The Boatyard Book

The Boatyard Book is a practical, comprehensive reference manual that provides sensible, accessible advice for boatowners on planning and carrying out annual maintenance, repairs, upgrades and refits of sailing yachts and motorboats, up to 20 metres in length.

Beginning with all the information owners will need to care for their boat, including how to budget and plan tasks to be done through the year, The Boatyard Book goes on to help them choose the best boatyard for their needs, then provides essential how-to reference material and ideas for a comprehensive range of projects large and small to be carried out ashore.

There's advice and tips from highly respected boatyard owners, specialists and surveyors, as well as from the author's own 25 years' experience of boat ownership, all fully illustrated with step-by-step photos and illustrations. Topics covered include:

• laying up
• hull and deck care
• mast and rigging
• sail care
• engines
• electrics
• maintenance of plumbing and gas systems
• more complex projects, including re-wiring a boat, overhauling an engine, how to treat osmosis and how to go about a complete refit.

This is a book to be kept at the yard, or on the boat, and used time and time again by those who are either happy to keep things ticking along with the minimum of effort or by those who want to get stuck into bigger projects.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
   Who is this book for?
   Part One
2. Boat care
   Boat ownership
   Boat care fundamentals
   Your boat's history
   Keeping records
   Doing regular checks
   Research and advice
   Calling in the professionals
   Owners' associations
   What does maintenance work involve?
   Repairing and refurbishing
   Refit
   The rewards of boat ownership
3. Planning, costs and budgeting
   Choosing a boatyard
   Boat survey
   Maintenance log
   Costs and budgeting
4. Laying up
   Lift out
   After lift out
5. Tools and spares
   Tools
   Spares
   Sealants, adhesives and adhesive sealants
6. Health and safety
   Protective clothing
   Dust creation
   Antifouling
   Shot/sandblasting
   Engine work and servicing
   Part Two
7. Hull
   Composite hulls
   Osmosis
   Steel and aluminium hulls
   Wooden hulls
   Antifouling
   Keel maintenance and repair
   Rudders and steering systems
8. Deck and superstructure
   Inspection
   Teak decks
   Winches
   Leaking decks
9. Mast and rigging
   Rig care
   Owner rig check
   Wooden masts and booms
   Running rigging
10. Sails
    Materials and construction
    Ultraviolet exposure
    Inspection
    Cleaning
    Storage
    Repairs
11. Engine and propulsion
    Know your engine
    How diesel engines work
    Electric motors and hybrid systems
    Outboard motors
    Diesel engine winterisation
    Other engine maintenance ashore
    Stern gear
    Overhauling an engine
12. Electrics
    Basic electrics
    Electrics inspection checklist
    Batteries
    Avoiding and identifying electrical problems
    Common electrical problems
    Rewiring a small yacht
13. Interior
    Cleaning
    Interior inspection and checks
    Plumbing
    Gas system
    Varnishing
    Interior painting
14. Fitting out and launching
    Essentials
    Other jobs
    Launch day
    Glossary
    Further reading
    Photo credits and Acknowledgements
    Index
    Specifications and Inventory