Grand Soleil 50’
- -
80
Interior
The first thing to do is to clean with the vacuum cleaner, then with a detergent, to remove also the
salt crystals (they are the worst enemies, as they create dump and then mould and oxide).
It is also advisable to take away all foodstuffs, including cans.
There are very efficient hygroscopic salts dehumidifiers, cheaply available in all hardware stores, to
be placed in each room, including the peaks and the engine room.
It is advisable to take away the mattresses too, as the foam rubber absorbs humidity. Linen, curtains,
clothes and other fabrics should be taken away and washed.
Leave all doors, cabinets and cabins open; leave the fridge open too, after washing it with water and
vinegar.
We recommend you to allow a good airing in all rooms; for this reason it is fundamental to ventilate
the inside of the boat, thinking of any method to let the air in but not the water. In this connection,
see paragraph Ventilation at page 78.
Engine
The more the marine engine works the less it deteriorates; it should run periodically, at least once a
week. In this case, no special wintering maintenance is needed but checking carefully the cooling
liquid density adding, if necessary, some antifreeze.
Then, just take care of the oil and filters maintenance and changing, etc. Anyway, the above-
described maintenance is enough assuming that the engine is in perfect working order and does not
need periodical revisions.
In this connection, carefully observe the expiry dates in the use and maintenance booklet.
If, on the contrary, a real wintering maintenance is needed, do as follows:
•
First of all, change the oil (always when the engine is hot), its filter and the fuel one.
•
Then, after cleaning the sea water filter, run the engine in fresh water at least for an hour,
until the heat produced melts the salt residues. In order to carry out this operation properly,
use a bucket into which you will put the fresh water hose and the engine intake.
•
Add some antifreeze into the bucket and stop the engine before this liquid is completely
ejected.
•
Once finished washing the cooling system, remove the water pump impeller, grease with
Vaseline and then mount it again.
•
Loosen the alternator belt and any other belt connected to the engine (frigoboat, water-
maker, etc).
•
You can also remove the injectors and take them every year to a skilled technician to have
them adjusted.
•
Finally, check the density of the fresh water used for the engine cooling and add the special
antifreeze, if necessary.