10-minute pre-ride check that prevents tow-ins

1. Battery (2 min). Resting voltage 12.6V+. Terminals tight, no green crust. If it cranked slow last time, charge it now.
2. Drain plugs + engine bay sniff (1 min). Plugs in, bay dry, no fuel smell. Bilge water + fuel odor = don't launch.
3. Intake grate + impeller peek (2 min). Flashlight through the grate: rope, weeds, or plastic bag? Pull it now.
4. Hose clamps + flush fitting (2 min). Squeeze the two main cooling hoses; clamps should not rotate. Cap the flush port.
5. Safety kit (2 min). Kill-switch lanyard + spare, whistle, fire extinguisher gauge green, PFDs for headcount.
6. Trailer (1 min). Winch strap, safety chain, lights, tire pressure. Bearings warm — not hot — after the tow.

Never run the engine out of water more than ~30 seconds without a flush adapter, and never flush without starting the engine first. Water on, engine on, water off, engine off.

Next: impeller and wear-ring symptoms · winterization.