Sails, rigging, hull, engine, electronics — a yacht is a small system of systems, and every one of them rewards attention.
The good news is that the sailors who look after their boats spend less on repairs and more on sailing.
Maintenance is the rent you pay for reliability.
Rig and Sails
Standing rigging has a lifespan. Running rigging chafes. Sails lose shape long before they tear. A rigger's eye every couple of years — and honest sail conversations with a sailmaker — protect both safety and performance.
- ✦Rig check — turnbuckles, terminals, spreaders, chainplates
- ✦Sail inspection — stitching, UV strips, batten pockets, luff tape
- ✦Antifoul and hull check — through-hulls, sacrificial anodes
- ✦Engine service — oil, filters, impeller, belts, cooling
- ✦Steering and rudder bearings
- ✦Safety gear expiry dates — flares, EPIRB, lifejackets, extinguishers
A well-sailed boat is quieter than a well-motored one.
Little and Often
Ten minutes at the end of every sail — a rinse, a look around, a note of anything odd — prevents most of the big jobs. Neglect compounds. So does care.
Know What to Hand to Professionals
Owners can do a lot. But rigging, sail repair, engine work and electrical faults are usually best left to the people who see them every day. A good relationship with local trades is part of the boat.
A well-maintained yacht is a happy yacht — and a happy crew.
- What's the oldest bit of gear on your boat you haven't inspected?
- Who's your rigger, sailmaker and mechanic — and when did you last talk to them?
- What's your ten-minute post-sail routine?
- Maintenance is the price of reliability.
- Little and often beats big and expensive.
- Know your limits and build trades relationships.