Winter can be hard on boats, even when they’re properly winterized, covered, and tucked in for the long dark nights. Come spring, we’re all antsy to get back on the water, but before you untie the lines, it’s important to make sure your boat is as ready as you are.
Spring commissioning—whether you do it yourself or hire your boatyard—should cover the usual tasks such as bottom painting, hull waxing, installing sails, etc. But there are other areas that often get overlooked in our excitement to get out sailing, things that may seem obvious but that boatowners often don’t think to check and that boatyards may not include on their standard spring commissioning list.
Why do I know this? Because I’m married to an ABYC-certified master technician who’s been running boatyards for his entire career. Most of his customers are sailors, and every season, he sees at least a few race away from the dock as soon as they hit the water, only to come limping back with an issue that could