Start the season maintenance tips

boatcare's David Thomas has advice on how to get your yacht or motorboat ready for the beginning of the new sailing season

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First signs of spring are warming the air and as the days finally start to get longer it's time to prepare your boat for the adventures ahead. Just with boatcare's end of season tips from PBO's November issue, boatcare manager at Haslar Marina, David Thomas, sets out a methodical approach to ensure you and your boat are ready for the season ahead. We'll break this down into manageable steps to ensure nothing is missed.

Inspection

Before the start of the season conduct a detailed visual inspection of your boat. Look out for any visible wear and tear. This could be anything from GRP damage to worn rigging, loose cleats and deck hardware. Check internally for any leaks from windows, hatches and fittings such as deck glands and through-hull fittings.

Start a list, your own personal survey report. This can be done in a notebook, your ship's logbook, or even a drywipe board. If the latter, it's a nice idea to take a picture of the completed list so that you can refer back to it next year to remind yourself of any reoccurring issues.

Starting by creating a list of jobs ensures you allow enough time to sort out any issues before your first trip out.

Key areas to check

■ Hull and deck Look for cracks, blisters and scratches that might need repair.

■ Underwater Check for any signs of keel movement, check the anodes and condition of your stern gear. Check rudder bearings for signs of play.

■ Hardware Is all hardware secure? This includes toe rails, stanchions, and cleats. Check high load areas such as chainplates, mast base, gooseneck etc.

■ Canvas and upholstery These may well have been removed as part of your end-of-season maintenance, but any winter covers that have been left on are worth checking fa damage now. Get them repaired during the summer season so they're ready to go next winter.