Fall, do-it-yourself storage time / Part two

Here’s a bullet-point vademecum for routine maintenance that you can perform yourself: we reveal five more tips and tricks of garaging to best prepare your boat for the long winter rest.(HERE you can find the previous 5 tips)

DECK, TEAK AND WOODS
For the fiberglass deck, rinse thoroughly with fresh water, removing the most abundant salt and sand residue to avoid unwanted scratches. Equip yourself with a bucket, specific cleaner and a medium-hard brush and start scrubbing all surfaces, insisting more on the areas with anti-slip, in whose small grooves dirt is more difficult to remove. Scrub vigorously, increase the dose of soap but avoid using solvents. For teak you need to use a specific product and a brush with softer, denser bristles. Always rub in the direction of the wood grain. As an alternative to detergents, one can opt for chemical treatments, which deep clean even greasy stains, such as those from diesel fuel.

PORTHOLES, HATCHES AND HATCHES
Close them tightly and rinse them with water (the gun fed by tap pressure is fine, but not the pressure washer!). The operation is mandatory: if you start cleaning with a damp cloth, you may scratch the lexan or plexiglass with salt crystals or grains of sand. Use liquid cleaners (not powdered or Cif-type ones that scratch) and insist along the frame, where the gasket stop is. Check that the rubber is not crushed, as it may cause seepage. Replace it if necessary, otherwise apply Vaseline because it increases its durability. Grease the hinge pins.

TENDER
Wash it with a sponge and detergent: there is sure to be residue of gasoline and oil from the outboard inside, and algae will have formed on the hull outside, which should be removed with a rougher sponge. After letting it dry in the sun, deflate it slightly and store it indoors if possible. Avoid leaving it hanging from the davits or gangplank, rather place it on the deck upside down and secure it firmly with straps. For the outboard, empty the tank, clean it, and perform the manufacturer’s recommended maintenance.

FENDERS AND ROPES
Cleaning can be done with abrasive detergents, which are the only ones to remove the most stubborn dirt. Beware of using solvents and thinners, which can dull or dissolve the surface layer of the rubber, making it sticky. Ropes and sheets should be freed from knots and soaked in fresh water and mild detergent. Rinse them thoroughly before storing them in the boat.

WAGONS
Empty all deck lockers completely, so you can check the condition of your gear and be able to access the bottom (some even go all the way to the hull) on which dirt inexorably settles. Clean them thoroughly with gelcoat cleaners and leave them open so they can dry completely. Do not leave screwdrivers, wrenches and metal tools in contact with the fiberglass, as rust will stain it indelibly.