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Top 10 winter maintenance tips for you a...

Top 10 winter maintenance
tips for you and your dinghy

written by former Olympic dinghy sailor, Christian Brewer

Kneeling next to the small boat, they diligently scrubbed it with a brush as part of regular dinghy maintenance, using soapy water from a nearby bucket.

Stay shipshape: Prepare your dinghy for the new season

As the colder months approach, now is the time to give your dinghy the care and attention it deserves to ensure it remains in top condition. Whether you’re a seasoned sailor or a beginner, taking the time to properly maintain your dinghy over the winter will help prevent costly repairs and make it easier and quicker to get out on the water when the warmer weather returns. Don’t just focus on your dinghy – keeping yourself fit and healthy over the winter will help your performance on the race course too.

So, from cleaning and securing your equipment to learning new skills and staying fit, here are my top 10 winter maintenance tips for you and your dinghy:

1. Wash - dinghy

I give my boat a thorough eco friendly detergent wash before storing away over winter, this is to remove as much salt as possible from the inside and outside. Paying extra attention to all moving parts which are fixed to the boat will help to maintain them. I then give her a good hose down or jet wash with fresh water. Make sure you pick a good drying day, and it always helps to sponge or leather off excess water.

A person is seated on a small sailboat with a large sail against a plain black background, evoking the importance of dinghy insurance for such serene adventures.

2. Wash - control lines

I remove all my control lines and wash in a sink or bucket with mild detergent. These can then be dried off once rinsed and inspected for wear and tear. I make sure I can still see my rope markers so that I am on the same settings next season. Store in a dry location and mark them up if you need to.

3. Wash - sails

Give your sails a thorough rinse with fresh water from a hose. I hang mine up to dry on the washing line and then store in my loft. If storing in a shed or garage outside, consider a sealed plastic sleeve to prevent rodent damage.

A simple black and white drawing of a sailboat with three people onboard, including one steering and two seated—an ideal image for illustrating the importance of dinghy insurance.

Two people sitting on a sailboat in calm waters, with one sail raised and a plain black background, enjoying the peace of mind that comes with having Dinghy Insurance.

4. Security

I keep my boat on the beach over winter, where it’s left for extended periods. I make sure that the boat is tied down well, the cover is undamaged and that the securing clips are locked in place and tightened. I remove every piece of non fixed equipment from my boat, i.e. centreboard, rudder assembly, compass, kicker assembly and sails, just in case of prying eyes. My boat is parked within a group of other Lasers, so flock mentality dictates less chance of being singled out for theft. It’s important to check that your insurance covers you for winter beach storage.

5. Maintenance - dinghy

I recommend popping the tops off your cam cleats and giving them a thorough clean with mild detergent and fresh water. When dry, apply a dab of McLube or silicone spray. Don’t use grease or oil as this will attract salt crystals next season. Broken cam springs can be replaced and you may need new cams if you have signs of wear on the cam teeth.

Ball bearing mainsheet systems need particular attention, flush through with fresh water and look to replace the traveller end caps for new ones if showing signs of impact damage. It’s a good time to check that you have a full compliment of ball bearings and that they are running freely.

Black and white illustration of a sailboat with two people on board, sailing on calm waters, emphasizing the importance of dinghy insurance.

Illustration of a person sailing a small boat with a single sail marked with the letter

6. Maintenance - rig

Look for signs of corrosion around mast fittings on aluminium masts and booms. If loose, you may need to drill out the rivets and replace with bolts and nylon washers with nyloc nuts. Be sure to use a barrier cream such as duralac to prevent galvanic reaction between the dissimilar metals. Check your split pins and replace as necessary, you will not remember next spring.

7. Maintenance - foils

Foils are easy to work on indoors. Check the leading and trailing edges for signs of damage before storing away. Any gel coat work should be done methodically.

You will need gel coat repair paste, 320/600/1200 grit wet and dry sandpaper, acetone, disposable gloves and a sanding block.

Sand the damaged area with 320 grit paper, pop your gloves on and clean with acetone before gel coating. I use template mylar film, cut to shape, to obtain a smooth flat finish to the gel coat once applied.
I then leave the gel coat for a week before rubbing down.
Start with 320 grit on a sanding block to get the outline shape then progressively rub down with 600 grit then 1200 grit for a race ready finish. You can use a medium rubbing compound to get the shine back.

A black-and-white illustration of two people sailing a sailboat with a large sail against a black background, highlighting the importance of dinghy insurance.

Outline of a sailboat with a visible sail and two people on it, set against a black background, perfectly captures the essence of an adventurous voyage. Consider dinghy insurance for peace of mind during your sailing adventures.

8. Grab a bargain

Pre-Christmas is a good time to grab a decent discount on new sails and sailing kit. Manufacturers are keen to maintain cash flow in the off season, so be sure to look up what deals your favourite clothing supplier or chandler is offering.

9. Learn new skills

Winter is a good time to settle into browsing the numerous excellent tuning and racing tip videos on YouTube. Search for your dinghy to get class specific videos.

Take up splicing. Again, YouTube is a great resource for splicing tutorials, and once you’ve learnt, you can easily make up your own control lines using simple splicing tools. This is a job you will never find time for in summer.

Black and white illustration of a person sailing a small boat with a triangular sail labeled

10. Self-care

I try and get out twice a week for an early morning run and boot camp along the sea front in both summer and winter, to maintain my fitness levels. I have tailored a range of exercises that are specific to the Laser/ILCA dinghy, helping to build my core strength and maintain limb strength.

Roll on next spring!

Christian Brewer is a member of Whitstable Yacht Club and a former Olympic Squad and British Sailing Team member in the Tornado class.

He has won fifteen National and one European Championship in catamarans and in One Design keel boats.

A former sailmaker and charter yacht sales manager, Christian has sailed extensively in Europe, the Caribbean, Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

A man in a red sailing suit is sitting in a small sailboat on a lake, surrounded by other sailboats on a clear day.

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Top 10 winter maintenancetips for you and your dinghy