General help with Maintenance for complete beginner!

Donal2020

Donal2020

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Hi,

In my first year of ownership and a complete beginner to pretty much all aspects of boat maintenance and the list of things that need to be done before the boat hits the water again in a month or so. She is in the Southampton area so I'm looking for any recommendations for people that can both help and advise with maintenance

Thanks,
 
Hi, Thanks for replies.
Boat is a 1981 Colvic Countess 28, previous owner did seem to keep her well maintained and I don't want to undo any of that good work by applying too much Amateur DIY! Presently she is ashore in Southampton and there are several things I know need doing, some things I think need doing, and likely some things that need doing that I don't yet know about! I'm really happy to DIY, but would like some on the ground guidance for some things but other things, I really should leave to the professionals.
The engine developed a problem just before I took her out of the water and was advised that the injectors needed refurbishing so that has been done and replaced but not yet put back into service as she was ashore when refitted. I plan to get someone to fully bleed the fuel system, replace filters, raw water impeller and gearbox oil once she is back in the water. I changed the engine oil and coolant in december so think that should be ok.
Hull wise, she looks good. I have cleaned the topsides and think she could do with a proper polish and wax, and quite a bit of varnishing needs doing I think.. this is where I'd rather not tackle myself for fear of mucking it up. Also there are a few bumps and scraps that I'd like to get sorted out.
Below the waterline, I've polished off the propeller and sterntube and plan to rub down the antifouling, apply underwater primer and re-antifoul... some say not to bother with the primer but I'm unsure..
I'd also like to replace the running rigging, or the main halyard at least... again, something I'd like to get someone to do while I watch and learn!
So recommendations for general maintenance/repairs to hull and polishing/preparing, recommendations for good honest engine people... Also want to renew deck non-slip... this list is long, time is short and funds are light - same as everyone else I expect!
Thanks!
 
You need to learn to change fuel filters and bleed the system yourself.. you can do this on land and run the engine by bringing a water supply to the intake from a hose.

This way you will be able to do it when things go wrong and will have the necessary tools with you. More importantly you will have worked out how to get at the parts and where the spanners fit or fall to when doing the job.

There is usually no primer used under antifouling which is going on over antifouling.

If you are changing any running rigging measure the length of what you are changing. Get a replacement ... And then join the new to the old by stitching them end to end with sail repair thread... Tape over the join and gently pull the new in with the old.

You'd be surprised how well standing rigging comes up if put in washing machine...you could remove it piece by piece by using the above method to put in place a temporary line. I would plan to replace the main halyard because loss of this can be very hard to recover from.

Nigel Calder does two books that you should buy one is a cruising manual the other is a technical and mechanical manual... Both are worth buying and reading cover to cover so that at least some of your known unknowns will become knowns and some of your unknown unknowns might become known unknowns....
 
Thanks Pandos,
Thanks for the good advice. I have bled the low pressure fuel parts, i.e. up to the injector pump, but not done the high pressure section. I replaced the fuel filters when I did the oil change and coolant change and all seemed bleed ok. I figured getting the professionals to do the final bleed with the new injectors fitted - and I do my watching and learning at the same time. And no harm to replace the fuel filters again at the same time.
I have one of the Nigel Calder books you mention but will invest in the cruising manual as recommended, and also look at the Don Casey book mentioned above.
As everything is in lockdown, I can tinker quite happily alone on the boat - Still nice to have a safety net of someone knowledgeable alongside!
Thanks for the tip on antifouling, I read somewhere that the underwater primer should be used in between layers of antifouling , as a sealer for old antifouling but it makes more sense to me to not need to do this, especially as the bottom seems in quite good condition. I plan now to just rub down lightly and apply a new coat of the same antifouing the previous owner advised he used.
Thanks again.
 
Re-priming the antifouling was something we used to do forty-odd years ago but doesn't seem necessary today, unless there are bare patches. A good wet scrub down to clean old paint should be enough, so long as you use a compatible paint, for which information is available.
 
Seriously those are all jobs you should DIY, not necessarily to save money, some of it you need to know how to do anyway (e.g. bleed engine), the fact that you already changed the oil & coolant indicates that you're capable with the right knowledge so just read up on it, watch a few Youtube videos. It's so much more rewarding to DIY, you'll know your boat better and save some cash...
 
Thanks for all the advice. I will learn how to fully bleed the engine myself once the company who refurbished the injectors finish fitting, already pais to have them fitted and made good so will see how that fairs. Engine work scares me the least really...

Thanks Wansworth for the tip on paint manufacturer booklets I will look up.

Time is my other challenge so still looking to have a few recommended contacts in my area.
 
Hi LadyInBed,

That;s really helpful, thank you. I had started putting a checklist together, and also a log of maintenance done, but your list adds several items I hadn't thought about - and will need to research some to understand how to do them! I've been able to save and view so can add to my list.
Thank you again, this is really helpful to me.
 
Martindfoley said:
Hi,

In my first year of ownership and a complete beginner to pretty much all aspects of boat maintenance and the list of things that need to be done before the boat hits the water again in a month or so. She is in the Southampton area so I'm looking for any recommendations for people that can both help and advise with maintenance

Thanks,
Click to expand...
Check all standing and running rigging. Go up mast inspect all fitting for wear or cracks. Failing that use binoculars at least.
Check all holes in hull, no weeping stains and all fixtures firm to hand pressure, include check on keel bolts
inspect all steering components for wear, grease copiously
Replace all engine filters, oil and water impeller
Check batteries for output and water level if that type.
Check radio and all electronic gear
Check all safety gear, EPIRB, radar, life vests and life raft - service if out of date (usually 3 year intervals)

For starters. Do it youself and you'll build experience and confidence.

PWG
 
HI PWG,
Many thanks. Happy to say that I have done alot of what you outline. I do intend to replace all running rigging bit by bit, and have already replaced all safety gear with new. Nothing by way of electronics on board except for Radio which is checked and fine, and I have just fitted a depth-sounder which seems to work fine. I've not figured out how to grease, nor inspect, the rudder yet, nor have I ventured up the mast yet. The batteries have been on a ctek charger all the time in the marina, and now also when ashore, so I am assuming this is keeping them in good condition, i have spare new leisure battery in case.
Totally agree with doing myself, learning and gaining confidence - just liking to having the safety net of an experiences set of eyes on my initial work is always good.

Thanks.
 
One of the best investments I ever made in relation to boat maintenance was a Diesel Engine Course, paid for itself many times over. It gave me the confidence to do all the routine engine maintenance. Yes I probably may have been able to get the information from a book, but hands on experience works better for me. Details of RYA courses here, there are probably other providers about
Diesel Engine Course | Where's My Nearest | RYA

Only problem they problem wont run with the current CV19 issues, but worth considering when they open back up
 
Martindfoley said:
HI PWG,
Many thanks. Happy to say that I have done alot of what you outline. I do intend to replace all running rigging bit by bit, and have already replaced all safety gear with new. Nothing by way of electronics on board except for Radio which is checked and fine, and I have just fitted a depth-sounder which seems to work fine. I've not figured out how to grease, nor inspect, the rudder yet, nor have I ventured up the mast yet. The batteries have been on a ctek charger all the time in the marina, and now also when ashore, so I am assuming this is keeping them in good condition, i have spare new leisure battery in case.
Totally agree with doing myself, learning and gaining confidence - just liking to having the safety net of an experiences set of eyes on my initial work is always good.

Thanks.
Click to expand...
One final point to reinforce; over the years I have used marine engineers recommended by others I trust in the locality and my experience has been very satisfactory. Sometimes a prof is required. However, my early years were dogged by a series of chump engineers who did more damage than good and expected to be paid for it. A lot of owners cannot be present on the day and have to rely on services to honestly time their efforts and not just book out a day to a job knowing it can take a lot less. Believe me it's a trap too often encountered. Once you've located a decent engineer, rigger, sailmaker you can relax.

PWG
 
peter gibbs said:
One final point to reinforce; over the years I have used marine engineers recommended by others I trust in the locality and my experience has been very satisfactory. Sometimes a prof is required. However, my early years were dogged by a series of chump engineers who did more damage than good and expected to be paid for it. A lot of owners cannot be present on the day and have to rely on services to honestly time their efforts and not just book out a day to a job knowing it can take a lot less. Believe me it's a trap too often encountered. Once you've located a decent engineer, rigger, sailmaker you can relax.

PWG
Click to expand...
I agree with all of that...I may be a bit of a hippy but my experience is that those who are very wealthy and pay handsomely are usually better served by the best of marine professionals... There is then a strata of not so good professionals preying on those that are looking for good value...but who admit to having zero knowledge ..

I bought my boat subject to an engine test....the "engineer" that was appointed to start engine did not have a clue....two days later I was allowed to try and I fired it up within a few hours.... Not because I knew how but because I knew I did not know how and went to the manual and Google....

Good quality tools...a pair of hands and Google is really all that is needed....
 
peter gibbs said:
Check all standing and running rigging. Go up mast inspect all fitting for wear or cracks. Failing that use binoculars at least.
Check all holes in hull, no weeping stains and all fixtures firm to hand pressure, include check on keel bolts
inspect all steering components for wear, grease copiously
Replace all engine filters, oil and water impeller
Check batteries for output and water level if that type.
Check radio and all electronic gear
Check all safety gear, EPIRB, radar, life vests and life raft - service if out of date (usually 3 year intervals)

For starters. Do it youself and you'll build experience and confidence.

PWG
Click to expand...

Just for your safety - best not to go up the mast when the boat is ashore and many yards forbid it anyway as 15 stone at the top of the mast may unbalance the boat a little.
 
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