The objective of this article is to present the ways of the boating fraternity to reduce the amount of money they spend on the maintenance of the sailboats. It does involve rolling up your sleeves, but there are many benefits to be had with a little effort. Most of the suggestions are directed to a sailors’ organization. The article is not intended to offend, in fact I’ll try to inject a bit of humor into it as we go along. He is a British sense of humor and any comments are welcome.

To stay ahead of the sailboat maintenance game, you need to be proactive. By waiting for things to break, you’re leaving yourself open to spending, ruined vacation plans, and a bad temper! Let’s face it, you don’t want to get stuck on the pontoon during your precious vacation, right? So how to be proactive in this field? Happily, there are many things you can do to make life easier.

Here are some suggestions. In no particular order: write a weekly, monthly, and seasonal checklist of things to watch on board. Examples weekly: engine oil, fuel filter, and engine cooling unit. Monthly can be the navigation lights. Seasonal would be the condition of the hull. By having a list of things to check on a regular basis, you are covering yourself with nasty surprises.

Have a reliable set of tools to cover the jobs that need attention. By investing in your tool kit, you have peace of mind that you have the right wrench, pliers, and hacksaw. It is not advisable to buy cheap, the materials used are not as strong under pressure or as durable. Why buy two sets of tools for five years instead of one? Another simple concept is having a range of spare parts for jobs that require frequent attention. For example: spark plugs, spark plug, shear pins, jump lead, spark plug wires, filters, sail tape.

Set aside time before a trip to plan your route and connect waypoints to your GPS in advance. You might even have an idea of ​​night coves or fun places to stop and give your vacation a comprehensive plan. This also helps refill the engine’s water or fuel tank. Before your trip, you should verify that you have the correct safety equipment and check the emergency equipment; It should be on your monthly checklist!

Keeping your boat in shape is important! How much time do you waste searching lockers for things? You can even list the contents of each written on a sticker on the lid! Get rid of the garbage! It gets messy and makes the boat heavier and messier! Okay, not everyone is a runner, but it all adds up to a simpler life. Cleanliness is next to godliness. If you regularly wash your shade covers, you will improve the life of your canopy and cabin. Why? This is because you can detect problems before they stop. If you have a teak deck, you can control the speed at which the deck dries. Patches that dry more slowly could mean that the putty is broken, allowing water to get in. Again, with fiberglass covers, you can detect cracked or hollow glass when the surface is clean.

Learning is the key to improving on board. Their methods may not have allowed for improvements in technology. Watching the market and asking questions is a great way to absorb these updates. If your friend has a new device and you’re curious to see if it comes in and goes out, borrow it for a weekend. Then you will have a practical test, before putting your hand in your pocket! Maybe there is a vibrant thrift market, or a unit in your local store that has been a showcase model, did someone say discounted?

However, not everyone is a repair genius. Maybe there are jobs that you don’t want to get close to, since you don’t understand all the aspects. There could be a technical aspect to your outboard or hull repair. It is normal to feel uneasy about the unknown. However, with the right knowledge, tools, and materials, it’s realistic to gradually incorporate more of your own repair work into your beloved boat. By getting more involved in the practicality of maintaining your boat’s sailboat, you improve the bond. So take your interest further and get more for less from your hobby!