. For many others, this is the time of year when attention turns to packing the boat away until next season, making the cooler months the perfect time to carry out essential maintenance.
Taking the opportunity now to inspect and service your vessel means it will be ready to go when the weather warms up again, without any last-minute issues or delays.
Preparation now will save time and frustration later.
What should I do?
Four simple things you can do are;
1) Check your boat’s condition – Thoroughly inspect your boat – inside and out, and especially for structural integrity.
2) Check your engine – Your vessel’s motor or engine should be serviced by a qualified professional if it has reached the manufacturer’s recommended service hours or if 12 months have passed since its last service.
3) Check your safety gear – Replace any expired flares or EPIRBs and make sure your life jackets have been serviced.
4) If you discover that your vessel needs attention or your safety gear is due for renewal, visit one of the MAST Boat Safe partners conveniently located across the state.
5) Read the Boating Maintenance story in the latest edition of Boatwise for more maintenance tips.
Read Boatwise article – Boat maintenance
Contact a MAST Boat Safe Partner
Safety Spotlight – Kill switch
An engine kill switch is a simple and highly effective safety device that can prevent serious injury or worse.
When attached to the vessel’s operator, a kill switch will immediately stop the engine if they fall overboard. This greatly reduces the risk of the vessel circling back and striking the person in the water.
Wearing a kill switch is essential for people boating alone.
Crew responsibilities
It’s important to consider more than just the operator when others are on board a boat. If the operator ends up in the water and the engine stops, and no one else can restart it, the crew may be unable to provide help or recover them quickly. Ensure that at least one other crew member is capable of operating the vessel.
Carry a spare kill switch
Boaters should assess their situation and crew’s capability each time they head out, and ideally, every vessel should carry a spare kill switch. This allows another person on board to regain control of the vessel and perform a rescue if required. If you need a spare kill switch, head to an outboard dealer.
Mooring permit renewal reminder
All Tasmanian mooring permits expire on 30 June each year.
MAST mooring permit holders should have now received their renewal notice. MAST encourages permit holders to renew well before the due date to ensure everything remains current and your mooring stays registered.
How do I renew my mooring permit?
Renewing your permit is quick and can be done online through the MAST Portal, via myServiceTas or at any Service Tasmania store.
Maintaining your mooring
Just like your vessel, winter is a good time to make sure all parts of your mooring are in good condition.
Also, if it’s been more than two years since your mooring was last lifted and inspected, contact a MAST mooring contractor to conduct a full audit on your mooring gear.
MAST community engagement
Boating safety on Tasmania’s inland waterways.
MAST is working with Royal Life Saving Tasmania and Inland Fisheries Service to support drowning prevention sessions for inland angling clubs. The program aims to raise awareness, improve preparedness, and reduce the risk of drowning in Tasmania’s inland waterways.
In 2026 a total of 10 clubs will host an information evening, with each session focusing on practical and potentially life-saving skills and knowledge tailored for inland fishers. Topics covered include CPR basics, wader safety, and important boating safety tips, such as what to do if you find yourself in cold water and how to use a life jacket.
If your club is involved, MAST encourages you to take part in this programme, which provides valuable skills that could make a critical difference.
Infrastructure update
Sisters Beach
The Sisters Beach boat ramp upgrade is now complete, and the facility has reopened to the public.
This project included the removal of the old timber walkway, which has been replaced with a new concrete landing stage. Repairs were also carried out to the boat ramp surface, improving overall usability and safety at various tide levels.
Sisters Beach boat ramp
Garden Point
Works at the Garden Point facility were completed on-site in the first week of June.
The upgrade involved extending the existing pontoon by 8.3 metres, providing additional space and improving accessibility for boaters using the facility.
Lake Mackintosh
A contractor has been appointed to construct a step-down timber walkway at the Lake Mackintosh boat ramp, like those installed at Lake Burbury and Huntsman Lake.
The new walkway will accommodate the lake’s large operating range, improving access for users when launching and retrieving vessels at varying water levels.
Construction is scheduled over the coming months, with works expected to be completed in October this year.
Swan Bay, Great Lake
An aluminium transition ramp has been installed on the pontoon at Swan Bay, to improve access between the shore and the pontoon.
To help determine whether the ramp meets user requirements. MAST is seeking stakeholder feedback. Contact:
www.mast.tas.gov.au
