Mar 04 2008
If you take care of your Catamaran then your Catamaran will take care of you
Performing proper maintenance on your Catamaran is one of the most important things you can do if you truly want to get the most out of your Catamaran year after year. There are basically 4 recommended steps in order to maintain your Catamaran.
Step 1:
First pull your Catamaran out of the water. Ideally, Sailing Catamarans should be pulled out of the water after they are used, this is especially true for saltier water. Smaller Catamarans can have the tendency to lie low in the water which make them more subsceptible to damage from choppy seas or corrosion. Taking the Catamaran out of the water will allow you too store it in a more stable, controlled environment and ultimately allow you to get the most out of it over time.
Step 2:
Wash the Catamaran thoroughly with clean, fresh water. Be sure to get every area and part as the salt and mineral buildup from the water can corrode sails and moving parts and cause jams in cleats and winches. You can use a hose to thoroughly rinse the Catamaran and also use a bucket and brush to get those hard to reach tough spots where the grime hides. Also, be sure to make sure you wash the sails if this is a Sailing Catamaran.
Step 3:
Thoroughly inspect the Catamaran’s hulls for any sign of damage. Since Catamarans tend to have a small draft the boats are easy to take into shallow waters. However, all of this sailing in shallow waters can add up to wear and tear. It’s really crucial to check every part of the hulls for damage as a small cracks or holes can form in the hull even from slight collisions.
Step 4:
Catamarans like most sailboats have a tendency to wear out there sails. If you have had the sails for several years then it is probably a good idea to have the sails replaced. While you are replacing the sails it is also a good time to have the rigging checked and serviced at the same time. Faulty rigging and warped sails can cause havoc on a Catamaran. When these worn parts are put under undue stress they can cause a chain reaction and begin to lead to deterioration in other parts of the boat. For maximum safety Catamaran owners should replace the sails and rigging every couple years.
Well now that you know how to take care of your Catamaran go out there and hit the high seas; just remember to do your maintenance and you’ll be sailing on happily for many more years.