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:
- Select "Interests" Menu on the left
- Select "Maintenance" link at the bottom of the page
- 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.
- Verify your forum preferences so that you recieve proper notification of forum posts by selecting "Profile" link in the upper right by your name.
- 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):
Danica Mottola
C165 (Nimitz/Constellation/Enterprise):
The maintenance cycle revolves around the annual cycle of the seasons and events that NPSC regularly participate in.
- 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: