Boat Maintenance
A Guide For The New Boating Season
The words ‘Spring Boat Maintenance’ may seem daunting, but spending time on key tasks will ensure your boat is season-ready, and you’ll have many months of plain sailing ahead. The team at Ancasta Yacht Services is on hand to assist and take the hassle out of preparing your boat for the season. Whether you are looking for a full service package, or help with some specialist tasks, here we outline what you should be considering this Spring for the sailing season ahead.
Boat Maintenance Checklist
Inspect Deck Hardware
On deck, carry out a bow to stern appraisal of the deckware. Look at the integrity of the stanchions, pulpits, and lifelines, well as the chain plates and cleats. Inspect your anchor system and clean and grease all winches. Leak test your hatches and portlights. Any repairs or replacements are likely to be best carried out before the season commences to minimise downtime and maximise sailing time - Ancasta Yacht Services is an approved Lewmar Gold Installer, Service and Repair Centre with Lewmar-trained technicians onsite at our Hamble workshop.
- Check stanchions, pulpits, lifelines, chain plates and cleats for damage or wear
- Service all winches
- Leak test hatches
Restore Sails and Canvas Covers
Canvas on deck, including sail covers, biminis, and dodgers, will likely need a good clean if they have been exposed to the elements over the winter. As part of laying up, sails should have been removed and laundered, but at the very least, these should be checked for wear and chafe ahead of your first sail of the season.
- Clean boat covers and/or biminis
- Launder the sails and check for wear
Engine Servicing
Ancasta Yacht Services’ in-house marine engineering team are Approved Dealers and Service Agents for Yanmar and Nanni diesel engines offering peace of mind and a cost-effective solution if you would prefer to leave your engine service to the professionals.
To maximise performance, regular engine servicing is vital and a typical maintenance schedule would be to carry out a service at typical intervals of 50 hours, 250 hours, 500 hours, and 750 hours.
At AYS, our Yanmar engine service includes:
- A thorough visual inspection
- General clean
- Oil and oil filter replacement
- Gearbox oil level check
- Assessment of the air filters, v-belt, impeller, and anode
You’ll want to check your onboard inventory of engine spares, making sure you have key items like fuel and oil filters, impellors, coolant, and engine oil (safely stowed to avoid leakage). It is also important details are recorded in the engine maintenance log, especially the date and hours of the last oil changes.
Interior Valet
Deep Clean
Even the best-winterised boat cabin can get a bit stale if not used for several months, so the first step is to open it up and air it out. A professional interior valet can breathe new life into the living spaces, best done before you start re-stocking the galley and returning items you may have removed over the winter.
Service Heads
Service the heads, check the plumbing, and clean heavy-use items such as the oven. Freshwater systems should be recommissioned and you may choose to leave this job to the professionals to flush lines thoroughly and reconnect pumps on board.
Safety Equipment
Safety Kit Servicing
Most types of safety equipment, including liferafts, lifejackets, EPIRBS, and hydrostatic MOB equipment, will require regular servicing, so make sure everything is up to date prior to the season getting underway. Ancasta Yacht Services can arrange for items to be collected from your boat and delivered to Ocean Safety partners for servicing, and then returned.
Check Flares
For items with a limited lifespan, such as flares, check these have not expired, and, if they have, dispose of them safely and replace them accordingly.
Book Pre-Season Boat Maintenance Services
Don’t be daunted by your pre-season jobs list as help is on hand from the Ancasta Yacht Services professional yacht care team to ensure you have a trouble-free season of racing, cruising, and exploring – something every boat owner should enjoy!
For more information on professional winterisation, lifting and storage facilities, visit our yacht servicing division, Ancasta Yacht Services.
EXTRA RESOURCES
Comprehensive Annual Boat Maintenance Checklist
If you want to be thorough, here is our comprehensive pre-season boat maintenance checklist to help you ensure your boat is fully prepared for spring and you can enjoy the new season stress-free:
EXTERIOR
- Clean the hull, deck and topsides using a mild detergent
- Make sure drains and scuppers are clear
- Put on a good coat of wax
- Clean and polish metal with a good metal polish
- Clean teak and oil
- Clean windows and hatches
- Clean canvas, bimini and dodger
- Clean interior including bilges
- Check spare parts and tools and replace as necessary
- Make sure registration is current and onboard
- Check and replace wiper blades if necessary
HULL
- Check for hull abrasions, scratches, gouges, etc. and repair
- Check and replace zincs
- Check for blisters and refinish if necessary
- Check rub rails
- Check swim platform and/or ladder
- Inspect and test trim tabs
- Check shaft, cutlass bearing, strut and prop
- Check rudder and fittings
- Touch up or replace antifouling paint
DECK, FITTINGS, SAFETY EQUIPMENT
- Check stanchion, pulpits and lifelines for integrity
- Check ground tackle, lines, fenders, etc.
- Check chainplates and cleats
- Check hull/deck joint
- Check deck, windows, and port lights for leaks
- Inspect anchor windlass and lubricate
- Clean and grease winches
- Check and lubricate blocks, pad eyes, etc.
- Check dinghy, and life raft
INTERIOR
- Check, test and lubricate seacocks
- Check condition of hoses and clamps
- Make sure below waterline hoses are double clamped
- Check bilges pumps for automatic and manual operation
- Check for oil in bilges
- Check limber holes and make sure they are clear of debris
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AND COMPONENTS
- Check battery water level
- Check/recharge batteries
- Check terminals for corrosion, clean and lubricate
- Check bonding system
- Inspect all wiring for wear and chafe
- Test all gauges for operability
- Check shore power and charger
- Check for spare fuses
- Check all lighting fixtures (including navigation lights) and make sure you have spare bulbs
- Check all electronics for proper operation
- Inspect antennas
REQUIRED AND RECOMMENDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT
- Sound signaling device
- Check distress signals and expiration date
- Check Pfds
- Inspect life rings and cushions
- Check fire extinguishers and recharge if necessary
- Check and adjust compass
- Check navigation lights
- Check charts and replace as necessary
- Check radar reflector
- Check and replace first aid supplies
- Check bailer and hand pump
INBOARD ENGINE(S)
- Change oil and filters – make sure you have spares on board
- Check and change fuel filters – have spares onboard
- Check and change engine zincs
- Check cooling system change coolant as necessary – have extra onboard
- Record engine maintenance log, especially date & hours of last oil changes
- Check belts for tension
- Check transmission fluid
- Check and clean backfire flame arrestor
- Check impeller
- Check and clean water strainer
- Check bilge blower
HEADS SYSTEM
- Check for smooth operation – lubricate and clean as necessary
- If equipped with treatment system, have chemicals on hand
- Y-valve operation checked, valve labeled & secured
WATER SYSTEM
- Flush water tank
- Check water system and pump for leaks and proper operation
- Check hot water tank working on both AC and engines
- Check for tank cap keys on board
- Check and clean shower sump pump screens
GALLEY
- Fill propane tank, check electric & manual valves, check storage box vent to make sure it is clear
- Check refrigerator, clean and freshen, operate on AC and DC
- Clean stove, check that all burners and oven are working
- Check microwave, if fitted
OUTBOARD MOTOR
- Replace spark plugs
- Check plug wires for wear
- Check prop for nicks and bends
- Change/fill gear lube
- Inspect fuel lines, primer bulb and tank for leaks
- Lubricate and spray moveable parts
TRAILER
- Check for current registration
- Check rollers and pads
- Check and lubricate wheel bearings
- Clean and lubricate winch
- Lubricate tongue jack and wheel
- Test lights and electrical connections
- Check tire pressure and condition
- Check brakes (if equipped)
- Check safety chains
- Check tongue lock
SAILS
- Check general condition
- Look for wear and chafing
- Check battens and batten pockets
- Check all sail attachments
- Inspect bolt rope
MAST AND RIGGING
- Check mast and spreaders for corrosion or damage
- Inspect spreader boots and shrouds
- Inspect rivets and screw connections for corrosion
- Check reefing points and reefing gear
- Clean sail track
- Check rigging, turnbuckles and clevis pins for wear and corrosion
- Inspect stays for fraying and “fish hooks”
- Check forestay and backstay connections
- Check masthead fitting and pulleys
- Check and lubricate roller furling
- Check halyards and consider replacing or swapping end for end
- Tape turnbuckles, cotter pins, and spreaders
Ancasta Yacht Services Ltd
Port Hamble, Satchell Lane, Hamble, Southampton, SO31 4NN
Ancasta Yacht Services is based on the picturesque banks of the River Hamble in the UK with direct access to Southampton Water and the Solent.
The Port Hamble site features covered workshops for yachts up to 26 meters, an engineering workshop, wood and laminating facilities, and a joinery shop.
Ancasta Yacht Services: