Your Yacht Maintenance Guide

A huge part of boat ownership is keeping up with maintenance, and a yacht is no exception. Keeping your yacht clean and in good condition is vital to ensuring maximum performance, as well as extending its lifespan. However, newer yacht owners may not know everything they should with regard to maintenance, and even more seasoned boaters occasionally need a refresher. That is why Spring Brook Marina & Yacht Sales has created this guide to yacht maintenance.

Cleaning and Washing, Top to Bottom

One thing that sets yachts apart from other boats is the frequency with which they need to be washed. Every two weeks is preferable, but you can usually get by if you only clean your yacht monthly. The reason for such frequent cleaning is that yachts tend to spend most of their time docked in the marina, giving barnacles and algae an opportunity to grow on the hull. In some cases, a diver must be hired in order to clean the hull from below the waterline. Even if your yacht doesn’t spend as much time in the marina, a good interior cleaning will prevent the buildup of mold and mildew, as well as protecting against rust. 

Waxing and Repainting

Your yacht should be waxed every three to six months to protect against sun damage, with dark-colored hulls possibly needing more frequent waxing. Your yacht’s paint will also start to thin over time, necessitating a repainting every couple of years. Also remember that salt water and brackish water are more damaging than freshwater, so yacht owners who frequent those kinds of waters will need to repaint more frequently. 

Servicing Systems

You should inspect all of your yacht's interior and exterior systems yearly. Some important tasks include flushing the air conditioning system, servicing the engine and replenishing all of its fluids, checking the generator, and examining the running gear. In most cases, you will need to have the yacht hauled out of the water to complete these checks, though this won’t be necessary for some smaller yachts.  

If you are looking for someone to help you with your yacht maintenance, look no further than Spring Brook Marina & Yacht Sales. With six locations throughout the Midwest, including major cities like Traverse City and Chicago, and full parts and servicing departments, we are more than equipped to help you. We also carry a selection of new and pre-owned yacht models, so visit us from anywhere in the Great Lakes region.