Preparation Archives - Page 18 of 29 - Safe Skipper Boating & Safety Afloat Apps for phones & tablets

Rudders and steering systems – Part 1

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

A rudder is one of the most critical parts of a boat. Rudder failure is a common occurrence on neglected or overworked boats and a very unpleasant and potentially dangerous thing to happen when you are out at sea. It is important for a boat owner to fully understand...

Keel maintenance and Repair – Part 2

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

If you have ever witnessed a boat colliding with a rock or other submerged obstacle you will know that there is an almighty thump and the whole boat shakes and judders. While such hard groundings seldom result in catastrophic keel failure, something has to give and...

Keel maintenance and repair – Part 1

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

The job of a sailing boat’s keel is to control sideways movement through the water and to provide a counterweight to the sideways force of the wind on the sails, which causes a boat to heel over. Keels are designed to act as underwater foils that generate lift...

Antifouling for leisure boats – Part 4

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

Antifouling is best applied on a dry, calm day. It is best to apply the antifouling in the middle of the day to ensure the hull is dry and as warm as possible. If you have removed all the old antifouling layers back to the gelcoat, then it will be necessary to apply a...

Antifouling for leisure boats – Part 3

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

Antifouling is one of the least pleasant boat maintenance jobs to do, but it has to be done. The very worst job of all is removing the old antifouling as this can get seriously messy and is very hard work. The easiest way to reduce the build up of antifouling is by...

Antifouling for leisure boats – Part 2

by Simon Jollands | Boat Maintenance, Preparation, Yacht ownership

It is a good idea to carry out an inspection of your boat’s hull condition as soon as possible after it has been lifted out and pressure washed. Check all the surfaces of the hull below the waterline and remove any signs of remaining barnacles using a scraper. A...