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I've found a few maintenance checklists online and these make sense, though they seem built around seasonal sailing. They don't assume someone is living aboard or cruising.
Do liveaboards and cruisers have maintenance checklists? Is this a DIY list built over experience as you learn your boat? I was thinking I would find checklists built from maintenance routines that reflect hours and use.
Engines can be done by the hour of use but what about daily, weekly, monthly and yearly items?
I keep a maintainence log and change oil, and all filters based on engine hours for main, generators and outboard. Both the Honda 2000 and the outboard are due an oil change and I will get to them within the next week.
Most other things like A/C filters get done yearly and all my pumps are sealed and non-servicable.
Rigging and running rigging fixtures are checked every 2-3 monthly and everytime we go to sea.
As a full time cruiser I spend about a day a week 'fixing' things.
I aso spend a minimum of $10,000/year fixing and upgrading the boat!
I keep a maintainence log and change oil, and all filters based on engine hours for main, generators and outboard. Both the Honda 2000 and the outboard are due an oil change and I will get to them within the next week.
Most other things like A/C filters get done yearly and all my pumps are sealed and non-servicable.
Rigging and running rigging fixtures are checked every 2-3 monthly and everytime we go to sea.
As a full time cruiser I spend about a day a week 'fixing' things.
I aso spend a minimum of $10,000/year fixing and upgrading the boat!
For us, as full time liveaboard cruisers, it all depends on use. Only the generator is on a strict 150 hour oil/filter change schedule.
The water temp is higher in summer and we sail less, promoting more growth in the salt water lines (refer, a/c, heads, watermaker, ME and gene) so the sea strainers/filters require more frequent attention. The rig requires more attention in winter because we sail in heavier winds, more frequently.
I think if you are always aboard, you develop a feeling for how things are operating and if something requires maintenance, you become aware of it pretty quickly. For instance, if the a/c seems not to be cooling as well, or the fridge not as quickly, you'll check and clean the sea strainers.
A maintenance "schedule" for a liveaboard could lead to problems, so it's better to tune in to your equipment and do the maintenance as each unit requires it.
A maintenance "schedule" for a liveaboard could lead to problems, so it's better to tune in to your equipment and do the maintenance as each unit requires it.
Well, I'll be a liveaboard when I buy until I leave, then liveaboard when I'm 'done'. Sounds like an actual checklist by the hour/day/week/month/year assumes more than the real world can deliver.
"Is this a DIY list built over experience as you learn your boat?" Yes, definitely.
Couple of points :
It's easy to forget the batteries. You need to check the electrolyte regularly. Depends on use, climate, and charging but once a month wouldn't be a bad start until you get used to the consumption.
(My electrolyte use dropped dramatically when I bought the temperature sensor for the Xantrex charger.)
It's also easy to overlook the zinc in the heat exchanger.
Most of my experience has affected the engine servicing. The Universal service manual is a pretty good starting point, then I adjusted things a bit.
Do you have an actual list that schedules maintenance? I'm guessing most don't, which is fair. Homes are not boats but when I owned my home the checklist was seasonally. Make sure the caulking around the windows is good in the fall. Get the hose out in the spring, stow in the fall.
I can see one for the engine but it sounds like there's too many variables that effect the life and quality of components to be governed by a timed checklist.
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