Budget-Savvy Tricks To Save £100s On Boat Maintenance
- Boats can be expensive to maintain
- If you work pre-emptively to catch small issues you can save £100s
- Swapping out certain products can also save you money
- Latest Deals reveal their top tricks to save on maintenance
Buying a boat is a proud moment - so ensuring your vessel is sea-worthy and well maintained is key if you want to keep going out on the water. Common issues such as sun damage, mould build-up on vinyl seating and chipped propellers can easily grow into huge problems, so working pre-emptively is key.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: ‘Going sailing offers us great freedom, so it’s important to keep our boats well looked after so they look after us while we’re travelling. Here are our top tips for saving money on boat maintenance.’
Beware Of Sun Damage - Save £100s By Fixing Spray Hood Windows Yourself
There are many parts of a boat which should be stored away from sunlight to prevent exposure-related damage. One of the most important is the lifebuoy ring. This life-saving piece of equipment will not work as effectively if it gets damaged by the sun. Make sure you regularly check the plastic on the ring to confirm it hasn’t been damaged by sun exposure. The signs of UV damage on plastic include a brittle surface, colour changes and a chalky appearance. The spray hood should also be checked for sun damage, as over time the fabric could fade, dry out or even crack. If you believe your windows might need replacing, you can save £100s by doing the repairs yourself - buy the material and get to work with a sewing machine. There are plenty of tutorials online and you may well be pleasantly surprised by what you can do!
Maintain Your Interior - Save £30 By Using Soapy Water For Vinyl Seats
You don’t want mould, mildew or other such build-up which could lead to damaged interiors and costly repairs. For example, you should regularly clean your boat seats to keep them in good condition. With vinyl, there are marine cleaners which are designed especially for cleaning seats, but these can cost as much as £30 per spray bottle. Instead, you can reduce costs by using warm soapy water and a plastic bristle brush for scrubbing.
Check The Propeller - Replacing May Be Cheaper Than Fixing
Having a fully functional propeller is essential. If you aren’t already, get into the habit of checking it before every trip you make - and whenever you pull your boat out of the water. The key issues to look out for are chips and indicators of corrosion. You’ll also want to ensure there is nothing wrapped around the prop, such as algae or fishing line. Not only can a damaged propeller make your boat slower, it also has the knock-on effect of making the engine work harder. If your propeller is chipped, compare the cost of fixing it with getting a replacement. A small aluminium prop replacement may be cheaper than going down to the prop shop.
Save On Fuel By Keeping Trim Down - Save £100s On Trim Tabs
If you cruise with the bow situated up out of the water, you are burning more fuel than necessary and essentially throwing money away. Ensure that you keep the hull level to the plane as much as possible for a decent amount of thrust. In situations where you are using a lot of trim tab or leg trim, moving the weight onboard to the bow will help with even trim. Investing in trim tabs could easily cost you £100s, so considering the distribution of your load - and reducing it where possible - could make a world of difference, and save you some cash in the process.
Shop Around For Lifting Ashore Rates - Early Summer May Be Cheapest
It’s wise to carry out annual boat maintenance, but picking the right time of year to do this could save you personal effort as well as money. Nobody wants to be bundled up in a winter coat as they assess their boat during freezing weather. Instead, consider scheduling your maintenance for early summer - May or June is ideal. What’s more, when you are considering getting your boat lifted ashore, shop around for the best rates. You may already get a discount for choosing the start of summer, but pick your services wisely to get the best price. Also, don’t be afraid to haggle - if you don’t ask, you don’t get!
Work Pre-emptively On Your Engine - Waiting For It To Stop Working Costs More
Keeping an eye on your engine is important if you don’t want it to suddenly give up - after all, replacing an entire engine will cost more than small fixes you can perform the moment you notice them. Sometimes you can identify potential problems simply by listening to your engine while it’s running. For example, do all of the cylinders fire up when you start it, or does one catch and make a thumping noise before the others get started? Also, if the exhaust is emitting a dry, hollow sound, this could mean the cooling water has stopped flowing properly.
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