Simon Jollands

Marine toilets – care and maintenance

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

There are a number of different types of marine toilet, or heads. They fall into one of three categories – manual, electric and vacuum, the most common being the manual, hand pumped type. These have double acting piston-pumps which both discharge the waste and flush...

Seacock maintenance

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...

Boat plumbing maintenance & troubleshooting

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...

Boat maintenance below decks

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...

Boat interior inspection and checks

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...