by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership
Seacocks are often awkward to get at, awkward to open and close, and often ignored. Should they fail, the results can prove disastrous. Most seacocks are sited well below the waterline, so they cannot be ignored if your vessel is to remain safe. If seacocks are always...
by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership
A boat’s fresh water system needs annual maintenance to keep it in good condition. Some boats have far more complex systems than others, with pressurised hot and cold water, associated pumps, an accumulator, calorifier and pressure valves, all to keep a boat...
by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership
While most interior maintenance work can be done when a boat is afloat, some jobs such as servicing the seacocks have to be done ashore. It makes sense to do any major interior repairs and improvements with the boat hauled out in the boatyard. A boat that is ashore...
by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership
While a boat is ashore, the most critical interior checks to carry out are those that concern the safety of the boat. This entails the integrity of all through-hull fittings and seacocks, the gas system and the electrical system. Critical checks Check all the...
by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership
Most problems with marine electrical systems arise from four possible sources, a lack of maintenance, a poor standard of initial installation, insufficient battery capacity, or ineffective charging systems. Water ingress is a frequent issue – salt water can corrode...