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| Home >> Top Tips >> TopTip2020 #44 - Moisture Management - by Jim Hood, GBR |
TopTip2020 #44 - Moisture Management - by Jim Hood, GBR
Jim Hood, known as Junior, is the Technical Manager at RS Sailing involved with build, development and aftersales. Junior is a keen supporter of our RS Aero events and his wealth of experience is invaluable in advising how best to look after your RS Aero;
As sailors we love the water but sometimes in the wrong place for too long can cause us Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious. Follow these tips and you can save yourself a load of grief.
- If capsized and mast tip went in the mud. Upon return to the boat park split top and bottom sections and give the join a very comprehensive rinse. Fine mud and sand will eventually bind the two sections together and make it very difficult separate them. In addition flush the mast pot and make sure the drain hole is clear. Silt and stones quickly block it. The subsequent pool of water will soon start to smell of what silt really is. A 3mm drill bit gently pushed in from the hull by hand will clear the drain hole.
- Don't store foils in their padded bags when the boat is stored outside - the bags can act as a sponge and hold moisture. This can cause osmosis both on the foil and the deck the bag is resting on. Also on this note be aware that laminated charts taped onto the fore deck can also cause the same issue, if water is trapped underneath. Let them breath somehow.
- Don't leave the boat stored outside in its undercover. It traps moisture and again causes osmosis.
- Don't leave printed paper (SI's, registration documents, take away menus) on the foredeck when the boat is stored outside. When wet the ink will leach out of the paper and into the gelcoat. It's very very difficult to get the ink back out and as the print will be reversed, deciding on a #33 Kung Po Chicken or Singapore Noodles going up wind will be tricky.
- Store the boat bow up in the boat park. This allows rain water to drain out. Bow down will create a mosquito farm. The resulting tide mark on the cockpit sides can be quite hard to shift. A Marine or Automotive cleaning Compound usually does the trick. Cif can be used but be aware its aggressive and may leave a dull spot.
- Over time I have seen mould grow in the stitched panel joins on the mainsails. I assume it's because the sails have been put away wet and then stored in a humid environment, like under a cover with the bow down. Where possible dry the sails as much as you can before rolling them up - but don't flog them. Injecting Detol into the seams will not prevent or cure the issue.
- Rust can form on stainless parts if water is allowed to pool on them. Stainless Steel needs access to oxygen to form its protective coating. Absence of O2 and the presence of some salts will promote rust formation. Washing salt off with fresh water is important but try to create a storage environment that allows drainage and air circulation.
Junior '
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11/05/2020 17:54:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4676
