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Your yacht is exposed to harsh conditions every time you take it out for a spin. The salty breeze, the hard water, marine growth, etc, will work against you and cause a number of problems to your boat. If you maintain your boat regularly, you can extend its life and keep the problems from building up.
As the more visible part of the boat, the space above the waterline usually gets the most attention. You’ll wash it regularly, get it detailed every year, and make sure that your boat looks sparkling clean. At Foster’s Yacht Services, we advise our clients to give the same attention the areas along and under the waterline.
Cleaning Near the Waterline
Your boat most likely has ablative paint below the waterline. These paints are self-polishing and would keep the anti-fouling coat exposed. However, most ablative paints are also soft and can be smeared. That’s why you need to be careful. Professionals that provide yacht repair and maintenance recommend that you use gentle boat soap and soft brushes to clean near the waterline.
Cleaning the line is very similar to cleaning the rest of the boat. You can use a power washer to remove the slime and debris as much as you can. After that, you need to use a brush dipped in soap water to clean the area. We recommend that you work on one small area at a time before moving forward. It’s a good idea to move the brush in one direction, from top to bottom. That way, the waterline would be free of slime and debris.
Under the Waterline
You will most likely identify the issues with the running gear or propeller while you are out at sea. If your boat doesn’t respond well, or feels sluggish, your first priority is to bring it back to the dock safely. It’s important to not push the vessel on your return trip. Instead, bring it back slowly and gently.
After you’ve done that, you need to contact professionals for to inspect the vessel. As we’re talking about the running gear, your boat might have to be hauled to the yard. You need to make sure that the yacht repair and maintenance services company that you use, has the all the equipment needed to conduct a thorough maintenance run.
There are several things that the professional would inspect for signs of corrosion and marine growth. These include:
- Trim tabs
- Prop shafts
- Cutlass bearings
- Thru hull fittings
- Shaft seals
The running gear also needs to be balanced and aligned properly. The professional would check this as well. Once this is inspected, you can take advantage of the haul-out and perform the essential yacht repair and maintenance.
The Inspection and Maintenance Process
The inspection and maintenance process is long but it’s not difficult. After a thorough inspection, the maintenance service provider would be able to give you an estimate cost of the repair. Here’s a brief explanation of the process after hauling the boat.
- Immediately after the boat is hauled, the running gear and all metal areas under the waterline are washed to remove the grease, marine growth, dirt, salt, etc. The pressure washer is used for this purpose.
- Once the washing is done, the boat is taken to a shaded area specifically set up for maintenance.
- It is thoroughly inspected for any problems before the service provider gives you an estimate of yacht repair and maintenance.
- After that, the experts will start working on the propellers, the running gear, and clearances. Metal parts like struts, trim tabs, rudders, bow thrusters, etc need to be inspected for structural integrity.
- The cutlass bearings, plus shafts, and seals, are inspected for see if they have proper clearance.
- After that, the maintenance and repairs are performed. The metal components are carefully cleaned and coated with protective layer and paint.
If you have any questions and suggestions, or want to hire our yacht repair and maintenance services, just give us at Foster’s Yacht Services a call at 954 524 9098. You can get in touch with us by filling in this Contact Us form. You can also email us atinfo@fosters.mywordpress.site. We look forward to hearing from you.
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