SEAMANSHIP
BOAT MAINTENANCE

IF YOU HAUL OUT, MANY
MAINTANENCE CHORES CAN BEST BE
DONE AT THIS TIME

1. Chocking or shoring up: DO NOT let the weight of the hull rest on the shoring.
2. Adjust the shoring so that the keel absorbs the majority of the weight of the boat.

1. WINTERIZE & DRAIN WATER SYSTEM
2. FILL FUEL TANKS
3. DRY THE BILGE(S)
4. CHANGE ENGINE OIL/FILTER
5. LAYUP ENGINE PER MFG’S MANUAL
6. REMOVE BATTERIES ( STORE/FULL CHARGE)
7. REMOVE ALL PERISHABLES

1. REMOVE ALL LIQUIDS
2. REMOVE ALL CLOTHING/BEDDING
3. REMOVE ANYTHING OF VALUE
4. WASH DOWN THE INTERIOR
5. REMOVE THE FLOORBOARDS

1. CLEAN ALL GROWTH FROM THE
BOTTOM
2. WASH DOWN ENTIRE HULL WITH FRESH
WATER, ESPECIALLY IF YOU STORE
UNDER COVER .

CONDENSATION CAUSES “
DRY ROT”
IF THE BOAT IS OUTSIDE:
1. Make certain covers are SECURE.
2. Check STRESS POINTS in cover for integrity.
3. Install chafing gear where needed. Bungee cords good.
4. Check the boat periodically, especially just
BEFORE and immediately AFTER a storm.

Make certain that the proper people can communicate with you , at all times

The PROBLEM: BOTTOMS BECOME FOULED
BY MARINE GROWTH.
TWO FORMS OF MARINE LIFE
1. VEGETABLE: GRASSES, WEEDS, ALGAE &
FUNGI; Congregate around waterline but may cover entire bottom.
2. ANIMAL : WORMS, BORERS, SHELL FISH,
BARNACLES
.

1. SLOWS HULL SPEEDS
2. INCREASES FUEL CONSUMPTION
3. INTERFERS WITH MANEUVERABILITY
4. REDUCES OVERALL EFFICIENCY OF THE
VESSEL

1. ACCUMULATIONS OF BARNACLES OR
OYSTERS MAY MANDATE GRINDING DOWN
OF THE HULL.
2. VERY EXPENSIVE, EVEN IF POSSIBLE.
3. ACCUMULATIONS OF ONLY A FEW WORMS IN
A WOOD HULL CAN BE DEVASTATING .
4. ALL OTHER HULL MATERIALS ARE
IMPERVIOUS TO BORERS / WORMS.

TWO IMPORTANT ELEMENTS
COPPER
MERCURY
Very effective in preventing fouling by maintaining antiseptic film over the boat bottom

1. GALVANIC ACTION (ELECTRONIC
CORROSION) : CAUSED BY METALLIC PAINT
SALTS; MERCURY / COPPER.
2. AFFECTS ALL ELECTRONICS AND THEIR
PERFORMANCE.
3. DESTROYS METALLIC OBJECTS SUCH AS
PROPELLERS, SHAFTS, RUDDER BLADES,
STRUTS , ETC.

4. ZINCS (NEVER PAINTED)must be properly attached to each component part to combat
GALVANIC ACTION.
5. GREAT CARE MUST BE TAKEN TO
PROPERLY MATCH THE PAINT TO YOUR
BOAT’S NEEDS.
6. PAINT MANUFACTURERS HAVE
DEVELOPED REASONABLE SOLUTIONS.

1. WOOD: Anywhere…and WOODEN BOATS in particular.
2. Comes and goes, almost at random.
3. GREAT MISNOMER: Dry Rot ONLY occurs in the presence of FRESH WATER MOISTURE
4. CAUSE: A FUNGUS
5. Salt water seems to discourage the fungus but will NOT cure it.

1. Distinctively BAD ODOR. Once detected, never forgotten.
2. Look in dark places; in the bilge; along the garboard strake; floor boards; all frames; any-where two pieces of wood touch each other.
3. VISIBLE EVIDENCE: Spongy spots in the wood; whitish powder, weaknesses in wood surface.

1. PROBE with knife or pick to discover it.
2. REMOVE ALL OF IT, IMMEDIATELY! The fungus spreads like wildfire.
3. CUT IT OUT with a knife including some of the good wood, just to make certain you get it all.
4. Treating it is NOT enough.

1. There are some reliable treatments on the market and more are appearing.
2. BEST PROTECTION: Keep fresh water, including condensation, OUT OF YOUR BOAT!
3. Keep the boat WELL VENTILATED and DRY!

1. AN ELECTRO-CHEMICAL PROCESS whereby an ELECTRICAL CURRENT is generated when TWO DISSIMILAR
METALS are connected IN ANY WAY.

1. PRIME CAUSE OF METALLIC
DESTRUCTION IN BOATS.
2. SALT WATER BIGGEST OFFENDER
3. ONE METAL ALWAYS SACRIFICED

TWO METAL CLASSIFICATIONS
1. CURRENT FLOWS FROM THE LEAST
NOBLE TO THE MOST NOBLE METAL.
2. MOST NOBLE: CURRENT FLOWS into.
3. LEAST NOBLE: CURRENT FLOWS out of.
4. Current OUT OF destroys the (LEAST
NOBLE) metal.

MOST NOBLE ( Least susceptible and least sacrificed) : Mercury, Monel, Nickel, Silicon Bronze
LEAST NOBLE ( MOST SUSCEPTIBLE TO
DESTRUCTION): BRASS, ALUMINUM,
ANYTHING GALVANIZED, ZINC and
MAGNESIUM.

1. Remember: It takes two to tango! There are
ALWAYS more than two dissimilar metals on any boat!
2. The PROBLEM is ALWAYS there, unless taken care of!

SOME IMPORTANT NOTES
1. YELLOW BRASS, COMPPOSED OF zinc AND copper becomes self destructing in salt water.
2. Some propellers and many INSTRUMENT CASINGS
AND BRASS SCREWS are still made of Yellow Brass.
3. NEVER paint an aluminum hull with COPPER paint.
The hull will simply “ROT AWAY” because of
GALVANIC ACTION; Aluminum being the LEAST
NOBLE metal.

COUNTERACTING GALVANICS
1. Add a SACRIFICIAL metal.
2. THE COMMON ZINC: Comes in all sizes, shapes.
READILY AVAILABLE. INEXPENSIVE.
3. FREQUENT INSPECTION for signs of destruction: greyish color, pitted, pieces broken off.
4. REPLACE IMMEDIATELY with new zincs.
5. BRIGHT zincs are those NOT RESPONDING; NOT
PROTECTING THE NOBLE METAL!

**NOTE**
NEVER---NEVER---NEVER LET ANYONE
PAINT YOUR ZINCS.
Paint provides an insulating surface that prevents the zinc from doing it’s job. In the meantime, your shafts, rudder plates and posts, etc. continue to be eaten away.

STRAY ELECTRICAL CURRENT passing through a metal object in the boat, then into a natural ground, such as sea water.
PRIMARY EFFECT: ERODES and DESTROYS
METALLIC PARTS OF THE BOAT.
Very similar to galvanic action.

SOLUTION
Eliminate stray current sources in your boat and surrounding area by GROUNDING THE
NEGATIVE BATTERY POLE to your ENGINE.

1. Metal from your boat will transfer FROM the object in an OUT-GOING current, but will NOT transfer on an incoming current.
Example: Stray current enters through your propeller and gets into your steering system. It will NOT transfer metal to your steering system.
But it WILL TRANSFER METAL FROM your steering system on the OUTGOING SIDE.

1. Most of the stray currents originate from the
POSITIVE battery pole (the outgoing side).
When returning to the boat, they do so through the propeller shaft or outboard engine and DO
NOT transfer metal .
2. MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN EVERY
ELECTRICAL SOURCE IS PROPERLY
GROUNDED AT ALL TIMES .

1. The SHAFT TRAIN inside the boat translates the POWER of the engine to the propeller outside of the boat.
2. The shaft (power) train, except V- and Hydraulic drives consists of: a). Shaft Log b). Shaft c) Strut d.) Strut bearing e.) Propeller.

1. Most shafts are BRONZE, MONEL or STAINLESS
STEEL
2. SHAFT LOG: The fitting that the shaft goes through the hull in, from the inside out.
3. STUFFING BOX: Located on the inside end of the shaft log. Packed with a waterproof packing. Pressure is maintained on the packing by an adjustable GLAND
NUT to allow for controlled leakage .

1. REMEMBER: Proper LEAKAGE is
REQUIRED for shaft bearing lubrication.
2. STRUT: Supports the SHAFT on the outside of the hull.
3. STRUT BEARING: Relies on outside water for lubrication.

1. PROPELLER: Varying sizes of PITCH, DIAMETER,
CIRCUMFERENCE, LEFT or RIGHT ROTATION,
SHAFT-HOLE SIZE, NUMBER OF BLADES and
TYPE of METALS.
2. PITCH: Distance propeller will move ahead in ONE revolution.
3. LOCK NUT: Holds the propeller on the shaft. Probably the MOST important piece of the entire TRAIN.

1. The condition of dry rot is usually_______ a. very slow to spread.
b. eliminated by soaking affected areas with turpentine and then coating with “spar” varnish.
c. first indicated by a distinctive odor.
d. produced by an excessively dry environment.

2. Galvanic action_____________________ a. is of most concern when there are stray electrical currents in the area.
b. effects ferrous materials only c. is caused by two dissimilar metals being electrically connected and immersed, either totally or partially, in sea water.
d. is always located where the shaft is attached to the inboard engine .

3. The strut bearing ____________________ a. relies on water for lubrication.
b. is stuffed with oakum and grease.
c. is located inside the hull.
d, is located where the shaft is attached to the engine .

4. The most effective way to combat “dry rot” when it is found is to ______ a. soak the affected area with turpentine then coat with spar varnish.
b. dig out the soft spots with a knife and paint the entire area c. cut out the affected wood plus some good wood.
d. keep affected areas dampened with fresh water.

5. A good method to combat galvanic action is to ________ a. use the same metal throughout the boat.
b. electrically connect dissimilar metals immersed in sea water.
c. eliminate all stray electrical currents d. add a sacrificial metal.

6. What is used to keep the propeller on the shaft?
a. locking ring b. a lock nut c. a slot d. a collar

7. The two types of marine growth are__ a. barnacles and moss b. oysters and grass c. worms and oysters d. vegetable and animal

8. The primary effect of marine growth on the hull is ________________ a. to slow it’s speed b. little or none c, not well known d. negligible

9. The proper way to store a boat is to__ a. always let the weight rest on the shoring . b. never let the weight rest on the shoring c. never shore the boat d. never cover the boat

10. In galvanic action, the current flows from the _____ to the ____metal.
a. less noble/more noble b. more noble/less noble c. negative/positive d. positive/negative