Attn: People with the pretty boats. How do you do it?

sailboy21 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

Lots of cool pictures posted here over the last week or so, particularly the "on the hard" thread. It got me thinking... Geesh those are some shiny boats. Polished hulls, clean bright bootstipes, varnished rails & brightwork, new canvas, white sails etc etc... Not since I toured the "you must get your hull polished monthly, and you can't use your boat or do anything else with it" marina on Shelter Island, San Diego, have I seen such a collection of little gems. Am I missing something here? I spent about 2 weeks a year and a half ago repainting my deck. It looked nice for about 6 months.... The hull? Polished it 2 years ago, took about 2 days. looked good for about 2 months. Brightwork: did it all 2 years ago with the deg. Looks like crap now. Sails? cleaning? that means sailing the the rain right? done that. Seems like just keeping up the important stuff like wiring, engine, plumbing, rig etc consumes all of my time and money. I don't lead that busy of a life, but sure couldn't find any time to perty up the old girl this year. Not that I didn't want to. I would love to.
So how is it done?

badsanta · #2 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

You hire someone to so it. I can't so my boat looks like yours. So you wont find a photo of it till spring!!

waverider24 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

I am with you on the maintance issue. I work every spring for about 2 weeks on and off ( do to work schedual) and my boat looks great. However after a summer of sailing she is back to looking just OK!

I do have nice bright work on my boat but its only because I do it every year. This year I will make handrail covers with "sunbrella" material. as well as hatch covers and such. As for a white deck. I like "softscrub" with bleach. I find it does a great job.

As for the hull that is another job all together. I find that my 1981 model year boat does not take a wax and buff very well anymore. I may end up painting it, no sure though.

I guess if you can afford it, just have it done proffessionally. If not dont worry if your boat is the shinning star at the yacht club, make up for it in the amount of time you use it.

Cheers

Waverider24

Rockter · #4 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

Use the ship. Keep it looking reasonable. Weathering will dull any finish really, just concentrate on the priorities. If everything works, you are in good shape.

canadianseamonkey · #5 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

I think the majority of us have boats that don't look picture perfect. I usually take pictures of my boat after I do the work, so it looks super clean, but it only lasts a few weeks. Also, many people never leave the dock, so their boat doesn't get dirty.

My boat looks very white now....cause it's covered with a foot of snow

Vasco · #6 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

Most pictures are the "after" pictures. Mine was taken after two weeks of work. Clean and polishing topsides, bottompaint, clean and wax stainless. Actually the boat doesn't get too dirty in six months of Bahamian cruising. It gets a lot dirtier sitting in Miami for a week with all the jets flying overhead (of course we anchor right in the glide path to MIA ) or sitting in Toronto near the stacks of the sewage plant or sitting in Charleston near the bridges where about a ton of rubber comes off the tires of the cars flying past. But in the Bahamas it's nice and clean, a little bit of salt spray but a nice rain shower'll take care of that.

beneteau393 : Beneteau393 Group
beneteau393 : Beneteau393 Group

US27inKS · #7 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

I work on it in the winter and spring. I didn't really have that much to do this past spring, but this spring the wood will need a coat. I wax the hull once a year, last year I did it in the water. Mine stays nice looking mostly due to the new paint. Once that fades, I'll be like everyone else.

The sails are nice and white because I sent them to sailcare. The genoa is badly blown out though. Notice how full it is on the leading edge and how it drives the bow down a bit? It won't point worth a crap.

Bene505 · #8 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by US27inKS

I work on it in the winter and spring. I didn't really have that much to do this past spring, but this spring the wood will need a coat. I wax the hull once a year, last year I did it in the water. Mine stays nice looking mostly due to the new paint. Once that fades, I'll be like everyone else.

The sails are nice and white because I sent them to sailcare. The genoa is badly blown out though. Notice how full it is on the leading edge and how it drives the bow down a bit? It won't point worth a crap.

John,

What is Sailcare all about? Can you say more about them? My sails are looking a bit faded.

Regards

sailingdog · #9 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

Sailcare is a company that will clean your sails and do small repairs on the. They're pretty well respected, but don't expect miracles.

As for sailboy's original post... just have to put in the time to make the boat pretty.

jrd22 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-25-2008

I agree with Vasco, most of the shiny boats are the "after" pics. Mine was "after" six months in the shop and many boat bucks. I'll keep it looking good but I'd rather use it than spend all the good weather varnishing and polishing.

To the OP- since you are in Alaska and only have a two week sailing season, you are excused from normal bright work maintenance

John