If you have a sailing yacht or are a regular sailor, you’ll know how important it is to maintain your pride and joy, keeping all the various items on it ship-shape so that you can enjoy getting out on the water without having to worry about a thing.
You’ll want your boat to look good too (afterall it probably cost you a tidy packet) and you need to have ropes and sails that do their job and fenders that protect the gelcoat when it is docked alongside the pontoon or rafted beside another boat.
Handing over the maintenance of your boat to a boatyard is the easy way to do things, but the charges could set you back quite a bit. Many maintenance jobs can be done by you, and in today’s economic environment, keeping more money in your pocket has to be a good idea.
Here are 5 Great Boat Maintenance Tips for things you can do yourself to keep more money in your pocket over the winter period.
1.   Topsides and deck
If the surface of your yacht is gelcoat it will collect grime, salt and dirt during a season. Boat soaps are available which are kind to your gelcoat and wouldn’t abrade them. You should soap the entire topside starting from the bow and moving to the stern from just above the antifouling to where the topsides meet the deck. Then do the same to the decks themselves assuming they are also gelcoat (best not to do this to a teak dech!).
Next, rinse the surfaces thoroughly to wash away the build up and repeat as necessary.
At the end of the sailing season (and in the middle too if you can manage it), after carrying out the above, apply a coat of boat wax (or even automotive wax). Try to do this at least twice a year. The shine on your boat will force all the envious gawkers at the marina to put on their shades even if it is a dull, grey Solent morning!
2.    Check the fenders
Periodically check the fenders on your boat. Replace those that have got badly damaged. Clean up the rest of all the rubber and tar stains that would inevitably be there. See that the cleaner you use does not affect the plastic parts.
3.   Clean the upholstery
If you have upholstery on your yacht, clean the seats with a damp cloth and do this after every sail as salt and water could damage the vinyl on the upholstery. If the cushions look a little tired after a season shampoo them, or if the covers are removable, put them in the washing machine. In any case while you lay the boat up over winter you might want to take the cushions home and store in your loft so they don’t stay damp for long periods. If they are just too big to squash into your Fiat 500 then putting a dehumidifier onboard is a sensible thing to do.
Those are the easy things to do. Now let’s attend to two really important parts of your yacht; the sails and the ropes. These are your engine and throttle/brake cables and need to be in top condition so you can point high, sail fast and control all the settings.
4.   Ropes
Ropes can be damaged by salt, oil and dirt so they need to be periodically inspected and kept clean of all these contaminants. Ropes should never be frayed and should be replaced as soon as any signs are noticed.
Ropes can be washed in a washing machine with mild detergent. To do so, place the ropes in a pillow case so that the spinning action of the machine does not damage the ropes. Even if you do not wash the ropes after every use, see that you at least rinse them after every day on the water and allow them to dry thoroughly before you keep them away, out of the sunlight.
5.   Sails
A clean well maintained sail would indicate to all what a careful and good sailor you are. Wash the sails whenever you feel that they are stained or dirty and at least once every season. To wash a dacron sail, lay it out on a dry surface and clean each area with a mild detergent. Use a brush to get at stubborn stains, but do not apply too much pressure as you don’t want to cause any damage.
Hose down the sail thoroughly after cleaning and let it dry. While you are cleaning it also examine the sail and all its various hanks and attachments to see that none of these require further attention. If they do require repairs, get them done by a professional sail maker.
Once the sails are dry roll them and put them into a sail bag and stow them away from damp. See that this place is not exposed to the sunlight or too much heat as this could damage the sail.
So that’s it. If you have done all these things your boat will get you a lot of envious looks every time you go out on the water. See if you can make this maintenance schedule into a regular pattern and do these chores at regular intervals. You will enjoy your sailing even more.
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