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How to maintain motorboats and yachts in winter
tips for winter sailing
The winter use and maintenance of the yacht first needs to check the antifreeze. All aqueous equipment must contain an appropriate amount of antifreeze. Antifreeze is suitable for a wide range of climatic conditions: it extends the range of operating temperatures, lowers the freezing point and raises the boiling point. To avoid freezing when the temperature is close to 0 °C, ensure that the antifreeze mixture is injected into the cooling tube. The cooling circuit must be cleaned before enabling the system to inject the antifreeze mixture. However, whenever the outside temperature drops below 0 °C, the water (fresh or seawater) in the pipeline may freeze and cause the pipeline to rupture. Therefore, it is necessary to check all water systems and equipment, including seawater systems (engine cooling systems, generator cooling systems, etc.) and freshwater systems (wipers, fresh water pumps, etc.).
In addition, at low temperatures, diesel fuel generally produces some paraffin-like suspended particles that block the oil filter, causing the engine to malfunction. Therefore, in winter, diesel fuel suitable for local climatic conditions should be used as appropriate to ensure the fluidity of the fuel. Light diesel oil No. 0 is generally suitable for use in various regions of the country from April to September. It can also be used in winter in the south of the Yangtze River. Light diesel oil No. 10 is suitable for use in winter and severe winter seasons in the south of the Great Wall.
Battery(电池): Detect the level and keep charging the battery once a week. Protect the contact terminals with grease and Vaseline; it is best to disconnect all batteries from the system and charge the battery regularly with a separate charger.
Outdoor Seat and Sun Mat（户外座垫和日光垫）: Remove all seat cushions and store them in a dry place.
Wood and in-cabin fabric leather（木料和舱内布艺皮革）: Cover the sofa with a cloth cover. Use the special shade cloth provided to block all windows, maximizing the blocking of light into the cabin, especially to avoid the color effects of UV on wood and fabric.
Teak deck（柚木甲板）: Wash with water and neutral soap and dispose of with the appropriate product. Use sandpaper only when necessary.
Aluminium and steel（铝和钢）: Clean all metal parts with fresh water and then wipe them with a rag of Vaseline oil.
Sacrificial anode: Check the anode loss at the hull, propeller shaft and water plate, etc., and replace if necessary.
Sensing odometer（传感测程仪: Take out the wheel cleaning. Then use the provided stop to block the inlet and outlet of the pipe.
Windshield wiper（挡风玻璃雨刮）: After fresh water rinse, lubricate with petroleum jelly.
Anchor chain winch（锚链绞盘）: Check the oil level of the gearbox if possible. Protect the electrical components with a suitable protective spray and lubricate the clutch and anchor sprocket with silicone oil.
Air conditioning（空调）: Before entering the winter, the fresh water will be pumped into the seawater system. After the winter, check the ratio of antifreeze in the fresh water circuit: add or replace if necessary (at least every two seasons); maintenance according to the manufacturer's manual.
Water tank（水箱）: After cleaning with disinfectant, drain the fresh water circuit.
Fuel tank（油箱）: Use a washer to clean the tank, especially if the fuel has signs of water.
Cabin（机舱）: It is recommended to thoroughly clean the cabin, remove salt deposits from the equipment, and protect all electrical, mechanical and hydraulic devices with protective sprays.
Grey water tank: Disinfect the drain pipe into the wash basin, shower and women's bidet. Drain the water tank, clean and check that the float is working properly.
Black water tank: Put a paraffin-containing hygienic decontamination product into all toilets, then wash the water tank several times. Drain the water tank completely.
Side thruster: Protect the electronic components with a suitable spray and check the oil level.
Refrigerator: Clean the refrigerator. If the yacht is parked in the open air, cover the outdoor refrigerator.
Washing machine and dishwasher: Take a dry wash cycle and carefully remove any residual detergent. Clean the filter. Check all fixtures on the deck and flybridge. Clean all cabins and check all fills. Check the tightness of all hatches and lubricate their joints with suitable silicone oil. Clean the fan coil with an air gun and aspirate the powder from the back net.
Inspect the hull and all components: propeller, anode, axis, bracket, rudder, balance tab, fan coil, sea water cock, bow thruster. Lift the yacht to a sheltered and dry place. If the yacht is parked in the open air, cover it with a waterproof layer and pay attention to maintain good ventilation. Otherwise harmful moisture is formed. Clean the yacht with fresh water. Check all systems and fasteners on the boat: No signs of damage, aging or cracking can continue to be used. Repair damaged parts and replace if necessary. Disconnect all unnecessary power units.qfgate yachts
