Well, the sailing season is drawing to a close, in fact at Whitstable Yacht Club we are having our “Laying-up Supper” in a couple of weeks. That is reminiscent of the days when through the winter months boats were turned upside down, scraped and sandpapered, and gleaming coats of varnish were lovingly applied. Luckily fibreglass hulls need a lot less attention (although the designers of the Wanderer thoughtfully left a couple of wooden bits for the purist). But nevertheless it is a big mistake (which a lot of people make) just to leave the boat in the dinghy park until next season.

Boats deteriorate. Ropes and lines deteriorate. Fittings deteriorate. Salt water corrodes. So whether your boat is brand new, and particularly if she is getting on a bit, give her a good going over, and make a “to do list”. Things don’t last for ever! Fittings and fixings have a natural life span!

A tentative (and certainly incomplete) check-list:

• Inspect all fittings for corrosion. This is especially important for parts liable to be immersed when the boat is in the water, and for any point where stainless steel bolts, screws or rivets come into contact with aluminium fittings. Salt water when in contact with different metals creates a chemical reaction causing corrosion and eventually failure.

Look especially at: Rudder fittings on the transom and the rudder head. Keel-banding. Fittings attached to the mast and boom. (And all other fittings!).

• Check the shrouds and jib halyard for “stranding” and look at the eyes and terminal points. Very embarrassing when the jib (or the mast) falls down unexpectedly… Check all running rigging, sheets, halyards, control lines etc. for wear. Replace or “end-for end” as necessary.

• Check the foils (centreboard and rudder) for wear, chips, dents etc. Remember that time when the board kicked up as you hit the bottom? Remove and re-paint if necessary. And at the same time check and if necessary replace the centreboard friction pad.

• Strip all the gear out of the boat and remove the bottom boards (which may well need attention). Remove the aft locker cover. Wash the boat down inside and out and check the hull, deck and interior for cracks in the gelcoat, and possibly the underlying fibreglass. Minor repairs can be done on a DIY basis, but more serious ones may need professional attention. Don’t forget to check the self-bailers.

• Remove the bung from the buoyancy tank, tip the boat up and check whether there is any water in the tank. If so it is wise to check carefully whether the tank is watertight.

• Have a good look at your sails. Small tears can be repaired with sail repair tape, and with a sailmaker’s palm and needle and waxed thread, you can repair stitching. Most sailmakers will overhaul and repair sails at reasonable cost.

• Have you got an outboard motor? Don’t forget to give your faithful tin tops’l a treat!

I’m sure you can think of lots more. Then you can launch forth next year knowing that you have done your best to make sure that your pride and joy is a reliable steed.

Gavin Barr October 2005.