Yachts are motor-propelled watercraft that also require maintenance. There are yacht services and maintenance that provide anything needed, such as:

• specialized technician
• engine room spares
• deck equipment
• consumables
• luxury items

How often yachts must be serviced?

A yacht owner has the responsibility to ensure everything is regularly checked and serviced. There are many features to both motor and sailing boats. Each needs different maintenance and schedules. Many systems on a yacht are serviced yearly since they have been checked monthly. Commercial vessels are needed to service the safety requirement yearly, which is a great guideline for any ship.

Maintenance does a yacht need

The main engine and generator

An engine and generator with belts and oil level checked monthly need a yearly service. It always depends on the use. The 30-year-old diesel engine still runs perfectly well as it has been correctly maintained. The full service of the engine and generator may include:

• Changing the oil filters
• Changing the fuel filters
• Changing the air filters
• Changing the anodes
• Alternator belts replacement
• Changing the Racor filters
• Emptying the old engine oil and top with new oil
• Checking gearbox oil
• Cleaning the heat exchanger
• Replace the raw water impeller

A monthly visual check is needed to catch any small problems before turning to something bigger. The first sign of corrosion on the pipe joint identifies the small leak. A much larger oil leak can happen due to the smudge of oil from the previously cleaned engine bilge. The situation may affect the performance of the yacht, which leads to engine failure.

The outboard engine requires equal care as the main engine. However, remember that the jet tender has different maintenance requirements than a 20-horsepower outboard.

Winches

Winches must be serviced yearly to ensure their function. At least, they must be taken apart for the following:

• visual check
• old grease cleaned off
• fresh grease
• oil

All the tiny and intricate parts must be inspected for wear and damage, and replaced where needed. There are other cases, where it is enough to have regular checks because sails are taken off for winter.

Seacocks

Check the underside of the boat and this must be done at regular intervals. A yearly haul is recommended as it keeps the parts in good condition and functioning. All these parts must be checked in a yacht:

• hull fittings (seacocks)
• anodes
• propellers
• propeller shaft
• rudder bearings
• cutlass bearings

Thrusters. When you have thrusters, when checked yearly, they need maintenance or service every two to three years, following an appropriate use.

Watermaker

There is something on board that needs more frequent attention. The sea strainers must be checked weekly and sea cocks must be exercised once a month. When you have watermarks onboard, you know that they like to be used. Once it is not used, a freshwater flush must be done every 7 days.

In the longer-term storage of the watermaker, the membranes are stored and flushed with a chemical solution. The accompanying high-pressure pump needs a yearly check.

If you own a yacht, you may not know how important regular checkups or maintenance is, but this means a lot to the vessel’s lifespan.