mothball a sailboat

[roberthowell]

own a 44 beneteau which i have raced and loved dearly. My new to me racing sloop is a 1984 farr 37. Live on a 55 sport fish. Already know i must b sick to own three boats. Would like to sail part of the year and sport fish the other half. Need to mothball the beneteau for a couple of years until i can retire (kids still in colledge). Info on mothballing the beneteau would be appreciated. the engine it a perkins M80T

[leftbrainstuff]

Drain and flush the raw water circuit and refill with ethylene glycol and fresh water. Drain and refill the fresh water circuit. Replace any cooling system zincs.

Make your diesel is polished and no crud is in the tanks. Or drain and steam clean them. New fuel and oil filters and change the engine and trans oil.

WD40 the engine and trans.

Pop the injectors squirt in a little engine oil, crank the motor and reinstall the injectors.

If you are leaving it in the water then change all the zincs and add an external zinc and check it regularly.

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[roberthowell]

let me add that it will b out of the water in or near Norfolk VA

[Island Time O25]

If you can DIY or can afford to hire out - build a good cover/canopy to protect from UV light. I personally would prefer a canopy as it will allow the boat to breath and would probably be much easier/cheaper to make and install.

PS Catering companies sometimes sell their older canopies cheaply and that would be my first choice to look for.