J/Boats J 35 Owner's Manual - page 16
J/80 Owner Guide 16
Copyright
©
J/Boats, Inc., 2007
Maintenance Tips
Even though modern construction has helped reduce upkeep, regular attention should
be given to the maintenance of your boat. This includes the fiberglass exterior and
interior surfaces, and the hardware and rigging..
A well maintained boat will not only bring you years of enjoyment, but most importantly,
will bring you greater personal pride and joy.
Fiberglass/Gelcoat
Apply a marine wax at least twice annually to preserve the “factory fresh” appearance
for many years. Be sure fiberglass surfaces are clean and free of salt before waxing.
Abrasive cleansers should never be used for general cleaning as they can severely mar
the shiny gelcoat finish. On areas difficult to wax, like nonskid, a coating such as
“Armor All” will restore its original luster.
Bottom Paint
Keeping your bottom clean is of paramount importance as it not only keeps off bottom
growth, but maintains passage-making speed. Even though you may have applied
anti-fouling paint, take a swim every two weeks to scrub the bottom with a sponge pad.
Deck Hardware/Running Rigging
Wash deck hardware frequently with fresh water to remove accumulated salt and
grime. Wash down the jib sheets, spinnaker sheets, and other lines in fresh water.
Check for chafe and turn sheets end-for-end once a year to more equally distribute
wear.
Check the blocks and also wash them with fresh water. Most ball-bearing blocks need
only hot water to cleanse them, then spray with a dry teflon lubricant. On conventional
sheave/pin blocks, wash off, disassemble, clean, rub a light waterproof lubricant on the
center pin, then reassemble.
Furthermore, check and lubricate the sheaves and blocks on the mast. Also, ensure the
turnbuckles are clean and well lubricated. Without proper care they can “freeze up” and
not turn.
In general, it is handy to keep a spray can of a light lubricant, such as TRIFLON, in your
tool kit for frequent squirts of blocks, shackles, mainsheet travelers, and other moving
fittings.
Winches
Read the manufacturer’s manuals on winch repair and maintenance. Winches are fine
pieces of machinery which take little effort to maintain. However, all too frequently, they
suffer neglect because no one can see how much they wear down or get dirty.