Winter job list 2024-2025

Any updates in red.. priority jobs in bold..

Fit the chunkier cleat bought at Widley boat jumble (in 2014!) on the fore deck - low priority

Bilge pump(s??) - was going to be the Winter '22/'23 main project but I ran out of time.

The gel coat is original but is getting thin to non-existent in places - I will not paint her (that way lies madness) but I do need to stop further UV damage to places where it is thin - last winter ('22/'23) I roughly colour matched some off the shelf external paint and patched some of the worst spots as an experiment - it has worked a treat, so I will do the rest this winter...

Titivate the tender - just needs a few patches of paint redoing - she's lasted so well this summer after that major overhaul last winter, very pleased.

I was looking at the cabin wiring the other day and while it all works, and is mostly tucked away, neat it isn't - some ducting perhaps, and I need to label it better in the switch box..

Standing rigging check - this was last done in July 2013, but she's not had heavy usage in the interim; we had one year not in use (COVID), and one year where we only had half season (ditto), so it may not really need doing this year - I will give it a good check though, particularly the forestay as that always gets a hammering when you have a roller furler

For reference:

Replaced 2 cap shrouds, and 2 pairs of lower shrouds, in 4mm 1/19 stainless steel wire with new 5/16th rigging screws (Swage stud to Fork) and new swage eyes.
Replaced the split backstay in 4mm 1/19 stainless steel wire using a triangular plate with new bottle screw and new eyes and forks
Replaced the forestay in 6mm 1/19 stainless steel wire (the fitting on the lower part of the roller furling needs a swaged eye with a diameter of 12mm which is only available to fit 6mm wire. ) with new eye at the top of the forestay and new stud or bottle screw at the lower end.

Genoa needed a new sacrificial strip as the old one was 10+ years old and beginning to shred - got that back from Batt Sails who did a lovely job for about £12'ish a metre to remove old, and replace with new - done..

Boom/sail cover needed attention - I bought this in 2019, and compared with the previous one it is in far better condition than the other one was. The previous one lasted 6 years, this one is 6 years old this year, albeit we had a year of Covid where it didn't get a lot of UV - the material is OK'ish - just a little fragile on the fold lines, so I took the opportunity to reinforce the back of those with some sail repair tape - done..

Regular/annual items:

Install temporary winter cockpit locker lids and bring proper ones home to keep out of the winter weather; ditto tiller - locker lids done
Rub down and coat of paint (as needed) -

locker lids - have been rubbed down, grey epoxy primered on the weaker/compromised surfaces, and a first coat of paint applied to upper surfaces..
Wash boards - gave them two coats at the end of last season but they have been rubbed down, grey epoxy primered on the weaker/compromised surfaces, one coat white applied, they'll need another..
Tiller pilot support - done..
Tiller pilot clip rest - done..
Cockpit hatch cover - needs doing, and as I'll have the paint brush out I'll do the next item to..
Forward hatch cover
Tender - minor scratches on the bottom as a result of general wear and tear done..

Antifoul - done.. Cruising Performer again this year.. but only going to do one coat as an experiment..
~~Service outboard - done~~
~~Service Life Jackets - done~~
~~Pick up chain:~~

~~I 'end for ended' the chain (bought 2016), swapped it round so the old end is new beginning and vice versa '22/'23.~~
~~Replaced the pick up buoy itself with a spare I had in the garage '22/'23.~~
~~new shackle between pickup buoy and chain '22/'23.~~
~~new shackle between chain and swivel, '23/'24~~
~~swivel replaced '23/'24~~
~~shackle for swivel to mooring buoy replaced '24/'25~~

Ships Log - Yacht "Sparrow"