BENETEAU 50, Owner'S Manual

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BENETEAU 50
MAJ ANG 10/09/01
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XIV) MAINTENANCE
Because you have chosen to invest your money in a recreational item that spends its life in a harsh
environment, it is very important to ensure that your boat is well and regularly maintained. Furthermore,
a fair number of accidents are due to negligence and the lack of maintenance. These two reasons (the
protection of your property and safety) must make you become aware of the importance of a regular and
thorough maintenance of your boat.
The advice you will find hereafter and your PERSONAL NOTES will help you.
1) THE HULL
It is in laminated GRP. It is made with high quality products. However it would be wrong to assert that
it will keep its original condition for life if you do not give over to it a minimum care.
The gel coat is fragile and the knocks and scratches it might have when you manoeuvre might leave
marks on it. Have always a member of your crew ready to put a fender at the right place.
It will be useful to hose off the hull and deck with fresh water, as often as you can.
Hull Preparation
Beforehand, you may apply on the gel coat an epoxy paint ; it will protect the bottom (the careen) of
your boat against the natural attacks of the sea environment.
Moreover, the bottom shall be covered with a protective antifouling paint which will prevent the
adhesion of the sea vegetation.
When you apply the antifouling paint, be careful : do not paint the anodes, the heads of the electronic
instruments and do not obstruct the strainers of the water intakes, in particular the strainers of the engine-cooling
system.
In all events, remove the grease from the bottom and slightly hand rub down with at least # 400 grit
sand paper and water.
Maintenance
In order to keep the good looking gel coat of your boat, a preventive and regular maintenance of it is
necessary. For this, do not hesitate to ask your dealer who will give you advice about the methods to follow and
the most appropriate products to use.
2) THE DECK
Regularly rinse the deck and deck fittings with fresh water.
Regularly scrub the deck with a mild detergent liquid.
Deck Fitting :
Regularly lubricate the blocks, sheaves, turnbuckles, winches, windlass, rails, travellers, and so on with
grease or light oil.
Polish with an appropriate polish paste the stainless steels which may have small pits or superficial
oxidisation pits.