What Non-Urgent Projects Will You Tackle on Your Sailboat This Winter?
Winter is the perfect time to tackle those non-urgent boat projects that tend to elude us during the busy sailing season. Whether you contract out some tasks to professionals or do them yourself, you’ll reap the benefits next spring when your boat is ready to set sail. Here are a few projects we’ve installed, created, or repaired during cold Chesapeake months that made our spring commissioning far more enjoyable.
Sewing Projects
If you have access to a hardy sewing machine, several projects can be tackled over the winter. Alternatively, you can contract these tasks to a canvas shop.
Canvas repairs
Last winter we began a repair project that we weren’t quite sure would work. Our nine-year old cockpit enclosure had been showing signs of age, and the three panels forming our dodger were becoming increasingly difficult to see through. Before contracting with a local canvas maker, I wanted to try my sewing skills to determine if I could replace the panels myself. If I was unsuccessful, we could always outsource if we got into their queue early enough.
My plan was to avoid reinventing the wheel. I simply wanted to replace the aged material with clear plastic. If I used a seam ripper to remove the scratched Eisenglass, I could use the former material as a template to cut the new panel and sew it into the existing structure. But first, I had to determine if my sewing machine was up to the task of stitching a thick layer of 60-gauge plastic sandwiched between several layers of vinyl. It was not. But I found a discounted machine that was! Of course, I rationalized that I was saving money with this DIY project, and the savings would more than pay for a new machine.
It took five hours to seam-rip the largest middle panel. Wow. Didn’t anticipate that. Part of the reason was the attention it required to carefully remove stitches without damaging the vinyl that needed to be preserved to hold the new panel. When it was finally time to sew, I had to use green tape and binder clips to hold the new Eisenglass in place as my machine stitched the thick layers.
My new machine struggled at times, especially near zipper or velcro intersections, but it worked! That success encouraged me to endure another five hours of finger-pricking work to seam-rip the two smaller panels. Replacing our dodger panels was quite the chore but worth it; I gained a new sewing machine in addition to amazing visibility from the helm. Getting started early in the winter allowed time for Plan B if the DIY didn’t work.
Dinghy chap repairs
More than a decade ago, I labored over colder months to make dinghy chaps. I’ve often said that our inflatable was measured and fitted more times than a bride for her wedding dress. It was a challenging project that has certainly extended the life of our dinghy. Each winter I review where the chaps are showing signs of wear and patch accordingly. Last year, I had to get creative when I discovered my cadet grey Sunbrella was in short supply, so I added some unintended green racing stripes during my repairs. Now, we can easily find our dinghy at a crowded tender dock!
Small sewing projects
It is quite rewarding to tackle smaller projects that can be done in snippets of time rather than full days and often with fabric scraps. During winter months, I’ve created or repaired covers using Sunbrella for our winches, windlass, dorade boxes, outboard engine, and jerry cans. I’ve also custom-altered sheets from conventional sets and replaced curtains at 14 ports. You may benefit from a customized solution for companionways or hatches to keep out annoying Bay insects. Whatever the need, winter is a great time to tackle small sewing projects.
Electrical
You owe it to yourself and your boat to keep up with innovations in electrical and lighting features, especially on older vessels. Prices continue to trend downward, enabling boaters to improve conveniences above and below decks. We have been able to DIY these improvements on our 27-year-old boat, but alternatively, you can obtain these extraordinary benefits with just a few hours of an electrician’s time.
Additional USB outlets
Tired of sharing one USB socket for multiple devices? We added dual USB sockets at both sides of our berth to facilitate charging phones and watches while we sleep, which means that checking the weather is within arm’s reach in the middle of the night. We also added dual USB outlets in the galley, navigation station, and cockpit. If you don’t want to hire an electrician, there are several good YouTube videos that explain how to DIY these enhancements.
Solar panels
We added solar panels to our boat nine years ago and replaced them as technology advanced. Last year we added even more solar panels, tripling our original plan. Our current energy easily powers everything we need, including high draws such as the refrigerator, freezer, autopilot, and inverter, even on cloudy days. We can take two-week sailing vacations and never have to connect to shore power or run our generator. Since we don’t have lithium batteries, we have found additional solar panels to be one of the best improvements we’ve made. The panels also assist in keeping our batteries charged during winter storage, even through our winter cover.
LED rechargeable lights
Another simple improvement has been the purchase of LED rechargeable lights to illuminate dark spaces. We use Sunnest motion sensor lights with magnetic attachment plates. We installed these lights in every locker and cabinet, including our refrigerator. The lights have several setting options. We opted for the setting that enables the light to automatically illuminate when a cabinet door is opened. No more searching for a flashlight to illuminate a dark corner. It’s been such a simple solution to a recurring need, and it doesn’t require wiring!
Safety
Winter is the ideal time to review, replace, and replenish your boat’s safety equipment. When was the last time you inventoried your medical kit or checked fire extinguisher expirations? Do you have replacement cartridges for your inflatable PFDs? Do you have a spare air horn to replace the one you keep at the helm? Do you have redundancies for your dinghy and ditch bags? Before we departed on a long voyage last year, we completed a thorough review of our safety equipment. But since then, I’ve had to remind myself that safety items need to be reviewed regularly, not just when leaving Chesapeake waters. Winter is the perfect time to be thorough and diligent.
Soon, spring will be here. You’ll be glad you spent your winter months increasing your vessel’s creature comforts while also making your boat safer and more enjoyable. And just maybe, a few of these ideas could appear in post-holiday sales, such as a new sewing machine that could pay for itself with one project. Just sayin’…
About the author: Captain Cheryl Duvall is a USCG Licensed Master, Inland 100 GRT, and program director for the Chesapeake Area Professional Captains Association (CAPCA). She sails the Chesapeake Bay on Belle Bateau, a Gozzard 44, and can be reached by email at [email protected].
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