The hull
Whether your boat stays in the water all year or is wintered on land for the winter, the hull should be checked before the season. Look for any dents in the hull or appendages and treat them if they are present. You can make these repairs with epoxy to get a smooth shell.
Next, the antifouling must be applied to a clean hull. First of all, carry out a good fairing (cleaning, scraping...) before applying your protective paint. There are two main families: hard matrices and erodible matrices.
In the first case, the resin is insoluble in water, unlike the erodible matrix. To know the difference between these two types of antifouling, find out how to choose your antifouling matrix .
Then apply your antifouling, finishing with the areas hidden by the ber when the boat is on the straps before launching.
To refurbish living works, you can also renovate the gelcoat of your boat with a good polish .
The bridge
The cleaning of the deck will depend on the proper winterization of your boat. You may want to do this step before polishing your hull, as it will avoid messing up your first job. If you have removed your lines, there will probably be less cleaning to do as they tend to collect dirt.
If you use a high-pressure water jet, such as a karcher, beware of certain surfaces that it can dig into. Instead, use a good garden hose, a little cleaner and a stiff brush to clean the roof, deck and cockpit.
Then check the fittings, lines, and bow and stern pulpits and reinstall your lifelines.
The rigging
Visually check your rig including the correct symmetry of the mast. Inspect the standing rigging (wires, shrouds, props, turnbuckles, spreaders, etc.) for cracks and check the tension of the wires. Check for signs of oxidation on the mast, boom, mast step and rivets.
The sails
Check the seams of your sails for tears, especially in the crease areas. Reinstall your sails, hoist them and lower them to check that everything is in place.
The engine
The engine should be checked every year. If you don't feel up to it, call in a mechanic. Have the engine overhauled ( draining change the air and diesel filters, clean the sea water filter, etc.) and also check the alternator belt.
Take the opportunity to check the exhaust elbows, manifolds and hoses. You can also replace the turbine filter on the water pump . Also check that the cooling system's seawater intake is working properly.
Electricity
If you have disconnected the batteries for winterization, they will need to be reconnected and charged before launching. Clean the terminals and grease them once the terminals are attached. Once the battery is charged, check that the electrical equipment is working properly.
Safety equipment
Take an inventory of your safety equipment To make sure you don't forget anything, refer to the text of Division 240, which will tell you what equipment you need to have on board, depending on your navigation area. Here is how to check your safety equipment .
Check life jackets and the general condition of all equipment (flares, lights, batteries, etc.).
Also check your first aid kit, the condition of the anchorage and the towing line. Also test your VHF.
Also check the status and validity date of your extinguishers .
Drainage
Check that your bilge pumps are working properly, whether manual or electric, as well as the condition of your hoses and cockpit drains. Also check the condition of your stuffing boxes when your boat is stationary but also when the shaft is rotating.
Amenities
Check the bottom of your boat, especially the through-hulls and valves, which you can grease. If you have the opportunity, clean your water tanks. You only have to reinstall the mattresses and cushions. Check the condition of the toilet pump for any leaks.
