The old saw that the happiest day in a sailor’s life is the one on which they sell their boat is funny, of course, because of the fact that owning a boat can be both expensive and a lot of work. If you sail a boat hard, and especially if you’re in the habit of making ocean crossings, taking care of the rigging, sails, systems, engine and, of course, the hull and deck is not only crucial but ongoing. Let’s look at one of the most insidious maintenance issues: leaks.
Nothing eats away at a crew’s morale like a leaking boat, whether the water is coming in from overhead or below the waterline. Over time, there’s also nothing like leaks for eating away at a boat, too. As long as those leaks keeps leaking, you’ve got a damp boat, which will turn into a rotten boat if you don’t do something.
Traditional wooden boats are, of course, at a greater risk than more modern vessels made out of fiberglass. But that doesn’t mean the latter can’t still have problems. Cored GRP boats, in particular, are notorious for losing structural, can rot out as well. The good news is that kept in good condition, is as comfortably dry as any other boat out there. However, keeping her that way means either not sailing her very hard—something my husband, Seth, and I are unwilling to do, since sailing across oceans is why we bought her in the first place—or being sure to re-bed her various fittings if and when they start leaking.
