The arrival of warmer weather signals the return of sailing, short and long cruises, and therefore the preparation of the boat.
Before sailing, it is essential to take a moment to consider boat maintenanceWhether the program is cruising or racing, the rigor must be the same. Whether sailing offshore, coastal, or inland, setting off with a boat in poor condition is a real danger. Before setting sail, you must rearm the boat, clean it, prepare itBefore making the modifications planned during the winter, it is a good idea to take stock of the condition of the boat and its sails, rigging, and equipment.
Boat maintenance, of course, includes preparing the boat in the spring or for the season. But it also applies to a technical inspection when buying a used boat.
When should you maintain your boat?
Boat maintenance It’s a matter of regularity and rigor. Preparation involves winterizing the boat From minor repairs during the season until the boat is refitted in the spring, regular maintenance helps avoid major surprises before relaunching or, worse, accidents at sea. Properly maintaining your boat is therefore more a matter of safety than preserving your investment. The absence of a mandatory technical inspection should not override this common sense.
Below you will find a list of control operations to be performed, within the framework of the preparing the boatBefore heading back to sea, it’s much easier to familiarize yourself with the boat before setting sail than to be plagued by incidents (even minor ones) during the voyage. All aspects of the boat are reviewed in a checklist. Keep it safe; it will be very useful. This list is based on my personal experience and discussions with fellow sailors on the dock. I encourage you to add to it in the comments.
The big boat cleaning
THE boat cleaning This allows you to highlight the points that need repair or maintenance. It also allows you to do a complete inspection of the boat.
To do:
- Give the hull, deck, portholes, etc. a good cleaning (pay attention to the products used).
- Clean and polish all stainless steel parts.
- Clean the inside of the boat, including the bilges and the engine room.
- Check the spare parts inventory and tools. Replace any missing items.
- Inspect the mooring lines.
Maintaining the hull and underwater parts
The living works
Check and repair minor damage to the hull is an imperative. Boat hull maintenance must be done regularly. Once the boat is in the water, it’s too late. In addition to the antifouling, check the fastening parts of the saffron. Check the keel if necessary, and verify its axis. Before applying the antifouling paint, thoroughly strip the hull to remove the previous layers and clean the inside of the through-hull fittings.
Dead works
Now is the perfect time to repair minor dents in the hull. Carefully note the possible scratches Repair the larger scratches, especially on the bow and stern of the boat. The aft decks can suffer some impacts (from dinghies, etc.).
To do:
- Repair any minor damage to your hull and, if necessary, renovate the gelcoat.
- Replace the zinc anodes (on the centerboard and at the same time for sailboats, engine and propeller shaft).
- Check the propeller shaft, seal and propeller, for IB engines.
- Check the rudder and the fixing parts.
- Reapply the antifouling paint.
Inspect the boat’s deck
There’s usually work to be done on the deck of the boat too. There might be impacts and gelcoat to repair following the fall of objects, a spinnaker pole, a winch handle, etc. Check all the deck hardware of the boat. If any pulleys need replacing, replace them with new ones; don’t use spares. A pulley must be suitable for its intended use and must not break during the season. This can be dangerous for the boat…and the crew. Lubricate all deck hardware.
Also check the lifelines, balconies and stanchions.
To do:
- Check the condition of the stanchions, balconies and lifelines.
- Check the cockpit status.
- Check the mooring lines and the anchor line.
- Check the padlocks and cleats.
- Check for leaks on the deck and fixed portholes.
- Check and lubricate the pulleys, shackles, winches…
The bilge, an important point
It is very important to inspect and clean under the floorboards of a boat. Cleaning the boat’s bilge allows you to check the keel bolts, and even the floor timbers.
To do:
- Check and test the valves, check the hose clamps (2 clamps for each valve).
- Check the operation of the bilge pumps in automatic and/or manual modes.
Checking the electrical system and components
- Check and recharge the batteries, check the terminals.
- Check the voltage regulators and make sure you have spare fuses.
- Check the lighting (including navigation lights…). Have spare bulbs on board.
- Check that all electronic equipment (VHF, GPS, fishfinder, etc.) is functioning correctly.
Inboard engine maintenance (some operations can be done before winter).
The engine…we all love it. We love it so much that we have to take good care of it before sailing so we can forget about it. Engine maintenance is very important. It’s part of security. You must Change the oil, replace the filters, check the cooling systemIf your diesel fuel has been sitting in the tank all winter and wasn’t full, add a fuel system cleaner to the tank. Remember to replace the belt, impeller, filter, etc., if necessary. Anticipate parts that need replacing; don’t wait until they fail. Also, check the battery’s condition.
To do:
- Change the oil and replace the filters. Keep spare filters on board.
- Check and replace fuel filters. Keep spare filters on board.
- Check and replace the zinc anodes on the engine.
- Check the cooling system and replace the coolant as needed.
- Check the belt tension.
- Check the transmission fluid.
- Check and, if necessary, replace the turbine.
- Check and clean the water inlet strainer.
- Check the bilge blower.
How to winterize your outboard motor?
L’winterizing the outboard motorThis, too, must be regular. This wintering process involves the following points:
- Replace the spark plugs.
- Check if the connecting cables are worn.
- Check if the propeller is chipped or bent.
- Replace the lubricant.
- Check the condition of the fuel supply to the priming bulb and the tank.
- Lubricate the moving parts.
- Inspect the rubber bellows for cracks, dry spots and/or deterioration (look carefully in the folds) and replace them if there is a problem.
- Check the power steering and oil levels for power adjustment.
- Replace the worn zinc parts.
- Inspect the outer sheath of the control cables. Cracks or bulges indicate corrosion and mean the cable needs to be replaced.
Cleaning the water supply system
- Drain the water tank.
- Check the operation of the power supply system, the pump, and for any leaks.
How to maintain your boat’s sails?
Regularly maintaining your sails extends their lifespan and, at the same time, ensures safer sailing. Indeed, sail maintenance It is not complicated and is a guarantee of safety.
- Check their general condition.
- Check the slats, the eyelets.
- Check all the fixings.
- Inspect the luff rope.
Mast and rigging control
The pre-season is also a good time to check the rigging. Inspect the mast, spreaders, and the overall condition of the rigging. It won’t reduce the risk of dismasting to zero, but it will allow you to anticipate many breakages. A first rigging check A visual inspection is already a good start. Carefully check the pulleys, cable fixings, and tension.
Don’t neglect the running rigging. Here too, a broken halyard or sheet can have damaging consequences while cruising. Remember to replace worn lines and wash the others… in the washing machine. They’ll regain their suppleness, and they look so much better than green lines.
At the same time, check the sails (battens, eyelets, fixings, luff rope, seams, etc.).
To do:
- Check the condition of the rivets and fittings.
- Check the condition of the rigging, its fixings, the tension, the presence of corrosion or wear.
- Check the halyards and sheets, and possibly wash them in the washing machine.
Updating security equipment
- Audible warning device.
- Check the distress flares and their expiry date.
- Check your life jackets/PFDs (condition, gas canister dates, etc.)
- Check the fire extinguishers.
- Check nautical charts and guides and replace them as needed.
- Check your first aid kit and replace any missing or expired items.
- Check that the scoop is present and that the hand pump is in working order.
How to winterize the inside of your boat?
There Coming out of winter storage is an opportunity for a thorough cleaning inside.Your priority is to avoid moisture on board. For sailboats without molded hulls…this is ideal. Lift all the bilge liners, clean them and check the condition of the frames, bolts, etc. You will also see if you have any fluid leaks (water tank, engine oil, etc.).
But this inspection is also an opportunity to give your boat a facelift. Why not consider renovate your boat’s cabin.
Take this opportunity to check if your portholes are watertight and if you have any leaks at the chainplate connections, stanchion bases, etc.
By checking this list, you shouldn’t forget much. This list applies to all types of sailboats, from catamarans to monohulls to trimarans. At the same time, I strongly encourage you to also follow these advice from the SNSM. And what do you do as part of preparing the boat? What else do you do?