BOATING TIPS -- April 2000
Spring Checkout

IT’S NEARLY OPENING DAY! If you’re like me, this is the time of year when all the jobs you’ve been postponing begin to catch up with you, so what’s keeping you? Get out there and maintain that boat!

Here are some things I often (nearly) overlook: Replacing outdated flares. Checking/replacing zincs. Watering the batteries. Hidden things like that are easy to forget.

Unfortunately, we never forget to wash and wax the boat, but then, it always seems to need it!

It’s easy for me to forget about the special things sailors have to do, because I’m not one, but checking over your rigging carefully would seem to be a primo activity before the start of the cruising season; you racers have probably done it already.

I suspect modern drugs for burns, etc., have replaced many of the uses for Vaseline, but I still use some several time each year for lubrication of snaps on my various canvas covers. Just put some in the female side of the snap, it will work wonders.

Now’s the time to replace pooped-out bungee cords on your canvas and other tie-downs. It’s easy to replace this stuff, and makes a difference in operation and appearance.

BYC Member/Trustee Tom Selman, who knows a lot more about rope than I do (he works for Samson Ocean Systems) says we shouldn’t, but I launder my lines every spring, using a mesh bag to hold them and using the “delicate” cycle. Of course, I use no bleach, and only a modest amount of laundry detergent.

By the way, I never leave lines “Flemished” [laid in a flat coil] on deck, because that way they hold dirt and moisture, both in them and on the deck. I store all my extra lines in a ventilated cabinet where they can stay clean and dry.

By the way, why not a $20 boat gift? Years ago I bought a half-dozen plastic fly boxes at K-Mart, and finally sorted out all my screws, nuts, bolts, washers, etc. and put them away. They’ve been such a huge convenience when something needs fixing. We also carry a cheap Sears-special rechargeable drill aboard. It’s sure been helpful a few times.

BYC Member Phil Dyer has made some neat “spools” for tying up to the older docks with tie-rails instead of cleats. Bud Peterson has some, too. Ask to see them at the Blakely Island cruise, then get a woodworking buddy to make some for you . . .

Some of us are talking about a day of free powerboat operation training for BYC Members’ mates. Interested? Call me at 739-1528 or email bycjoe@comcast.net and we’ll talk to Jody Erickson’s committee.

Stay safe!

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