SEAWORTHY AND SHIPSHAPE

All - Wednesday, November 21, 1984 - North Shore

News

Set the sails for winter

ALTHOUGH most

sailing enthusiasts

of the

Pacific Northwest snugly moor their vessels in the
marina for the duration of winter, there are still a
number of beautiful sparkling days available for
those who have planned ahead.

Speaking to Brian
Morse, President of Sea
Wing Sailing, a_ well-
respected company which of-
fers a variety of sailing
courses, | was surprised to
learn just how much prepara-
tion is necessary for safe and

EXPENSIVE clectronic equipment like this VHF radio can deteriorate in the continual damp of our winters, so Brian Morse
snaps his out of tts brackets, and suggests all sailors do the same

Story and photo by
ELLSWORTH DICKSON

comfortable winter sailing.
Boat Preparations

If your sailboat has recir-
culated fresh water for cool-
ing the motor, antifreeze is

the most obvious first step.
Bnan also recommends ad-
ding a quart of alcohol to the
gasoline tank to prevent icing
in the curburetor. If your
motor 1s diesel, you can’t do
this, but instead keep an eye
on the water separator and
drain it regularly.

Drain your water tanks,
lines, and don’t forget the
pump as they are expensive to
repair or replace.

It is a good idea to keep a
hight bulb burning in a pro-

Extend your
boating season
with an

Espar heater.

Heater syste for torts

688-2325

INDUSTRIES a4.

a

ten “ t evaest ’

tective can or perhaps a small
heater to keep condensation
from building up. Turn your
seat cushions on end to pre-
vent dampness. Keep a tarp
covering boat while moored.
Although it may seem a
nuisance, Morse recommends
taking the electrical equip-
ment (VHF, depth sounder,
etc.) off the boat as well as
life jackets and flares. These
items are damaged by the
continual dampness when the
boat sits idly at the marina.

$210

BOAT
STORAGE

(DRYLAND)
$152 LAL
a $180 |: $276

Final out & Wirtlerize
Specials from °25 *17%
Guaranteed
Professional Service
On

t $312

Yewell’s Landing
Horseshoe Bay
921-7438

Check the propane tanks and
pipes tor rust. Leave the
fridge door open when
moored and not in use to pre-
fent mildew. Turn your fire
extinguishers upside down
and shake them as_ the
powder tends to settle. Keep
your battery charged up.
Keep your fuel tanks topped
up to prevent condensation itn
the tanks. Keep your boat
ventilated. Some boat owners
put their dinghy upsidedown
over the forward hatch which
is left open a crack. Make
sure the cockpit drains are
clear. Sometimes they clog up
with fallen leaves, cedar
needles, etc., and with our
heavy rains, you can imagine
what can happen

In the fall, coat the sockets
of the running fights with
sihcone grease as undoubted-
ly the lights will be wet most
of the winter. Keep the
lazarette clean as you don’t
want the ropes deteriorating.
Sailing Preparations

Always wear a floater coat,
Carry rain gear and rubber
boots,

and bring spare
clothes. Avoid fatigue. Use
our lifelines and = safety
harness. Keep a man over-
board lite ring handy and
dill your crew in emergency

procedures. Have a light at-
tached to the life ring. Make
sure your reefing gear works
and your crew knows how to
operate it. Bring hot soup or
stew with you as it 1s some-
times hard to cook. Avoid
alcoho! until safely back in
port. ;

It is important to keep
monitoring the weather
forecast. Make allowance for
the short daylight hours.
Leave instructions with
friends or relatives where you
are going and when you will
arrive. If something goes
wrong, they should phone the
Coast Guard at Search and
Rescue, Kitsilano with a
description of the vessel, how
many people on board, the
intended route and your
estimated time of = arrival.
Don’t forget Channel 16 15
the emergency channel.

If your sails get soaking
wet, don’t stuff them back tn
their bags and forget them
Bring them home and dry
them and while you are at it,
itis a good time to do any sal!
repairing.

Winter satling may have its
own special challenges, but 1
also has tts own. spevial
rewards.

MARINE WINTERIZING

SPECIALISTS

‘Marinco’ electrical cords
and plugs

¢ ‘Heatpot’ dehumidifiers

~ THE BOATHOUSE MARINE SUPPLIES
YO25776 Martine Or WVan
“(al Thunderbird Marina)

‘Dri-Z-alr’ containers
and refills

‘Force 10° heaters
‘Dickinson’ stoves
and heaters

‘Henri Lloyd’ foul weather
gear

‘Helly Hansen
and boots
‘Mariner’ rainwear
‘Mustang

‘Nokia boots

talnwear

921-7431

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