DIY Repairs & Renovating

Repairs & Renovation

How well you maintain your boat will go a long way to determine how well it will serve you. While maintenance involves a variety of things, repairs and renovation are core parts of general maintenance of your boat.

Ideally, to effect any repairs or renovations on your boat, you have to take them to professional technicians. However, these don’t always come cheap, highlighting the need for you to learn how to do them yourself. Also, you just may be interested in learning a new skill so that you can fix things with your own hands. Here, we outline how you can carry out basic maintenance on your boat.

Fixing Peels in Gel Coat

This can be a minor peel, in which the gel coat is mildly scraped off. However, it may be a major ding in which the entire paint is off, and you start to see the skin of the boat metal.

Either way, we have got you covered.

First, you have to properly clean the affected area after which you apply Acetone. Then you have to put tape over the area you just applied to prevent foreign material from perching on it.

You will need a scraper to level the area and give it a smooth finish. After doing these, we may also recommend that you apply the alcoholic spray to help the area dry properly.

Let there be a lapse of 24 hours before you come back to peel off the tape and then smooth the sprayed area using a power sander.

Fixing Leakages and Holes

If the dings we mentioned above happen often, they may bring about holes in your boat. These may lead to leakages of fluid such as fuels from your boat. But fixing this is very simple. You will need a sealant tube, which you will apply over the affected area.

Engine and Battery Maintenance

The engine is the boat’s powerhouse, and you must keep it in good condition. From time to time, ensure that you apply lubricants and anti-corrosive fluids to all the moving parts. Also, tighten the bolts and nuts all around the engine.

On the other hand, there is the battery. First, we recommend that you should not keep your battery for more than 3-5 years.

Then, you should check the battery regularly to know how much charge power it has left. You can use a multi-meter to do this. Then, during your checks, take a look at the connections to the battery. Ensure that none is loose.

Bottom of the Boat

Most boat maintenance and repair advice focus on the interior of the boat and probably the engine and battery. But very little is always said of the bottom of the boat. What many miss is that the bottom of the boat can be as important as the other parts. Neglecting it might lead to serious problems while on water.

A common problem with the boat bottom is the growth of foreign materials on it. This can lead to issues such as dings, leakages, engine heating and overall boat damage.

This is not meant to be so difficult. All you need is a snorkel gear and a hookah for your freediving.