Yacht maintenance: 10 tips for a yachtsman!

[Craus]

We continue the topic of useful tips for a yachtsman! In this material you will find some important recommendations that will help you to carry out the maintenance of the yacht. Remember that yachting is about a safe holiday.

Insulating tape, WD-40... and wet tape!

We are all familiar with the belief that if something cannot be repaired with blue (black) electrical tape or a can of WD-40, then this “something” cannot be repaired. Suddenly, there is another “last chance” remedy - veterinary tape or film. Both electrical tape, WD-40, and veterinary tape (or its equivalent) must be on board.

For those who are not in the subject - veterinary tape is used to apply bandages or tourniquets on animals. The peculiarity of this tape is that it is something like a regular bandage, only much denser.

It is convenient to use for fixing a wide variety of parts of the yacht. Most often, such a tape is a temporary measure until it becomes possible to repair a patched spare part.



Fixing a section of the leech or leech, specific parts of the running rigging for lack of an alternative - this is a short list of where you can apply the tape. Among other things, this material adds good grip for slippery surfaces. Is the steering wheel too slippery? A couple of light strokes and a bit of wind tape will increase your grip and your hands will breathe a sigh of relief.

Wet tape comes in all colors, shades, shapes and lengths. You will definitely find something to your liking. This is an optional purchase, but it is still better to have a small roll of wet tape.

Check tiller condition

Does your yacht have an emergency tiller control? When was the last time you had it checked as part of a yacht maintenance?



It is important to make sure that the tiller is in good condition and does not require repair or cleaning. The most annoying thing that can happen is the need to control the tiller in conditions where the tiller is not suitable for this.

Keep this in mind, especially when you are chartering a yacht.

Reliable installation of shaft anodes

Propeller shaft anodes are by far the best way to prevent galvanic shaft corrosion. Corrosion occurs due to the action of sea water on the metal.



Bulk anodes are simple but effective things. There are different types of anodes, ask experienced sailors which anode is best to install on your shaft or propeller.



In order for the anode to perform its function properly and protect the shaft, it must be securely installed. Check its fastening as carefully as possible, the anode should sit tightly on the shaft. Give sufficient attention to the anode mounting and recheck it periodically.

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Pay attention to gas!

Gas cooking is still popular on yachts and any installation that uses gas bottles needs special attention.

Since the gas is heavier than air, in the event of a leak, all the gas will “gush” into the hold and salon. Therefore, it is extremely important to have a gas leak detector or a special indicator that will monitor the amount of gas in the air. However, it is best to prevent leakage.



The gas bottle must be in an insulated cabinet so that any leakage can only escape into the air or through a drain overboard. The fitting and the function of the drain must be regularly checked for functionality.

The cylinder must be well secured in the locker and no other equipment must be stowed with it. When you come to check the gas system as part of boat maintenance, it will most likely consist of fixed and flexible pipes.



Check flexible pipes by bending them into a fairly tight bend to see if there are any cracks. Replace it if cracks are found.

Check all connections for leaks and use a mixture of detergent and water to brush over the connections to ensure there are no leaks. If there are bubbles, there is a leak, the tightness is broken. If not, everything is fine, we carry out maintenance in the normal mode.

Check Rivets

Salt crystals get caught under rivets in various parts of the body, especially if they loosen, which can cause corrosion. Make sure you are using the correct type of rivets and that they are securely fastened.



Avoid contact of dissimilar metals with each other. That's what insulation materials are for.

Check the studs!

Sturtros are often forgotten during routine boat maintenance. Although most boats are equipped with an emergency tiller, you should not go on a long voyage in this condition.



Think of your emergency tiller as a way to get to cover where you can get to work replacing damaged steering lines. The emergency tiller is for that and emergency, which is used in emergency situations.

The deck also needs to be cleaned.

Have you ever noticed how much garbage gets into the hold of a boat? Think about it at your leisure.



Usually in the holds there can be a lot of dust and dirt that will not be visible to the naked eye. But once you decide to flush and clean the holds, the amount of debris can surprise you unpleasantly.

Regularly clean the hold with fresh water and clear it of debris.

Record engine data

Some engine problems may go unnoticed until they become critical. For example, inefficient cooling due to a worn seawater filter develops gradually over time. What is the solution to the problem?



Record the normal operating temperatures and pressures of your engine daily in the logbook.

After the engine warms up, record RPM, temperature, oil pressure and voltage. You will be surprised how this data can clearly show the dynamics of work and, in the long run, give fairly accurate predictions about engine performance.

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Spare parts on board

A long journey requires serious preparation. One of the main aspects of preparation is the availability of the necessary spare parts for the repair and replacement of broken equipment. The problem is to find the right part at the right time.



This problem is exacerbated by the fact that often spare parts have to be stored in hard-to-reach places on the yacht. For example, in the hold under the bed in the guest cabin.

To solve this problem, it will be enough to have an electronic journal in Excel or Google Docs. It is necessary to catalog in detail all the spare parts that you take with you.



The table should indicate the location of the part on board, a detailed description of the item, its number and marker. After the work is completed, you need to return the parts to their place. If you decide to change the location of items, then display this in the journal.

Have a printout of this table so you don't waste time looking for the right file on your computer or smartphone.

Check the sunroof handles

Water entering through a poorly closed or not closed hatch at all is a very unpleasant event. To avoid damage to equipment or water ingress on bedding, you should check how the hatches close. Often, hatch handles become the hero of the occasion - wear or marriage do their job.

There are several ways to fix this situation. For example, tightly batten down the hatch with a homemade plug.



It would be useful to protect deck fittings from destructive ultraviolet radiation; fabric covers for hatches will significantly extend their service life. Think about what you can use from what is already on board to quickly and easily block a malfunctioning hatch from the outside.

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