Annual maintenance April 2024

 

Lazaway being relaunched after 2 weeks work in Bangor boat yard.    


In mid April we lifted Lazaway out for its annual maintenance - always a frenetic period of work! This blog is for the nerds!


The hull was given two coats of anti-foul - we use Hempel Tiger Xtra (true blue) - and the propellers and shafts three coats of International Trilux Prop-O-Drev. This is the first year we have painted the shafts and props - we are hoping that painting them will give them greater protection from corrosion.  We’ll see.

The before and after pictures show the improvement!

Before and after
Shaft and propeller 

New sacrificial anodes were fitted throughout - 2 on each shaft, 1 on each trim tab, 1 on the bow thruster, 1 on the stern thruster, and 2 at the base of the transom.


A lot of time was put into getting the fibreglass of the hull, and the topsides, looking as good as possible. It all turned out very clean, white, and shiny! Of course it helps if you start off with good fibreglass gelcoat before you start.

This is how to we get it all looking as good as it does.  It is a four stage process:

               1.    Cleaning
               2.    Shining 
               3.    Polishing 
               4.    Protecting 

1.    Cleaning:  every bit of the boat was vigorously washed with a sponge and a strong Fairy solution - necessary to remove a year’s worth of grime, and in some places several years’ worth.  Amazing how much dirt this takes off.  Where there is yellowing of the fibreglass the Fairy does not shift it.  It is then necessary to use Hull Cleaner - nasty stuff, gloves are necessary.  Applied with a sponge - no scouring.  Rain and atmospheric grime causes black streaks that the Fairy also does not shift, so the Black Streak Remover becomes necessary.  Great stuff - but more vigorous action needed!

2.    Shining: If the gel coat surface is scratched, scraped or dull, then it is necessary to make it gleam with a rubbing compound.  This is done largely with an electric sander with a soft sponge applicator head, and manually where you can’t use the sander.  Last year the whole hull was rubbed down using the Farecla G3 - it did a great job.  So much so that it was mostly not necessary this year.  Some areas however did need compounding, so this year these were treated with the Starbrite Rubbing Compound. Once the compound has been applied it has to be taken off manually. 


3.    Polishing:   When all is clean then a wax polish is applied manually and then polished off.  We have used Auto Glym super resin polish - it is much cheaper than a marine polish and still does a great job.  By this time the fibreglass is super shiny.

4.    Protecting:   Last year for the first time we protected the polished hull with a ceramic coating, and we are convinced that it made a big difference to the longevity of the clean polished surface.  So this year we have coated everywhere with the same ceramic coating - Gtechniq Ceramic Fast Coat. Great stuff. The only problem is that it is really hard to know where the coating has been applied and where it hasn’t - it’s invisible (it’s also expensive - the boss of Gtechniq must sit back and smile whilst watching their customers applying stuff that they can’t even see!).

The end result is lovely to look at.  It won’t last. The first trip will begin the process of dampening the shine.






During this maintenance period we also refurbished the bowsprit.  The winch for the anchor was removed, all new fixings (bolts and screws) fitted, new wood (Iroko) (thanks to John M for the superb woodwork), new gelcoat.  It looks pristine now. Happy days.


We are now ready for the new season. Let’s see what it brings.




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