Regular boat maintenance is essential for any type of boat, whether it’s a small sailing vessel or a mammoth transatlantic cruise liner.
Regular cleaning, annual services, safety checks and antifouling are all important aspects of boat ownership, and you can make your sailing experience smoother, more efficient and more enjoyable by creating a checklist of maintenance essentials.
If you’re wondering where to start, the experts at YouBoat Marine share their top five essential boat maintenance tips in this article.

1. Clean Your Boat After Every Sailing

Cleaning is definitely a chore, but the quickest and most effective way to ensure that your boat is ocean-ready throughout the year is to clean it after every sailing.
When you get back to dry land and before heading home, make sure you’ve given your boat a good hosing down as a minimum. Spray down the hull, give the decks a good scrub and make sure there’s no visible dirt or debris left to fester.
You don’t need to give your boat a deep clean every time you take it out, but regular light cleaning makes the job a whole lot easier when it is time for its scheduled deep clean.

2. Antifoul Your Boat

If your boat’s hull is starting to become green and slimy, then it’s time to bring out the jet wash and a tub of antifoul.
Boats naturally collect marine growth just by being in the water, and this extra layer of bacteria, plankton and slime not only slows your vessel down, it can cause maintenance issues and corrosion over time.
Antifoul is the solution to your problems, as this protective layer keeps your boat slime-free for months and even years at a time.

3. Don’t Forget to Oil and Lubricate

All sailing vessels need a good oiling to be kept in efficient working order. If you have moving parts – anything from winches to motor engines – you need to keep them cleaned, oiled and lubricated.
Doing this regularly keeps moving parts well maintained, and ensures that they continue to do their job for many more years to come.

4. Always Check the Batteries

It’s a simple rule to follow. Always check the batteries. So much of our nautical equipment relies on batteries, and not having enough spares or forgetting to put things on charge can be dangerous in the event of an emergency.
Most importantly, always check that your VHF radio is charged up!

5. Annual Services and Safety Checks Are Vital

Boats are becoming increasingly complicated, with more and more moving parts that need cleaning and servicing. For this reason, it’s important that you don’t miss out on annual services for big-ticket items such as the outboard motor.
Safety and maintenance checks on safety equipment are just as important, too. You should have lifejackets and life rafts serviced annually by a professional to ensure you’re keeping them well maintained – after all, they’ll save your life in the event of an emergency!

Quality Marine Maintenance Products for Your Boat

YouBoat Marine is the number one supplier of sailing and boating equipment. We stock a fantastic range of essential sailing and maintenance supplies that will keep you afloat.
Our experienced team is on deck to help you choose the best quality equipment for your next voyage. Contact YouBoat today to find out more.