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 Springtime launch projects		  New Topic  Reply to Topic
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5459 Posts
Initially Posted - 04/22/2026 :  07:06:34  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
This year, we had a very cold and hard winter in the northeast, while others areas of the U.S. experienced warmer-than-average temperatures. We got salt-water ice jams in several marinas that didn’t remove their docks and slips, some even in spite of “ice-eater” gizmos!

This year I opted to haul Passage and I’m glad I did. A friend’s sailboat became iced in over the winter. Luckily, very little other than cosmetic damage occurred to his boat.

But now it’s April, and we’ve had a very warm and sunny week and a half, so the prep work has been quite pleasant.

With a very short list of projects this year, I launched last Friday to 70° temps. Here’s my list:
1. Engine preps - replace 2 spark plugs, replaced bottom unit oil, top off motor oil that I changed last fall, spray carburetor cleaner, fuel filter replacement. Grease the engine mount mechanism and check the starter and alternator charging circuits.

2. Brightwork - remove exterior teak pieces and crib boards, sand, re-treat with Sikkens Cetol, 4 coats. Rebed the brightwork with white Boatlife polysulfide sealant.

3. Bottom paint - a refresher really. I generally chip off the brittle stuff and roller over the bare spots and the chips. Add a thin coat elsewhere, but I never overcoat the old paint because it just doesn’t need it, and builds up quickly over the years.

4. Clean inside and out with detergent and bleach for stains. Clean out the anchor locker mud, sand, and gravel and remove rust from the anchor.

5. Pick up sails from the cleaning and repair service. Here we have a Neilspryde service center as well as Northsails. I like the folks at Neilspryde.

6. Last step: raise the mast - I use an A-frame gin pole along with my mainsheet and a few hunky helpers on the dock. It’s always an adventure, but rarely do we ever have serious issues. Add the boom and re-rig all the lines.

I am not aware of any other repairs that are needed right now, but time will tell.
Happy Spring y’all!
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
Edited by - Voyager on 04/22/2026 07:11:53

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5459 Posts
Response Posted - 04/25/2026 :  08:17:30  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I found that my head sink through-hull valve was stuck.
Whoa, with the boat in the slip, I was understandably concerned (didn’t want to sink in 50° water).
I have three spray cans of lubricant aboard: (1) WD-40, (2) T-9 (which is awesome), and (3) Dry Lube silicone.
I started with the dry lube on the surface of the valve stem, and viola! it was fixed magically. In the past, I have shot some T-9 inside the valve, thinking that the grease had dried out. But it was the valve stem sticking this time. Who knew?
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
Edited by - Voyager on 04/25/2026 08:20:27
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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4035 Posts
Response Posted - 04/25/2026 :  16:08:13  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Yes sir, Wouldn't want the valve to break off while in the water.
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound


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crystal_blue
1st Mate

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USA
79 Posts
Response Posted - 04/27/2026 :  10:05:32  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
It's always interesting seeing what other folks' haul-out/winterization/launch regimens are.

We had a "false spring" here in Utah that led to me getting Mariah de-winterized and ready for launch, up to and including filling the house water tank. Then we had an overnight where the temperature got down to 28 degrees, and I think it must have frozen and busted the electric pump my previous owner (the redoubtable Zeil/Henk!) had installed for the galley sink. Soo . . . one more project, probably for later in the summer.

Hoping to splash in Utah Lake and get her to her slip, this Wednesday.
Jim and Crystal Smith
Lehi, Utah
1996 Catalina 250 WB #191 "Mariah"
Edited by - crystal_blue on 04/27/2026 10:07:43
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OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3504 Posts
Response Posted - 04/27/2026 :  21:11:19  Show Profile  Visit OLarryR's Homepage  Reply with Quote
My maintenance will probably include just a teak oil wipe on all my teak trim and hatch boards - Since I cover most of it with sunbrella covers, it minimizes having to redo the teak, sometimes not having to do it for 1-2 years. Probably will redo my Polyglot sometime this Sprng or over the summer. Also change spark plugs , fuel filter, etc. Outboard was started and ran for about 10 minutes every 2-4 weeks during the winter and it seems fine but due for the oil etc and spark plug maintenance. That's about it....Yeah, I probably should check the seacocks movement. Generally, I apply some silicone grease during times when boat is out for bottom painting but I have not been periodically cycling the valves. I generally keep them shut all the time. Did not cycle them this year but last year, I added some marine antifreeze down the sink drains and briefly opened the seacocks to ensure sink was clear of the fluid and then shut the seacocks while remaining fluid was in the lower part of the drain line.

THat's about it !

Replaced the sails last year....and running rigging looks okay for this year. I am sure I will find something else that needs attention!
Larry
'89 Robin's Nest#5820, Potomac River/Quantico, Va
http://catalina25.homestead.com/olarryr.html
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5459 Posts
Response Posted - 04/30/2026 :  05:24:10  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Jim - I’m sorry to learn that your plumbing was affected by a cold snap following the unusually warm weather. That’s a tough decision when to launch and commission, however, I take the lesson from a neighbor who invariably plants his tomatoes and cucumbers in his garden patch during late April when the spring warmth first comes around. He’s almost always out there one cold night in May trying to protect the young plants, and he still gets a first tomato harvest on August 1st!
Hopefully, you will be able to replace the original “Henk” pump on your boat.
The good news is that you have inherited such a well-fitted-out boat from one of our treasured master boat-smiths.
Here’s hoping that you and yours have a great season this year.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
Edited by - Voyager on 04/30/2026 05:29:01
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5459 Posts
Response Posted - 04/30/2026 :  05:44:55  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Larry,
Wow, so can you reapply Poli-Glo acrylic while your boat is in the water? Or do you haul it to resurface the gel-coat?
This year I skipped my Poli-Glo treatment, since it still looks okay from last year.
But I’m finding that my Sikkens Cetol is acting weirdly this year.
I stripped the boards using a palm sander then reapplied the coating. I did my usual 3-4 coats over the course of a week in my 55-60° garage. The garage is not directly heated but is attached to my house, so it usually stays warm.
This year after a month’s drying, the coating is still a bit gummy or sticky.
This is very unusual for Cetol since it usually dries hard, however, the brand was purchased by PPP paint company a few years ago and I believe that they reformulated the coating. The can is a few years old so maybe it went bad?
Maybe as it weathers it might improve?
Next year I’ll try Spar Urethane instead.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.