Standing Rigging

Halyards: Check that shackles, wires, ropes, and particularly the rope-wire joints are OK. Replace any part which may not be strong enough.
Check the halyard sheaves in the mast head. They should rotate freely.

Stainless steel halyards, stays, and shrouds cause corrosion when in contact with aluminium. Therefore store them not touching the mast.

Before winter storage, the masts should be washed with water and detergent. Rinse very well, since most detergents will corrode aluminium, just as salt.
When dry, wipe the mast with paraffin oil. Especially the casted foot needs a good oiling. Alternatively, the mast can be waxed with car wax.

THE HULL

After the hauling, clean the hull immediately. Dirt, weeds, and molluscs come off much more easily when fresh and wet than when dry. After the wash, check the following:
- Possible gelcoat damage, particularly all the way through flaws.
- Rudder nuts should be tight and uncorroded.
- Propeller shaft rubber bearing. If there is a clearance which lets light through between the shaft and the bearing, the rubber has to be renewed.
- Echo-sounder transducer. Should be cleaned.
- Sumlog impeller. Should move freely.
Renew the hull zinc anode (ch.4.7).
Do not undertake gelcoat repairs until the hull is completely dry in the spring. We refer to chapter 11 for more details on hull maintenance.
Whatever you may need to renew, order the spare parts in good time. They are often available at a lower price in the autumn.
Use a brush which won’t scrape the gelcoat.