Wintering
29.
5
Grand Soleil 43'
Sails
Take them all away, including the furling main sail.
• Wash them with fresh water (the dinghy can be used as water
basin) and then hoist them upside-down on the mast to let them dry
gently in a day of little wind.
• When completely dry, fold them and store in a dry place.
Seacocks and hose clamps
They all should be left closed and, if the boat stays in the water, they
should be carefully checked one by one for leaks or cracks and than
sprayed with W.D. 40 or silicone grease. If the boat is hauled out of
the water try to plug the external holes too as they can easily become
a wasps’ (or other insects) nest.
Waterworks
It is the system that’s most affected by the cold temperatures. The water
should be completely drained not only from the tanks but also from:
• the pipes;
• the water pump;
• the water heater.
If the water is not drained out it can freeze and crack the pipes or get
rotten. It is advisable to clean thoroughly the tanks with diluted
chlorine through the inspection cap.
W.C.
Before the winter stop it should be flushed abundantly with fresh
water and neutral detergent. To do that properly, do as follows:
• Close the intake seacock, release the hose clamp and put the
aspiration pipe in a bucket full of water and soap;
• flush it all out;
• rinse it all out;
• fill the bucket with a mixture of water and 1/2 litre of Vaseline oil
and flush it;
• When nearly empty close outlet seacock allowing the oil to stay
into the pump.
