Preventative maintenance – the payback
“Why would I get it serviced, it’s running sweet?” “I had it serviced 18 months ago and have hardly used it since then.” “My clears are only new, they don’t need any maintenance.” “Lifejackets – they are under the seat in the cabin, they’ll be fine.” “Service it – I can barely afford to put fuel in it.”
Believe it or not these thoughts and more are typical responses from a lot of boat owners when it comes to maintenance. It’s a short term and sometimes costly mentality – in more ways than one.
Why perform preventative maintenance?
There are critical reasons why boat owners need to perform their own preventative maintenance that include long term savings in costs and time, safety and preserving the value of your boat.
Carefree boating: Ninety-five per cent of issues could be avoided through regular and preventative maintenance. If you perform routine maintenance on your vessel every three to six months you’ll see an end to the small issues that have plagued your boating in the past. Sticky bilge pumps, rotten hot water systems, faulty fresh water pumps and seized clear zippers will become a thing of the past.
Cost advantage: Did you know the vast majority of preventive maintenance can be done yourself at roughly $50/year – while sitting in your favourite anchorage? Aside from the annual engine and leg service, many maintenance tasks are very simple and can be completed with a can of CRC, electrical terminal spray, zip lube and boat soap.
Know your vessel intimately and learn to budget: Become familiar and build trust with your vessel by checking the condition of all the moving parts every few months. You will soon learn where the fuses, cables and hoses are run, what parts will need replacing in the next 12 months and what spares you need to carry. This will place you in a far better situation if you do have a problem while on a day out.
What is involved?
For the average 10m vessel, we estimate that only 45 minutes a month is required to stay on top of the vessel maintenance requirements. We’ve put together a useful maintenance check list:
Safety gear
- Ensure your equipment is up-to-date and in good condition
- Ensure your emergency torch has fresh batteries
- Refresh your emergency water supply every six months
- Check the location and access to your emergency equipment hasn’t changed
- Pull out life jackets and flares every six months to check the water hasn’t got to them
- The more you handle your safety gear the more comfortable you will be in a real life emergency.
Engine and leg:
The first tip is to be observant and see issues before they become expensive repairs.
- Check fluid levels, cooling water discharge, anode condition, any oil or salt water leaks, general conditions
- Keep a layer of Innox over the engine to protect it from the salt
- If you do get salt water in the bilge and on the lower part of the engine, rinse it off and apply Innox
- Top up the fuel at every occasion. The fresher the fuel, the better. A full tank reduces the chance of condensation
- A general wash and rinse after each use goes a long way. Don’t leave it for longer than two months between washes
Paint/gel coat
- A general wash and rinse after each use goes a long way. Don’t leave it for longer than two months between washes
- A thorough soapy scrub every month
- Wax every three months
- Polish every 12 months.
Bilges, drains and seals
- Keep a dry clean bilge at all times. If you know the bilge was clean and dry when you left port, you can spot any leaks immediately
- Check all hatch drains each time you are on board. A blocked hatch drain can lead to water ingress and potential undetected water damage
- Make sure door and deck seals are soft and undamaged so they do stop the water, especially on your port holes and foredeck hatches.
Clears and zippers
- Soapy scrub after each use
- Two-step clear treatment every six months
- Lube and run all zippers every three months.
Batteries, electrical equipment and pumps:
Carry the following out at three-month intervals.
- Check the general condition or your batteries, connections, wiring, switch boards
- Turn and run all pumps and equipment
- Apply electrical protector spray to any exposed terminals or connections
- Charge the batteries if they have not been used recently
- Test the bilge pumps – both manual and float activation.
Showers, toilet, sinks, hoses
- Flush the water through as often as possible to avoid stagnant water
- Lubricate all tap fittings during quarterly checks
- Flush your toilet each trip
- Maintain an empty sludge tank with a new carbon air filter on the breather each year.
Here to help
This list is a great small kick start for vessel maintenance. Our team is more than happy to walk you through any of the items above. Just contact us!
Blue HQ is proud to be partnered with industry leaders to cover every aspect of your boat maintenance. Our experts are available for maintenance demonstrations and advice and assist in creating customised maintenance lists for your vessels. If you are pushed for time, they can carry out routine maintenance on hourly or annual pricing structures.
Please email info@bluehq.com.au with any questions or comments.