I would like to do as much maintenance on my rig as possible without having to take it in. I have a Ranger 180 Reata (Fish and Ski). It has a 150 HP Yamaha VMAX and is on a single axle trailer with brakes. I am mainly concerned with the trailer and small / easy stuff on the motor. Where can I find information on what to do and what grease / lube to use and where to use it?

Thanks!

You should be able to find a manual, maybe Boaters World or a local dealer would have you, that will tell you and explain how to do a lot of stuff on your own.  Like fluid changes, water pump replacement (when you need to), and other things with the engine.  

The trailer, their isn't much to it.  The bearing may go out, but they last a long time, so I don't think you have to worry about it anytime soon.  Just make sure there is grease around the bearing, and that's about it.  Trailers are very easy, there isn't very many parts, so their isn't a lot of worries about them.

Hey roger nice looking boat just sold my 05 190 this fall. Great rig, miss it. Cant wait till spring to get the new boat wet.

Roger,

What is your financial investment in the boat, motor and trailer?

A lot - as you have a beautiful rig.

Although you want to do as much as you can to reduce your overhead costs, with a beautiful rig like that you may want to expend the dollars to have the dealer check out and maintain the boat so it will be in tip-top condition for the upcoming season.

I have a little Tracker and I take her to Jerry Cooper in Ashland, Virginia, to be serviced.  Last trip cost me over $715, but I know she is ready to go and I will not have any problems with her on the water or to and from the launch sites.

You would not believe the things Jerry found that I had no idea about.  And if I had done the maintenance I know they would not have been fixed correctly, or at all.

You remind me of a guy who buys a Mercedes and still changes the oil to save a few bucks.

With a beautiful rig like you have I suggest taking it in to make sure she stays beautiful for a long, long time.

Just my two cents.  Or in your case, my two dollars.

The bearings are easy.  They're oil filled, so there's really very little to do, other than changing the oil every 2-3 years, which is easy to do (as long as it's warm outside).  

Just watch the oil reservoir to see if the oil turns white.  A chocolate milk color is ok, you just don't want to see it white....or the level drop.  Just check for any oil puddles on the back side of the tires where you park every so often.  The rear seal has been known to fail on rare occasions.

Brakes need to checked yearly.  But they last a very long time.  So really there's little to do.

There's really a lot of easy stuff you can do for yourself on your boat.  The easiest is simply being observant.  Just checking for anything loose, worn, etc. and becoming familiar with how everything is supposed to be is your best preventative maintenance.  I know I've saved myself hundreds of dollars by catching something early.

I presume you don't have a manual for the boat.  Not a problem.  Contact Ranger through their website.  They will send you a manual free of charge.

Keep your tires aired to the proper pressure and watch for uneven wear.  Trailer tires are notorious for being out of balance and/or out of alignment.  If you notice bouncy wear, have them balanced.  If you are getting uneven wear you can have the tires turned around on the wheel.