Common Yacht Damage
Just like your car, a yacht can suffer terrible damages that require appropriate repair measures. Although most yachts and sailboats have insurance, it is necessary to provide your pride and joy with sufficient care, attention, and proper maintenance. You might need to work on hull damage, sail damage, and regular yacht motor maintenance.
The hull is the body of a boat or ship, and therefore it is responsible for keeping your yacht afloat. Hull maintenance and repair depend largely on the type of yacht you have and what material it is made of. Most modern yachts are made of fiberglass or glass-reinforced plastic (GRP), an inexpensive and sturdy material that requires little effort of maintenance. Fiberglass hulls have a gel coat finish, which gives shine to the boat and thus has to be periodically polished and cleaned. The gel coat is susceptible to UV rays, and your yacht may suffer from cracks after some years of sunlight exposure. Bumps and scratches, by the way, are also common causes of hull cracks. Now, if your yacht has gel coat damage, it means water can seep between the laminate and the coat, which will peel off the coat. Therefore, these damages must be taken care of right away. Generally, you must reapply the gel coat once every ten years.
Basic hull maintenance also involves checking for hull fittings every year, checking or repairing scratches and cracks each time your yacht is not on the water, checking for corrosion of bolts and bearings, and keeping hull attachments in top condition. Also, remember to always have a repair kit ready, that should contain duct tape, epoxy resin, and a paint or gel that matches your hull's color.
The sail provides thrust by using wind power and is, therefore, responsible for propelling your yacht. Sails have distinct three-dimensional curved shapes and are made out of synthetic fabrics like nylon and dacron, or laminated fabrics such as mylar, and kevlar. Sails are required to be stored as free of wrinkles as possible, to keep it in top shape for racing. Sails must always be stored dry since storing sails while wet can cause several problems such as accumulation of molds and mildew, bleeding of the fabric, and softening of heavily laminated or resinated sails. It is also important to maintain the sail free from salt by thoroughly and frequently washing it with fresh water. Like hulls, dacron and nylon sails are also susceptible to harmful UV rays, so using sail covers to protect mainsails and roller furling sails are recommended.
Don't forget to include the motor when conducting a routine check-up of your boat. Regularly check your boat's motor of salt deposits,water or fuel leaks, and corrosion of metal parts. Make sure that you regularly drain the fuel tanks and replace with fresh fuel. Movable parts like valves and cables must be regularly lubricated, and the tank should be sprayed with anti-corrosives for added protection. Check motor parts for worn areas and cracks, and remember to keep the clamps and fuel fittings properly secured.