Maintenance Schedule

[new-to-sailing]

Hello, this is a rather basic question but for some reason I am struggling to find something comprehensive.

I am looking for a general maintenance schedule for Fiberglass sailboats. I'm preparing to buy a ~30 sailboat from the 80s or 90s and hope to estimate my yearly maintenance costs as I budget. It doesn't need every last detail and I understand of course some things will vary on different boats but if anyone has a general guide they follow that would be tremendously helpful!

[Ded reckoner]

Without anymore information from you about your boat, how's this?
1 disposable batteries replacement 4 months after last changeout
2 boat wash & wax monthly
3 add BioBor every 2mths
4 Genset primary fuel filter change after 500 hours
5 Genset secondary fuel filter change after 500 hours
6 Genset secondary fuel filter change after 500 hours
7 Engine zinc replacement after 80 hours
8 Engine impeller changeout after 300 hours
9 Engine oil & filter change after 200 hours
10 Genset oil & filter change after nominal 250 hours
11 Engine primary fuel filter change after 500 hours
12 Engine secondary fuel filter change after 500 hours
13 Genset impeller changeout recommended every 1000 hours; done at 878hrs
14 silicone locks quarterly
15 Exercise turnbuckles quarterly
16 fire extinguisher monitor quarterly
17 snug down hose clamps in engine room every 6 months
18 Watermaker activated charcoal filter after 6 months
19 AC air filter cleaning by EOMonth
20 AC strainer by EOMonth
21 AC mermaid strainer by EO every even month
22 Oil bicycle chains by EO every even month
23 adjust mainsail halyard tension annually
24 replace outboard fuel filter every two years, next 2022
25 replace seawater hose connectors at nozzle every two years, next 2022
26 Replace dinghy painter and stern line annually
27 Exercise anchor chain shackle annually
28 Replace lines for spare Danforth anchor annually
29 Replace rachet straps annually
30 Replace jerry can lines every two years, next EO2022
31 replace fuel polishing filter every two years, next EO2022
32 replace outboard water impeller every two years, next 2022
33 lubricate outboard motor every two years, next 2022
34 snug down hose clamps in engine room every 6 months
35 shaft zincs + plate zinc replacement 6mths
36 Galley propane bottle refill every 5 months
37 Replace Vacuflush duckbill valves every 18mths
38 Flush water heater annually
39 Replace water heater anode annually
40 Top up hydraulic fluid annually
41 Check flair expiration dates Jan 2023
42 clean & re-lube winches every two years, next EO2023
43 replace galley stove/oven igniter battery annually
44 replace outboard engine oil annually
45 replace outboard engine zincs annually
46 replace outboard engine oil filter every two years, next 2023
47 replace outboard spark plugs every two years, next 2023
48 replace outboard water impeller every two years, next 2023
49 lubricate outboard motor every two years, next 2023

[Orion Jim]

Can you explain item 23? Just happened to catch my attention.

[Ded reckoner]

We have an in-mast mainsail. The luff of the sail must be kept appropriately taut so the sail doesn't wrinkle when being brought in, else it could jam. Then, it's a helluva time getting it out. Our experience is we tighten the halyard a lot more often than annually. So, that frequency is just a placeholder.

We have these items in a spreadsheet for a record and just roll them over as they're done. Keeping them ordered this way just makes it convenient not to overlook something.

[goboatingnow]

I would have quite a different set of timings and priorities

( if you snug down hose connectors every 6 months they will be chewing up the hoses after 2 years !!!)

I would estimate your annual costs not including sail or rigging replacement would run about $1000 a year assuming you did all your own labour. If the sailing is arduous then more will break. If you have engine issues it will cost more. But assuming most things are ok and your not trashing the boat that figure is achievable. The $1000 will be an average some years more some years less. The money will be spread out over a period of months. You can defer certain issues but they end up being done at some point. Some large ticket items often only get done at the sale point ( saildrive diaphragms being a classic one. )

[new-to-sailing]

Thank you! Gives me a great starting point of some of what I need to consider.

I'll be keeping my boat in a slip on the great lakes, is bottom paint something that needs to be replaced yearly as well?

Originally Posted by Ded reckoner

Without anymore information from you about
your boat, how's this?
1 disposable batteries replacement 4 months after last changeout
2 boat wash & wax monthly
3 add BioBor every 2mths
4 Genset primary fuel filter change after 500 hours
5 Genset secondary fuel filter change after 500 hours
6 Genset secondary fuel filter change after 500 hours
7 Engine zinc replacement after 80 hours
8 Engine impeller changeout after 300 hours
9 Engine oil & filter change after 200 hours
10 Genset oil & filter change after nominal 250 hours
11 Engine primary fuel filter change after 500 hours
12 Engine secondary fuel filter change after 500 hours
13 Genset impeller changeout recommended every 1000 hours; done at 878hrs
14 silicone locks quarterly
15 Exercise turnbuckles quarterly
16 fire extinguisher monitor quarterly
17 snug down hose clamps in engine room every 6 months
18 Watermaker activated charcoal filter after 6 months
19 AC air filter cleaning by EOMonth
20 AC strainer by EOMonth
21 AC mermaid strainer by EO every even month
22 Oil bicycle chains by EO every even month
23 adjust mainsail halyard tension annually
24 replace outboard fuel filter every two years, next 2022
25 replace seawater hose connectors at nozzle every two years, next 2022
26 Replace dinghy painter and stern line annually
27 Exercise anchor chain shackle annually
28 Replace lines for spare Danforth anchor annually
29 Replace rachet straps annually
30 Replace jerry can lines every two years, next EO2022
31 replace fuel polishing filter every two years, next EO2022
32 replace outboard water impeller every two years, next 2022
33 lubricate outboard motor every two years, next 2022
34 snug down hose clamps in engine room every 6 months
35 shaft zincs + plate zinc replacement 6mths
36 Galley propane bottle refill every 5 months
37 Replace Vacuflush duckbill valves every 18mths
38 Flush water heater annually
39 Replace water heater anode annually
40 Top up hydraulic fluid annually
41 Check flair expiration dates Jan 2023
42 clean & re-lube winches every two years, next EO2023
43 replace galley stove/oven igniter battery annually
44 replace outboard engine oil annually
45 replace outboard engine zincs annually
46 replace outboard engine oil filter every two years, next 2023
47 replace outboard spark plugs every two years, next 2023
48 replace outboard water impeller every two years, next 2023
49 lubricate outboard motor every two years, next 2023

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by new-to-sailing

Thank you! Gives me a great starting point of some of what I need to consider.



I'll be keeping my boat in a slip on the great lakes, is bottom paint something that needs to be replaced yearly as well?

Freshwater should get two years between applications. Lift and power wash each year and touch up. Sometimes if fouling is low , you can just paint the waterline and stretch it to three years !!