HOW IT WORKS WINTER SERVICING

Winter is a great time to make a detailed assessment of your boat's condition. Dennis O'Neill offers some handy reminders on areas that shouldn't be overlooked.

- Dennis O'Neill

1 STANDING RIGGING

Check sheaves, swages, split-pins, masthead lights and spreader mounts, looking out for any cracks, wear and tear or signs of corrosion, then sluice all moving parts (sheaves, furling drums, bottlescrews) with fresh water.

2 RUNNING RIGGING

Inspect all running rigging for chafe, and wash halyards by filling your tender with fresh water to soak and then hand wash them with a generous squirt of liquid detergent.

3 SAILS

Remove the sails to give them a thorough inspection, and, if necessary, send away for cleaning, or to a sailmaker for servicing and carrying out any repairs.

4 NAVIGATION LIGHTS 

Check that all the lights are working and look out for any water ingress. Remove bulbs to lubricate the terminals with a petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline.