Dorset Sailors: Checklist for Putting the Boat Back in the Water

Dorset. With 88 miles of beautiful coastline, hailed as the Jurassic Coast for it’s regular hauls of ancient fossils, and boasting weird and wonderful landforms including Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove, Chesil Beach and Old Harry rocks, it’s small wonder that sailing is one of the most popular pastimes. Some go as far as to claim that these are the best sailing waters in the UK, and with it’s huge sailing tradition, the largest natural harbour in Europe and plenty of different environments to sail in, from sheltered bays and inlets to wide open seas, it’s hard to disagree.

But whether your preferred sail is a superyacht or a romantic tjalk, a speed boat or a rowboat, now’s definitely the time to think about getting back on the water if you haven’t already, or out for racing if that’s your ‘jam’.

The boat’s been out of the water for a long period if you winterised it. Any wooden boat which has been out of the water for a long time will leak when put back in unless given special treatment, so wooden hulls aren’t covered here.

For everything else, the boat is going to need a thorough clean. But before you do, there are a lot of things to check. If you already popped it back in, it never hurts to double check, but assessing any damages, maintenance, and repairs before putting setting sail can save you huge amounts of money.

Here at easyStorage we’ve put our heads together and created a quick checklist for putting your boat – of any type - back in the water after a winter break. (We’ve assumed you treated the hull when she came out of the water.)

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Servicing

What did you put off last season? Be honest with yourself and get it sorted before venturing back out. You’ll thank yourself – and, hopefully, us for mentioning it!

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Trailers

In the excitement of getting the boat back out, it’s easy to forget the trailer – but if you don’t, you could damage your boat or end up on the wrong side of the law. Things to check include:

·         Lights working.

·         Tyres properly inflated.

·         Straps still in good condition and in place.

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Structural (boat)

·         Visually check hull for damage and obviously needed repairs.

·         Check decking for rotting, mould and any repair jobs that will be needed.

·         Remember that every screw is a hole in the boat, so check for condition and ensure that the sealant is intact (using marine brand sealants, of course).

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Ropes and rigging

·         Check ropes for fraying.

·         Whatever ropes are made of, they can rot – check for weaknesses thanks to mould, sun damage etc.

·         Check halyards and sheets for wear.

·         Bend any lines to make sure they’re not brittle.

Our handy hint here is that good quality blocks are a great investment for protecting ropes.

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Engines and on-board systems

A lot of activity will depend on how you winterised the engine, and the type of engine, so check manufacturers instructions. Typically this might include:

·         Putting plugs back in.

·         Check hoses for rot or damage.

·         Check water filter.

·         Change oil and fuel filters, and check fuel lines for damage and kinks.

·         Oil should have been prepared before winter: fill now, but don’t overfill.

·         Test that gears work.

·         Check all belts for wear, rot or bulges.

·         Ensure that the water impeller is intact.

·         Check the bilge pump.

·         The cooling system should have been flushed before winter. Top up now.

·         Fuel degrades and loses volatility over time. If you didn’t empty it out at the end of the season, check it for contaminants, water or oil. If there was a lot of fuel (naughty!) empty some out. Top up with fresh fuel.

When checking, remember that many engines pool fuel in more than one place.

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Batteries

·         Check for corrosion.

·         Recharge according to manufacturer’s instructions.

·         Pay special attention to the condition of battery points.

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Safety gear

·         Ballast bags: check condition, and, assuming ok, clean off.

·         Paddles: check for rotting and warping.

·         Flares: make sure they are dry and have no physical damage.

·         Life jackets: check for damage, rips and mould. Make sure they still fit!

·         Bumpers/Fenders: Check for condition.

·         Fender lines: check for signs of wear.

·         Navigation: Make sure that any navigation apps used on tablets or phones are up to date. Ensure that (back up) charts are up to date, that the almanac is ‘all present and correct’ and that chart plotters are in place, in good condition.

·         VHF radios: test!

·         First aid kits: Check properly stocked and up to date.

·         Lifebuoys, life rings, man overboard slings etc: ensure they’re in place and in good, usable condition.

·         Grab bags: Make sure these are properly stocked.

·         Kill cords: check they’re in place and undamaged. (Once underway you can check they’re working.)

·         Paddles: They’re a last resort, but if you need them you’ll be glad you checked them for damage or breakage.

·         Navigation lights: ensure they’re working.

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Sails

·         Open out sails and check for chewed holes or excrement that indicate that furry friends have wintered there; look for any signs of wear and tear, for mould and mildew and for leeching.

·         Check the sail covers for rips, damage, holes or wear.

·         Examine stitching.

·         Don’t forget to look closely at batten pockets.

·         Check corner attachments for rust and wear.

·         Examine forged metal hanks or jib hank shackles for rust, corrosion or thinned metal.

Pay special attention to reefing points and the places where lifelines join, as well as to reinforcing patches. Consider putting spare sails and sail covers into storage until ready for use on another trip rather than leaving them on board where they might get wet or damaged.

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Tool kits

Tools have a tendency to disappear over the winter as they are borrowed but not put back. Make sure you have what you need and that it’s in good condition!

Check that you have what you need for your own boat: spanners, wrenches, screwdrivers, spanners etc. Basically, the right kinds of tools to fix each piece of kit onboard.

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Clothing

·         Check any wet vests or wetsuits etc for rips or mould, and try them on to check they still fit.

·         Ensure that neoprene shoes haven’t rotted, are mould free and still fit.

·         Deck shoes or sailing boots that have been put away wet may have gone hard or mouldy. Now’s the time to check.

·         Check sailing jackets for rips, dirt and – unfortunately – furry friends’ nests.

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Anchor

Three main areas to check for damage:

·         Anchor.

·         Anchor line.

·         Anchor buddy.

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Sundry

·         Separately check and life rafts or tenders.

·         Make sure any registrations are up to date.

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From here on in, you’ll be washing the boat down after each use (ideally), but as this time you’ll be getting her ‘ship shape and Bristol fashion’ before setting off, our handy hint is polishing! Two polishes within four weeks at the start of the season will make cleaning easier throughout the season.

This is also good time to check for and patch up cracks or tears in any vinyl upholstery and to bring aboard freshly laundered cushions, but to be honest this can be done later, and some of the other jobs may create mess. However pretty they make the boat look, they may be best saved for your first day’s sail out. Likewise, all of those accessories like boards etc will need checking for condition, but the boat comes first!

Which just leaves us to say that if you need anywhere to store covers, spares and anything not in use during the sailing season or at least not for now, the easyStorage Dorset team is here to help: call 01202 149018, where the team including directors Connor Budny and Spencer Bowley​ are looking forward to helping you save money and stress!

And may you always have fair winds and following seas.