With the new season about to start, checking your boat and equipment thoroughly now can help to avoid problems later and make sure you don�t miss any key events.
Each year we do see some claims that good maintenance and a little extra care could have prevented. And whilst we do all we can to get you back on the water as quickly as possible, loss or damage resulting in a claim is almost certain to disrupt your sailing plans to some extent.
To help avoid some of the more common problems we see as the UK�s leading online boat insurer, we have produced a short list of tips which could be helpful:
- Check your hull and fittings are in good order and wash down to remove any dirt and grit accumulated over the winter. A wash with fresh water after sea use is also good practice as it helps prevent corrosion of rivets and fittings.
- Check spars and shrouds, particularly around the rivet points or terminals. Replace parts if in doubt as a failure under stress can be much more serious!
- Make sure your boat is securely tied down to the ground whist left at the sailing club or at any exposed location to avoid any risk of blowing over. And when leaving the boat even for just short periods on a trolley or trailer, drop all sails to avoid the risk of serious damage, as very nearly happened to a Merlin at our own club last season!
- Don�t leave buoyancy aids, tools, etc, in the boat, and mark items clearly to deter theft and make them easier to identify if found.
- Trailers should be fitted with a hitch lock and we now recommend fitting a wheel clamp if leaving it unattended for any length of time (or removing a wheel) unless within a locked compound. Craftinsure saw a spate of boat trailer thefts across the UK during 2010.
- Don�t forget that trailers need some maintenance too! Check tyres, wheel bearings and hitch mechanisms in particular. It�s not unknown for trailers and boats attached to disappear in a different direction to the car towing them, or to trundle back down a slip way as the towing vehicle pulls away! A quick upward tug to check the hitch has locked securely on to the tow bar before you go is always a good idea.
If you need further advice or would like a quotation for insurance, try our �new look� website at www.craftinsure.com or call us on 0845 2607 888.
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