The first spring sun breaks through the clouds and the itch starts to rise. It's time to go sailing again! Before you go out on the water, it is important to get your boat ready for summer. Why is this important and what should you absolutely do before you moor?
Why get your boat ready for summer?
When you prepare your boat for the summer, you check whether your boat needs maintenance or repairs. It is also time for a big clean. You may have already checked many things when you prepared your boat for the winter. However, it is still a good idea to follow a checklist, especially if your boat was in the water during the winter. This reduces the chance that you will, for example, come to a standstill halfway through your boat trip with a broken engine.
What does preparing your boat for summer include?
Roughly speaking, we can divide the preparation of your boat for summer into five categories: safety equipment, the engine and battery, the gas installation, the underwater hull and the mooring lines.
Safety equipment includes things like the fire extinguisher, lifebuoy, life jackets, emergency signals, first aid kit and a possible dinghy. In case of emergency, you want to be well prepared. If the CO2 cartridges of your life jackets need replacing or the expiration date of your emergency signals has passed, now is the time to do something about it.
It goes without saying that the engine and battery must do their job properly. You don't want to come to a standstill halfway across the lake or in the middle of the sea. The entire gas system on your boat must also be in top condition. The underwater hull must be clean and rust-free. Damage must be dealt with immediately. A leak is the last thing you want. Finally, all mooring lines and other ropes must be in good condition. Frayed ends must be cauterized and dirty lines are best washed out.
Top 5 Summer Ready Tips
As you can see, there are many things that need to be checked and maintained – too many to discuss in detail here. However, with these top five summer-ready tips, you can tick the most important things off your list!
Engine maintenance
Always check your engine, even if you gave it a major service when you winterized your boat. After all, the engine has been idle for a while. It is always necessary to change the engine oil and replace the filters. Replace the V-belts if they are worn and tension them. Also always make sure that you have spare V-belts on the boat. Finally, check the battery and the coolant of your engine.
Navigation
Depending on where you are sailing and where you want to go, navigation aids are an absolute necessity. Therefore, check whether your nautical charts are still up-to-date. Check whether your compass, your depth gauge and your log are in order and whether there are valid regulations on your boat.
Checking and replacing anodes
The anodes must be in good condition to protect your boat from galvanic corrosion. The anodes prevent the metal parts of your boat from getting electrical charges. Always check the anodes, because they can age considerably within a year.
Antifouling
Check if the underwater hull needs a new coat of antifouling. This special paint layer prevents mussels and algae from clinging to your boat. The cleaner the underwater hull, the more streamlined your boat and the less fuel you use. If your boat is in salt water, the underwater hull needs a lick of paint more often than if the boat is moored in fresh water. Also check if the propeller shaft needs to be sanded and painted to prevent or remove fouling.
Big cleaning
All technical maintenance is important, but don't forget to wipe down the interior of your boat in the hustle and bustle. Air the boat well to dispel any musty smells and clean all the corners of the interior, as well as the deck. This way you will enjoy your boat much more.
