Tag Archive for: yacht storage

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.

Yacht Decommissioning Checklist

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Working through a thorough decommissioning process when you leave your boat will reap its rewards when you return a few months later.  Here are some suggestions:-

Systems

  • Air conditioning units – fresh water flush
  • Batteries – top off water if appropriate and organise battery maintenance requirements
  • Bilge pump float switches – clean and check
  • Engine – fresh water flush, change oil and filter. Remove exhaust from elbow as appropriate.
  • Fuel tanks – top off and add bio-cide additive if appropriate
  • Generator – fresh water flush, change oil and filter.  Remove exhaust from elbow as appropriate.
  • Holding tanks – empty
  • Outboard – fresh water flush & run carburetor dry, clean, store.  Remove unused fuel.
  • Propane – turn off
  • Syphon breaks – service
  • Watermaker – pickle

Deck, Sails, Rigging, Canvas

  • Anchor Locker & chain – clean and check chain markers
  • Canvas – wash dry and stow if appropriate
  • Cockpit cushions – wash dry and stow
  • Cockpit Instruments – cover
  • Dinghy – wash dry cover stow
  • Fenders, MOB equipment, barbeque/grill – wash dry and stow
  • Running rigging (and dock lines if appropriate) – remove, wash dry and stow
  • Sails – wash dry and stow

Housekeeping

  • Bilges – clean
  • Bug & ant poison – set traps
  • Bunk cushions – clean if required and leave propped up to enable air circulation
  • Fridge/freezer – empty and clean, wedge doors open
  • Interior – clean thoroughly heads, galley, cabins
  • Key – leave with boatyard/marina/Island Dreams
  • Linens – remove final items for laundering
  • Locker/cabin doors and drawers – wedge open
  • Perishable food, soda/fizzy drink cans & garbage – remove from boat
  • Ports and hatches – cover to avoid sun damage to interior
  • Water tanks – either top off and add water conditioner, or empty as appropriate
  • Woodwork – clean with vinegar solution

In-Water Storage

  • Chafe gear – add as appropriate
  • Prop, shaft, rudder, bow thrusters – schedule cleaning as appropriate
  • Zincs – check

What’s new in Grenada

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As a Grenada-based yacht management company we often see clients leave to explore elsewhere.  We also often see them come back to re-discover Grenada and the Grenadines.  So, what’s new if you have been away for a couple of years?

Two great options for Grenada grown produce

Valu Garden at Excel Plaza still has the best value local fruit and vegetables, as well as refrigerated, frozen and store cupboard items … and it has now doubled in size.  Open on a Sunday morning, with very friendly and helpful staff, it is the only shop I leave wondering how I spent so little on so much, rather than the other way round.

Farmers Market every Wednesday morning, past Spiceland Mall in the Youth Centre car park.  Usually advertised on Grenada Cruisers, Coming Events and Advertising Facebook page

Dinghy Concerts

The first dinghy concert was organised by Dieter of Le Phare Bleu in January 2011.  They are now a regular occurrence featuring local and overseas musical talent – see dinghyconcert.com.  The next dinghy concert is on 15th March – it is number 25.

Island Dreams Office

Our CN Port Louis Marina office has moved.  We are now by the dinghy dock, adjacent to the Marina Office.  No longer lime green, we are mango yellow!

SailClear

Grenada now has SailClear, so you can complete Customs and Immigration arrival formalities with minimal form-filling.  Register your boat and crew beforehand on sailclear.com.  Enter your intended arrival date, time and port of entry and the Customs and Immigration Officers will print out the completed clearance form ready for you to sign.  As more Caribbean countries implement SailClear, the process of moving from one territory to another will become easier, so time spent registering your boat in the system will reap benefits in the future.  And it’s free.

110 volt 60Hz electricity

American boats needing 60Hz electricity to comfortably run their electrical systems on shore power can now do so – head for Camper & Nicholson’s Port Louis Marina.  Make sure you inform the marina of your electrical requirements when you book

Clarkes Court Boatyard and Marina

Clarkes Court Bay Marina is under new ownership and management and is becoming a boatyard.  Construction is under way and we expect Grenada to be able to haul larger boats once the yard is operational.  See their page on Facebook for plenty of photos.

Hashing every week

Hashing has become so popular it is a weekly activity.  A great way to meet Grenadians, students, cruisers, expats…. and lots of them.  See grenadahash.com or the Grenada Hash House Harriers Facebook page.

photo credit: Judith Jarvis