Top tips on getting your boat ready for the Summer.
As the warm weather starts to finally make an appearance, it's time to put your boat into full swing!
Here are 6 top tips to get your wooden boat ready for this season. While we’re sharing these top tips, please remember that every vessel is unique. Ultimately, ensuring the boat is sound, safe, and fit for purpose - whether on the high seas or a quiet river - remains the responsibility of the owner.
Tip number one - Hull and structural inspection. This entails checking for rot and soft spots by prodding the wood with a small screwdriver, making sure you have double-checked the fasteners, transom, stem, and waterline. You should also evaluate the seams; if there is any missing or failed putty, a new seam compound should be applied. Be sure to inspect fasteners for corrosion, especially if bronze or copper ones are in use.
Second top tip - is preparing the surface of your wooden boat. This can be done by thoroughly washing and then drying it completely. This ensures structural longevity and prevents rotting. Use a mild detergent and fresh water to remove any winter grime and salt residue. Drying the boat completely also ensures that when apply a coating, you avoid trapping moisture that leads to rot.
Thirdly, painting and varnish. This involves choosing compatible coating, applying multiple coats and ventilation. Use high-quality marine enamel for painted areas and specialised marine varnish for brightwork. When completing these tasks, it’s important to work in a well-ventilated space whilst still avoiding direct sunlight, this prevents bubbles and uneven drying, and always read the Technical Data Sheets (TDS)!
Underwater gear and bottom paint, tip number four. Apply a fresh coat of antifouling paint to the bottom, ensuring it is suitable for the local water you’ll be navigating, whether fresh or salt. This tip also includes replacing anodes, specifically on the shaft, propeller and rudder to prevent galvanic corrosion. Finally, ensure you have lubricated moving parts such as greasing rudder fittings and checking the propeller shaft for excessive play.
Tip number five, focusing on the engine and mechanical side of things. This is where it gets a bit more technical, you should double check the engine, changing engine oil, gear oil and filters and inspecting belts and hoses for cracks. Another aspect of this is checking the fuel system, replace the fuel filters and check for ‘diesel bug’ or water contamination, this especially important if your boat has been sat around for a long time! Lastly battery check, you don’t want this to ruin your summer trip out on the water so clean the battery terminals, apply petroleum jelly to prevent corrosion, and ensure batteries hold full charge.
Lastly top tip number six, safety and interior. This is one of the most important especially if you are taking multiple people on your adventures. You must update and check your safety gear - ensure your life jackets, extinguishers and flares are all in working condition! Ventilate the cabin, open lockers and lift floorboards to air out the interior this prevents mold. Finally test bilge pumps, make sure that automatic and manual bilge pumps are fully operational in case of initial leaks as planks swell.
All these tips are important but most importantly, have fun and enjoy this season as well as your wooden boat and the friends you have on it!
If you'd like help getting your boat ready, then visit our Find a Specialist page to find a professional yard to handle your maintenance service.