Guides
Boat maintenance guides
Practical, no-nonsense guides for keeping a sailboat safe and ready to sail. Use them as checklists, then adapt them to your boat and its manuals.
Sailboat maintenance schedule: what to check and when
A practical sailboat maintenance schedule by frequency: checks before every sail, monthly in season, start and end of season, yearly and every few years.
Read the guideHow to winterize a sailboat: a step-by-step checklist
Step-by-step checklist to winterize a sailboat: engine, fresh water and heads, bilge, batteries, sails, rigging and ventilation, in or out of the water.
Read the guideRigging inspection: how often and what to look for
How often to inspect sailboat rigging, what to look for from masthead to chainplates, and when standing rigging is commonly replaced. A practical checklist.
Read the guideBoat engine service log: what to record and when
How to keep a boat engine service log: what to record, typical service items and intervals, and a simple log template you can start using today.
Read the guideSpring commissioning checklist: getting your sailboat ready for the season
Spring commissioning checklist for sailboats: plan the jobs, hull and antifouling, engine restart, leak checks at launch, mast and sails, and safety gear.
Read the guideAntifouling a sailboat: when, how and how often
How to antifoul a sailboat: when and how often to antifoul, hard vs. eroding paint, safe prep, coats, the waterline, drives, propeller and anodes.
Read the guideSail care and storage: how to make your sails last
Practical sail care: everyday handling, rinsing, folding, checking for chafe, winter storage, sailmaker service and how long sails last. With checklists.
Read the guideSailboat safety equipment checklist: what to check and when
A sailboat safety equipment checklist: lifejacket service, harnesses and jackstays, liferaft service interval, flares, EPIRB, fire extinguishers and MOB gear.
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