Service Tips
Keeping your boat clean from bottom to top and in perfect working condition is not only about looking good but also maintaining the best value for your boat and taking care of your and other people safety. Make sure to:
OUTSIDE YOUR BOAT
Regularly:
- Wash boat with freshwater and mild soap after each use. Make sure to flush deck hardware and furling systems.
- Clean acrylic hatches only with mild soap and water. Special acrylic polishes on the market will help in keeping your hatches looking new.
- Clean canvas with mild soap. Lubricate your zippers on a regular basis to keep the operating freely. Zipper lubricants are available at West Marine or your local canvas shop.
- Clean and polish your windows with the recommended products suitable for the material your windows are made of (polycarbonate rigid type or soft/ more flexible vinyl). If you are in doubt of what you have contact your local canvas shop.
- Anchor windlass helpful hints. Flush your windlass regularly with freshwater. Make sure that if there are any exposed connections in the anchor locker that they are covered with rubber boots. Clean and spray terminals if necessary with an anti-corrosive spray. Lubricate connection point where your windlass remote plugs in with silicone grease a couple times a year.
Monthly:
- Have bottom cleaned on a monthly basis. Have your diver check and change zincs as necessary. Zincs life span varies in our marina depending the age of your dock. Zincs at marina built 30 years ago will have to be replaced more frequently than the one in new marinas. Make sure that diver inspects the prop and shaft paying particular attention to cutlass bearing and removing barnacles from prop and shaft. Also be sure the diver inspects and cleans inside of through hulls and exterior scoop strainers. Tips: Always keep a spare or two of the correct zinc on board for your diver to use when he or she cleans the bottom.
- Zinc Maintenance: Keep spares on board for your diver- or make sure the diver knows what type of zincs you require before having him come to clean the boat. Through-hull maintenance.
- Exercise your through-hulls on a regular basis. Many through hulls will remain in either the open or closed position their entire life. Operating the handle on a regular basis will ensure that he valve does not lock up from lack of use. Grease your through hulls annually or every time the boat is hauled out of the water. We recommend white lithium spray grease- a product made by CRC in an aerosol can with a straw. You can by this at any good marine or auto parts store. It is also good practice to closely inspect the through hulls on a regular basis for any signs of electrolysis, cracking, etc.
- We recommend keeping your teak clean regularly (at least once per month) with a diluted solution of Lemon Fresh Ammonia and fresh water. Using a 5 gallon bucket, dilute the water/ ammonia solution to a ratio of 6 parts water to 1 part ammonia. Pre-wet the area where you are working with plenty of fresh water. Using a white scotch-brite pad (available at West Marine or hardware stores) gently work the solution into the teak scrubbing with the grain and let stand for one minute. Rinse with plenty of fresh water. Note: Heavy concentration of ammonia or prolonged contact with ammonia can also damage anodizing and chromed surfaces- are sure to work with extreme caution.
Annually:
- Wax boat with good marine cleaner wax at least once a year. Before waxing make sure boat is clean.
- Clean teak with teak cleaner if absolutely necessary to remove tough stains or neglected wood. Teak cleaners are actually harmful to the wood and deck hardware if not used with extreme caution.
INSIDE YOUR BOAT
Regularly:
- Interior wood maintenance. Wipe down all interior vanished wood with mild soap and water. Dry with soft towel. Depending on finish you can sometimes use normal household type furniture polishes such as Pledge or Endust.
- Transducer should be removed when not in use. If you choose to keep it in you will have to clean it at least weekly. Dedicate an old (or new) toothbrush for the task of cleaning. A sponge and small bucket is also useful for this job.
- The Head: the marine sanitation device on your boat (otherwise known as the “Head”) is an important device. To keep it working well it needs some maintenance and care. Common problems with heads: joker valves; priming of hand pump after winter lay-up; over flowing holding tank/ clogged vent pipe- note proper level- SMELLS!! Caused mostly by use of sea water- we suggest plumbing for fresh water or using shower head.
- Intake/ shower/ bilge strainers: all pumps on board your boat are protected from getting clogged by debris, etc… with strainers. It is important that all strainers are checked on a regular basis to keep your systems functioning properly. Be sure when re-installing strainer that o-ring seal is in its proper position. Check for leaks upon completion of cleaning strainer.
Annually:
- Maintenance of head: Annual/ biannual replacement of Joker valve- depending on use. Cleaning head-mild household cleaner for bowl and surrounding areas. Vinegar for cleaning build up of calcium out of hoses and tank. Emptying of holding tank as often as possible- keep clean and rinse whenever possible. Use of Macerator Pump as often as possible- at least once per month- Lack of use causes the flexible impeller in the pump to dry up and distort creating a scenario where the pump will not self prime. Primary use for Flushing tank out after each and every pump out- adding tank treatment to aid in rinse an odor reduction (odorless, etc)
