RS SAILING RSCAT 14, Rigging Manual

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6. MAINTENANCE
6.1 Boat Care
The RS Cat 14 is made using Comptec PE3, a three-layer polyethylene construction.
This is stiff and light, but will dent if subjected to point loading. The boat should be
supported ashore on an approved RS trolley, as the hull may distort if not supported
properly. For long-term storage, it is better to support the boat on a rack, in slings,
or another type of support that spreads the weight and avoids point loads. The hull
can also be stored on the transom, but never store the boat for long periods on its
side. When dealing with a marine environment, equipment gets wet; this in itself is
not a problem. The problem starts when moisture is trapped for any length of time.
Therefore, it is very important to store the boat properly ashore.
Keep your dinghy drained and well ventilated.
Ensure that the boat is stored with the bow raised to allow water to drain away.
Wash with fresh water.
Fresh water evaporates far more quickly than salt water
so, if your dinghy has been sailed in salt water, rinse it thoroughly. The fittings will
also work better if regularly washed. Any stubborn marks on the hull can be removed
with a light detergent, such as washing up liquid. Always test cleaning products on a
small, inconspicuous part of the deck before applying to the whole boat.
Hull damage falls into three categories:
• SERIOUS – large hole, split, crack, or worse. Don’t be too distressed! Get the
remnants back to RS Sailing or send us a picture for assessment.
• MEDIUM – small hole or split. If this occurs during an event, sailing can often be
continued as long as leaking can be prevented by drying the area and applying
strong adhesive tape. CAUTION – if the damage is close to a heavily loaded point,
then the surrounding area should be closely examined to ensure that it will accept
the loads. Get the damage professionally repaired as soon as possible.
• SMALL – dents, scratching. This type of damage is not boat threatening.
Comptec PE3 cannot be repaired in the same way as fibre glass. Some scratching
can be removed by RS Sailing staff, but dents cannot. Therefore we suggest you
treat your boat with as much care as you would if it were fibre glass. More serious
repairs can be carried out by RS Sailing staff; however, the repair will never be
invisible, due to the nature of the material.
The joy of owning an RS Cat 14 is that it is very hard wearing, and any dents
and scratches it receives will not affect the structural integrity of the hull.
6 - Maintenance