The Essential Boat Maintenance Guide

by Toghill, Jeff

• ISBN13: 9781760795818
• ISBN10: 176079581X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2024-02-05
• Publisher: New Holland Publishers

Summary

It doesn’ t take a university education in naval architecture to understand the components of a boat. But it is important to have that basic knowledge before undertaking repair and maintenance work. A poor repair job can create weaknesses that could place the boat and her crew in danger. The Essential Boat Maintenance Guide is the ideal reference to ensure that such problems don’ t arise. It details the various repair and maintenance jobs that crop up with every boat after every summer season, and describes how these jobs must be tackled so the boat is as sound and seaworthy as the day she was built. Covering the make-up of both sail and motor boats, this book is packed with detailed instructions, tips and hints that reduce the cost and effort of maintenance work. It is a must for every boat owner who wants to keep their boat well maintained and in shipshape condition.

Author Biography

Jeff Toghill (1932-2017) was the author of more than 60 books and wrote extensively for magazines, television and radio. He explored the city bush of Sydney on foot for more than 30 years. As a yacht master and marine consultant he had a lifelong passion for the unique city of Sydney and its harbour.

Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 5 1 INTRODUCTION 9 The hull structure • Motors, masts and sails 2 FIBREGLASS— THE WONDER MATERIAL 13 Cleaning fibreglass • Removing scratches • Repairing damage • Major repair work • Finishing 3 TIMBER— THE OLD FAITHFUL 29 Timbers • Buying timber • Timber fittings • Cleaning timber • Repairing damage 4 METAL— ALUMINIUM AND STEEL HULLS 43 Cleaning • Removing dents • Rust and corrosion • Repairing damage 5 TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES 51 Saws • Planes • Sanders • Hand sanding • Sandpapers • Drills • Screwdrivers • Chisels • Files • Other useful tools 6 FASTENINGS 67 Timber fastenings • Metal • Fibreglass 7 PAINTS AND PAINTING 89 Preparing the surface • Spray painting • Roller painting • Brush painting • Clear finishes • Cleaning up 8 SAILS 105 A maintenance programmes • Sailcloth • Care of sails • Cleaning 9 MAST, SPARS AND RIGGING 117 Masts and spars • Standing rigging • Running rigging • Joining ropes • Blocks and tackles 10 MARINE MOTORS 145 Inboard motors • Outboard motors • Stern-drive motors • Care and maintenance • Ancillary systems • Laying up a motor for the winter 11 THE UNDERWATER AREAS 167 Slipping • Careening • Anti-fouling paints • Marine fouling • Preparing and painting the underwater areas • Caulking and splining a timber hull • The underwater fittings • Laying up the boat for winter 12 THE MAIN CAUSES OF MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS 193 Osmosis • Dry rot • Wet rot • Stained or faded fibreglass • Leaks 13 VULNERABLE ELECTRICS 213 Batteries • Navigation lights • Navigation equipment • Earthing the electric wiring • Solar charging panels • A basic lightning conductor 14 THE SAFETY GEAR 233 15 A FEW FITTING OUT IDEAS 251 Simple joinery • Fitting a handrail • Self-locking drawers • Laid decks • Laminating timber • Steaming timber • Sheathing a timber deck • Fitting fibreglass furniture and tanks • Making a hatch cover • Fitting cockpit drains • Self-draining deck • Sheathing an old dinghy GLOSSARY 276 INDEX 279 NOTES 286