Winterizing the boat in good conditions requires a number of minute details that we don't necessarily think about. Like making sure that the stainless steel remains shiny and that the removal of assemblies (especially the landing gear) is done without surprises.
Philippe Renault, the manager of Theix Inox Diffusion (TID), a family business specializing in the sector, gives us the advice of a professional in terms of screws, stainless steel and its maintenance.
Choose the right screws and tools
" The secret of a good screw "Philippe tells us " is, above all, to select the necessary quality. There are 2 main families of stainless steel. The A2 range is stainless steel that is not subject to much corrosion. The A4 range is of marine quality, which is what we market to boat users. "
" Then comes the quality of the assembly. A screw, it must be assembled by keeping it in good condition. After assembly, it will be necessary to systematically pass a passivator on the screws to protect the stainless steel. "
This passivator, absolutely necessary on the top of the screw head, is to be removed - " Wearing gloves As the expert points out, "on any part that may have suffered during assembly.
Make the appropriate treatment
During the winter, the metal will generally be left without maintenance. TID offers a range of products manufactured and designed in France by iBiotec to protect it. The manager tells us about this range: " iBiotec offers French designed and manufactured products. As often as possible, they use non-flammable propellants of natural origin. "
This range allows to treat the screwed assemblies of our boats from their installation to their dismantling.
Let's take in order
Before assembly, Philippe recommends using the Neolube Ceram 900 . " If you look at stainless steel under a microscope, you can see that it has a non-smooth structure, almost like Velcro. The roughness of the material causes a seizing phenomenon in an assembly which can, in the case of large assemblies, make them completely unremovable! "The recommendation is therefore to apply Ceram 900 to the nut and screw before tightening. This is the certainty of being able to remove the boat stands next spring without any difficulty.
Once the assembly is protected, the parts exposed to the elements must be cleaned and preserved. This is the role of the Bioclean Inox AL . Stainless steel cleaner and protector for use during initial assembly, after assembly and tightening. " It will deposit a microscopic film on the stainless steel and has 4 essential functions: cleaning, neutralizing, protecting and shining the assembly. In this way, no trace of grease or fingerprints will remain on the screws and bolts once they are assembled ".
At the end of the season, as well as when the season resumes next spring, the Neolube GR 190 is the marine grease par excellence. In addition to being naturally non-flammable and resistant to pressure, this grease, designed for the marine field, is water resistant ( sweet and salty ). " This grease is also ecological "explains Philippe. " It is to be used on all moving parts, whether it is the propeller shaft, the rudder or the wheel, it has such a resistance that it is enough to put some on the bearings at the beginning of the season and to clean at the end of the season, without any other concern. "
It is not without reason that it is used extensively in cargo transport, where it is impractical to go and grease the ship's propeller every morning!
Finally, for daily lubrication without harming the environment, TID offers an ecological alternative. It is the IMPACT an aerosol with a useful volume of 97% (it contains only 3% propellant). " This is the one we use in the workshop "says the manager.
" Usable in all positions, it is useful for everything. It will unseal an assembly that has aged, will help to unmould a piece and will renew the shine of a chandelier that has tarnished "he concludes.
The icing on the cake for these Made in France products: " They are not 3 times more expensive than others, while being ecological and sober".
A use for each product
Let's go through the process in order. Before assembly, to be sure to be able to disassemble later, Neolube Ceram 900 will fight seizing and cold welding of the stainless steel elements. When the assembly is done, Bioclean Inox AL will add a protective layer to the screw elements. Then, to keep the moving parts lubricated and healthy, apply Neolube GR 190 grease at the beginning of the season and again when winterizing the boat, and, in everyday life - on boats as elsewhere - a spray of IMPACT in the toolbox and that's it!
