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Navy Patuxent Sailing Club
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Maintenance Information 

Overview

In cooperation with MWR, NPSC performs a majority of the maintenance work on the boats used by the NPSC Sailing club. A successful all-volunteer maintenance team helps keep our expenses low and therefor our rental fees low.
Sailing is not like renting a car. If a car breaks down, you can simply pull to the side of the road and call AAA. If sailing, as skipper you are responsible for the well-being of the crew and the boat, and help could be hours away depending on location and weather. Knowing your boat well and being able to perform basic maintenance tasks helps to safely secure the boat and get her home safely.
All NPSC club members are welcomed and encouraged to participate in maintenance activities and learn the in/outs of boat maintenance that is quite a bit different than auto maintenance. Many find the work in maintaining a sailing craft and seeing the fruits of their labor part of the FUN of sailing.  Bottom line, helping out with maintenance not only gives you a better boat, it makes you a better skipper.  
If you are interested in participating in maintenance activities, sign up for the Maintenance forum, talk to any of the Boat Captains or other maintenance team members, or contact the Maintenance Commodore.   
To sign-up for the forum:
  1. Select "Interests" Menu on the left
  2. Select "Maintenance" link at the bottom of the page
  3. If the button says "Remove Me", You are already a member of the Maintenance forum. If it says "Sign Me Up" then click the button to be added to the Maintenance forum. You will be added within the next couple hours.
  4. Verify your forum preferences so that you recieve proper notification of forum posts by selecting "Profile" link in the upper right by your name.
  5. Select "Forum General Preferences" in the Forums group box, and verify your preferences. You can choose to receive an e-mail whenever something is posted (recommended) or you can go to the forum and check for messages periodically.

Maintenance Boat Captains

NPSC uses a Maintenance Boat Captain system where one club member takes single POC responsibility for a specific boat, or type of boat.  This system helps coordinate maintenance activities for each boat.  Responsibilities include checking on the designated boat(s) regularly, and keeping the Maintenance Commodore and skippers aware of maintenance issues with the boat, and ensuring that schedule preventive maintenance occurs as needed.  (BC's are NOT expected to do all the maintenance on their boat themselves, just facilitate, expedite, coordinate, communicate.)   If you are interested in volunteering as a Boat Captain please contact the Commodore.  
Current Boat Captains (as of 8 July, 2020)

Yawls (AT/BG/SW/SP):

Bob Agnor w help from Bud Jacobs and Pete Dodd

Skyline:

C250 (Liberty/Freedom):



C165 (Nimitz/Constellation/Enterprise):

Schedule  (THIS SECTION CURRENTLY UNDER REVISION)

The maintenance cycle revolves around the annual cycle of the seasons and events that NPSC regularly participate in.

Early March:

Small & Intermediate boats are prepped for going back into the water and include the following checks and maintenance actions:
  • Standing & running rigging are inspected and replaced as required.
  • Sails are inspected and repaired as required.
  • Boat hulls are inspected & cleaned.
  • Bottoms are pressure washed, sanded and repainted if required (Every 3 years)???
  • Trailers are inspected and repaired as required.
  • Catalina 250: Outboard engines are cleaned, Filters replaced and oil changed and tested out of the water.

Late March - April:

Small & Intermediate boats are splashed with the following actions:
  • Boats are towed to the parking area near the boat ramp
  • Mast are raised and standing rigging is adjusted
  • Hunter 216 & Catalina 250: Furling headsails are rigged and adjusted
  • Running rigging is checked and verified operational, Drain plugs secured
  • Boats are splashed and tied along the pier
  • Sails are bent on and the boats proceed with a check sail and then sail to their slip
  • Slip tie-up configuration is tested and verified

May - June

Large boats hauled in succession to prepare for the summer activities of Harbourfest, Gov Cup & the Screwpile Regatta
  • Bottoms are pressure washed and inspected
  • Bottoms are painted as required (Every 3 years)???
  • Sensors & Thru-hulls are inspected and replaced as required
  • Dings & Dents on the hulls are repaired and painted

Late September - October:

Small & Intermediate boats are hauled out of the water and winterized with the following maintenance actions
  • Trailers are inspected and repaired as required
  • Boats are hauled from the boat ramp and parked in the parking area
  • Masts are lowered and secured to the boat
  • Drain plugs are released
  • Catalina 250 outboard engines are winterized
  • Boats are moved onto the grass behind the club house or other designated locations

Periodic maintenance

The following periodic maintenance actions other than listed above have been identified for each type of boat:

Catalina 16.5, Hunter 216:

  • None

Catalina 250:

  • None

SPAR Yawls:

  • Every 50 hours or monthly, whichever comes first
  • Drain the fuel/water separator
  • Check the electrolyte level in the batteries
  • Every 250 hours or yearly, whichever comes first
  • Engine lube oil & filter changed changed
  • Marine Gear lube oil fluid changed
  • Check or replace the seawater pump impeller
  • Replace engine coolant if regular coolant is used
  • Zincs inspected and replaced as required every haul event
  • Clean intake silencer (air cleaner) element
  • Clean or replace the exhaust/water mixing elbow
  • Check the diaphragm assembly
  • Adjust the tension of the alternator V-belt or replace if required
  • Check the wiring connectors
  • Tighten all major nuts & bolts
  • Every 500 hours or 2 years, whichever comes first
  • Replace engine coolant if Long Life coolant is used
  • Replace the exhaust/water mixing elbow if not previously replaced
  • Replace rubberized hoses (fuel & water) every 2 years or 2000 hours, whichever comes first
  • Every 1000 hours or 4 years, whichever comes first
  • Check the fuel injection timing
  • Check the fuel injection spray pattern
  • Replace the alternator V-belt if not previously replaced
  • Replace the seawater pump impeller if not previously replaced
  • Clean and check the seawater passages

Arctic Tern:

Jim Shelton

Arctic Tern:

Jim Shelton

Arctic Tern:

Jim Shelton