It’s important to check your boat on land every so often - but we know that it can become difficult to do this during ice-cold temperatures, snow and bad weather. This means your boat will stay in its best condition for when you sell up and want to look for new boats for sale.

To help you sort your boat out after the winter, we have 3 tips to follow to make sure you don’t miss something super important:

Examine the canvas cover or shrink wrap. 

Check for any loose fittings on the covers or possible damage to the shrink wrap - this could leave your boat vulnerable to the elements. 

You don’t want the cover to be allowing snow or water to accumulate as this carries a lot of weight, or could direct water inside. Check nothing is tied to the jack stands too. 

Remember: covers have a finite lifespan. You should replace these as soon as they don’t effectively repel water. 

Clean your boat down. 

It really pays to get into the habit of washing your boat down after you use it. This helps to keep it looking spic and span. It’s necessary to clean your boat after both saltwater and freshwater sailing. Cleaning your boat helps prevent corrosion damage, especially around rivets. 

During this time, you could also check for any scratches that could do with sanding and take note of anything which needs repairing. 

Cleaning your boat is always easier if you have been keeping your boat polished. It helps prevent fuel fumes from sticking too. Two polishes with a few weeks in between, at the start of the season, should be enough for the year. 

When carrying out repairs:

If you are using marine filler, gel coat or epoxy resin, you’ll need the area to be super clean and dry. Before applications, lightly use rough sandpaper to prep the surface for better bonding. 

You’ll need to consider the temperature when using these materials too.  Too hot (which shouldn’t be an issue during the winter in the UK) and it might set too fast, but also, too cold and it may not set at all. 

To avoid any messiness, always tape off the area surrounding the repair and use only the exact amount of filler for it not to spill out. Use varying grades of sandpaper in order to get the best results and always finish with a final polish.