Dinghy Storage

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Whilst your boat is stored for the season in the boatyard, your dinghy needs a home ideally away from dust, damaging UV damp and potential wind damage in the event of a storm.  Most Caribbean cruisers have ribs which are too bulky to store down below, and a storage plan is needed.

Cleaned and upside down on the foredeck or trampoline is an option, covered by a tarpaulin.

For a catamaran, under the boat is an option – again covered with a tarpaulin for dust protection.

If hanging in davits, it should be strapped so it doesn’t swing and covered to protect from UV.  An overall cover should have some means of enabling the water to drain into the unplugged dinghy or over the side.   If you don’t have dinghy chaps, maybe this is the time to have them made – we recommend Turbulence and Tropical Sails & Canvas.  It would be worth checking that your insurance policy will cover a dinghy stored in this manner, as it may be considered additional unnecessary windage by the yard or the insurer.

The gold standard option is storage inside for both outboard and dinghy.  At Clarkes Court Boatyard, contact Sea Safety Service who offer this service.

Finally, you will not be doing your outboard any favours by using the remains of this season’s fuel to begin next season.  Sell it, give it or use it before you leave and start with fresh fuel next season.

Contact us at info@islandreamsgrenada.com for more information on our guardianage and maintenance services.

Island Dreams Guardianage Check Reports

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For Island Dreams’ guardianage clients with boats in the marina or the boatyard, a Guardianage Check Report is emailed following each check.  Typically, our checks can include:

  • Chafe on canvas covers
  • Ensure cockpit drains clear
  • Water ingress into deck or cockpit lockers
  • Battery voltages (and percentage charge)
  • Hatch or port leaks
  • Water in bilge
  • Evidence of insects
  • Mildew
  • Shore power connection in place

However, the details of the boat checks are fully customisable and discussed with the owner or captain at contract setup.  At each check, we take a photo of the boat overall, and any points of note such as water in the bilge or areas showing mildew growth. You can also let us know at any time if there are specific items you would like photos of.

Primary concerns for stored boats are battery maintenance and interior condition. Battery maintenance will depend on the charging systems on board and the type of batteries you have. We spend time before you leave understanding how this will best be managed and you are kept up to date with the voltage readings from each check. We agree in advance measures to be taken if battery voltage drops below satisfactory levels. We have battery chargers we can connect if you have batteries which are not charged via the systems in use on board – as can be the case with windlass or bow thruster batteries.

In terms of controlling mildew, electric dehumidifiers or DampRid or similar products can be used if the boat is being stored for some months. We recommend enabling air flow within the boat by leaving doors and lockers open, and vacuum bags are excellent for storing clothes, linens and pillows. We are happy to advise on how your boat should be decommissioned and left for storage – especially important if you will be away for some time.

Canvas covers can be left up to protect teak and GRP, and will be taken down by us if required. If you have a full deck cover, this will provide additional protection, or we can fit tarpaulins.

For boats stored in the water at a marina, chafe on mooring lines and placement of fenders is checked, and chafe gear fitted or renewed if required. We can run systems if required such as engine, generator and air conditioning, and check on items such as fridge temperature and watermaker auto-flush operation.

Contact us at info@islandreamsgrenada.com for a sample check report and more information on our guardianage services and rates.

Planning your launch – 5 items you really should check

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When the time comes for sailing, you want to go sailing, not be delayed by ‘just one more’ job. But here are 5 things we would recommend you plan for before you launch – whatever else you do – either for safety reasons or because they cause unnecessary frustration if they trip you up.

  1. Check your cooking gas – it was the last thing on your mind when you left the boat (which may have been in a bit of a rush given we are in 2020), so make sure you set off with full bottles now.
  2. Ditch your old outboard fuel. Gas does not keep well even for a couple of months and your outboard will object. Start with fresh fuel.
  3. Service your seacocks. The time to realise you have a stuck seacock handle or corroded fittings is in the boatyard, not in the water. Even if you have to delay to resolve an issue, your be frustration will be tempered by knowing you launch in good condition.
  4. On a similar note, check over your windlass. Ideally a full service.
  5. Check the dates on your safety equipment and first aid kit. If they have expired, you have time to get them serviced or replaced, and if you have some time to go, you will have them in mind ready for next time.

Of course Island Dreams is happy to assist with any of these and we have a few more suggestions on our decommissioning checklist as our aim is to help you make the most of your time sailing.

Grenada, Island Dreams & Covid-19 – 13th April 2020

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Grenada now has 14 cases of Covid-19.  The earlier cases have recovered and there have been no deaths.  The last 2 cases were announced on Thursday, following a large exercise to test known contacts of existing cases.  Grenada can now test on-island rather than relying on sending samples to Trinidad, which is a great step forward.  For reliable information, see the GIS Grenada website and Facebook page.  There is a useful graphic with the details of the sources and spread here.

Borders are currently closed by sea and air, except to cargo.  The current Limited State of Emergency and associated curfew regulations have another week to run, and the next steps are under review.  If you have a Boatyard or Marina booking it is important that you register on grenadalima.com as soon as possible.  This portal has been established by the Marine and Yachting Association of Grenada, to assist in discussions with Government and planning for the next few weeks. 

In terms of Island Dreams, boat checks continue with check reports emailed as usual, but no other work is permitted at this time. 

Our staff are all well and healthy.  Chris is keeping up his strength cooking himself some fine lunches. Serrant and Randolph came back from their STCW course in Trinidad on 17th March and were immediately quarantined as a Covid-19 precaution.  After that, we moved straight into 24 hour curfew so they have now been together for much longer than expected.  Fortunately they have been friends since school days, so are coping well!

We are obviously keen to get back to work, but 100% supportive of Grenada’s measures to keep Covid-19 spread to a minimal level which are working so far.  Hope all are safe and healthy – feel free to contact us at any time – info@islandreamsgrenada.com.