Top Tips for Yacht Care and Maintenance - From Hull to Floor

What you need to do to protect your investment and maintain resale value.

Are you conducting a regular maintenance and service schedule for your yacht? If not, then you should start taking care of your vessel not just for peace of mind while operating but for the safety of those on board while traveling. 

Just like any asset, your yacht needs inboard and outboard care and maintenance to preserve its value. The larger the yacht, the more complex maintenance can get. But with a little bit of knowledge and practice, yacht maintenance will soon come easy. 

The key is to know what to look for and how to maintain the most crucial aspects of your yacht. So here are some tips you can follow to maintain your yacht.  

Inspect and clean your boat regularly

It’s good to assume that your yacht is fine every time you take it out to the water. However, if you want to keep your vessel in excellent shape, it’s advisable to check it every two weeks. See the wirings, motor, pumps, and controls. Fluids can be checked at least once every season. 

Wash and clean all visible dirt on the exterior of your yacht. Eradicate bird droppings and stains on your deck. If you’ve used DEKit’s marine decking, you won’t have issues cleaning and washing it as it’s very easy to clean. Vacuum loose and bulky dirt or pour fresh water over the deck area.  

Polish metals and scrub other woodworks using a soft bristle brush. Don’t forget to dust, and clean countertops, toilets, sinks, and other areas in your yacht.

Clean the bottom of your yacht 

Make sure you clean barnacles and the hull. You may need a diver to help you get rid of algae and other marine life sticking at the bottom. Spot for holes, cracks, and scratches given the time and expertise of your diver. During hotter climates, it’s good to clean the bottom of your yacht more frequently. In the cooler season, you could go a bit longer than a month.  

If you don’t maintain the bottom of your yacht on a regular basis, many problems can occur such as cracking or peeling of paint. Corrosion will also become imminent to the cosmetic appeal and structure of your boat. 

It is only a matter of time before these issues can get out of hand involving much higher costs.. When ignored for too long, structural issues can soon affect the performance of our yacht. 

Check your system 

Your yacht has a huge number of systems that needs to be functional and optimally operational at all times for effective boat performance and overall safety. 

Better yet check your air conditioning unit, the pumps, exhaust, and air intake batteries. Also check the coolant levels, engine oil level and filter, coolant and antifreeze, fuel system, and the lubrication of critical parts, which are vital for your yacht’s health and the safety of passengers aboard. Also, don't forget to inspect the raw water strainer, pump and impeller.

Overall, a comprehensive system check is a key ingredient to keeping your yacht cruising for a long time and holding up its resale value. Before it’s too late and silent problems become larger issues, give your boat the proper maintenance checks it needs to stay safe and functional.

Wax and repaint as needed 

Every two years is considered by many to be sufficient time for repainting a yacht. But before that, you can check for peeling and cracking of the exterior paints. It is a good practice to haul out your yacht once a year and check the exterior condition, especially the bottom of the vessel. If you see that the paints are fading, cracking, or peeling, you can take the opportunity to have it professional repair and paint work completed.

A new paint job can improve the aesthetics of your boat and make it look brand new. But most importantly, paints contain protective chemicals that prevent your boat from prematurely rotting or corroding. 

Regular maintenance keeps your yacht from deteriorating 

Moreover, you could wax other exterior parts that are often exposed to the sun. This can include the topside of the boat, rub rail, and the hull. We suggest waxing your boat every three to six months. For further protection, applying nano ceramic gel coats, sealants and polishes will also contribute to incredible exterior shine and protection.

Wipe and clean the deck floor

The deck is the very first part of the boat that welcomes you and your guests. It’s only a must to ensure your deck is excellently cleaned. Fortunately, DEKit is a leading material for custom boat flooring, which you can leverage for an impressive yacht interior, improved comfort and less fatigue from standing. Compared with other wooden floor materials, DEKit flooring is very easy to clean and maintain.

Just use deck flooring-approved cleaners or a soft bristle brush to clean off dirt and you are good. When your deck is well-maintained, you can enjoy a cleaner and fresher sea escapade with friends and family.

Maintaining your yacht is key to a long-lasting asset. If you want to learn more about how to maintain your yacht and other specific parts like the deck flooring, feel free to learn more here.