To make sure you don’t make a mistake, opt for the Maintenance Kit: everything you need to maintain your boat effortlessly in your own little toolbox. Order from Patrick and Marie: contact@atelierdesgazelles.com
After each sea trip
A few simple gestures can help keep your boat looking as good as new, such as emptying the bottom of a water bottle for a quick rinse of cleats, metal parts or the engine.
Ideally, you should rinse anything exposed to salt with fresh water after each outing. But there’s no need to hose down your sails if they’ve only touched a little sea spray.
Rather than a major overhaul at the end of the season, it’s better to keep your boat clean, complete and ready to sail all year round.
If you want to know how the great chef does it, here’s a video:
To clean your boat’s hull
Rinsing with a jet of fresh water will suffice. Be careful, however, with high-pressure machines: they may lift the wood fibre at the slightest clumsiness.
Despite its composition, stainless steel can rust. Here too, rinsing these parts will help prevent any marks.
For light scratches
For scratches on the hull: the thickness of the gelcoat is such that you can apply a polish with a soft cloth. Bodybuilders and auto parts stores often have good advice. You’ll need to :
. degrease well, e.g. with acetone
. shake well before use
. apply in small circular movements using a very clean cloth
. if a veil appears when drying, a simple microfiber towel will reveal the shine.
Place aux images :
For deeper scratches
… in which case you’ll need to undertake a ‘Gelcoat Repair’ as we say in the trade.
Please note that a scratch means that the structure has not been weakened. If in doubt, contact us.
To care for your boat’s woodwork
Whether it’s for your rudder, your non-slip floor or your beautiful slatted boat deck, the solution is always the same: use Teak Oil.
Be sure to use Teak Oil, and no other alternative. Several versions are available. We recommend colorless solvent-based oils, which can be cleaned with White Spirit. They have the advantage of leaving no residue. By rubbing the woodwork with a soft cloth, the oil nourishes the wood and naturally cleans the non-slip joints.
It can be found in all major DIY stores, to protect wooden decks and garden furniture.
If the wood is damaged or stained, you can sand it in the direction of the grain, using a light abrasive such as 150 grit.
The video – Maintaining your boat: the woodwork – shows how simple it is: it takes between 10 and 20 minutes for a fully decked boat, and just a few minutes for a partially decked version. This maintenance should be repeated once or twice a year, especially 2-3 weeks after you receive your boat.
There you go, good as new!
And if we do nothing? Then the wood will gradually take on a silvery hue, but only if you like it!
Some oils can yellow or stain. To make sure you don’t make a mistake, opt for the Maintenance Kit: everything you need to maintain your boat effortlessly in your own little toolbox. Order from Patrick and Marie!
To maintain your boat engine
No need to be a mechanical enthusiast.
Here too, we show you what to do on video:
And what about the battery?
For traditional lead-acid batteries, recharge when the voltmeter reads 10.2V. For Lithium batteries, recharge at 11.9V.
Remember to winterize your battery when fully charged in temperate zones.
How to maintain boat sails
Maintaining boat sails doesn’t require much effort.
Dry storage is the key to avoiding mold pitting, especially on light-colored sails.
If they have been in contact with salt, rinsing them with water will be welcome. To do this, you can rig your entire boat and rinse the sails completely without the risk of them dragging on the ground. They’ll also be in place to dry quickly. Before you put them away … rodent-proof, as mice might appreciate this winter nibble!
A boat needs to be pampered, but that’s not all: less time spent on maintenance means more time on the water! So make the most of it: have fun!