How to prepare you boat for haulout, what to do on the day and what to remember when your boat is in the yard. Hints & tips from Nanaimo Boatyard.

1. How to prepare your boat for haulout

2. Even if you’re lucky enough to
keep your boat somewhere you
can sail all year round, you will
still want to have your boat
hauled out for annual checks and
maintenance. For most of us
having the boat hauled out for a
few months a year is just part of
normal boating.

3. If you’re planning to have some work done on your boat
then you may need to store the boat in a different part of
the boatyard and there may be a higher storage charge.
If this is the case then try and assess what work you
need to be done before you take the boat out of the
water so you can brief contractors and get work
immediately planned in to minimize your storage costs.
Work out what work you are going to do and what work
you are going to outsource. You can even get parts and
supplies pre-ordered.

4. What to sort out before hauling out

5. So, these are the things to sort
out before hauling out…
Check out the crane options –
listen to the advice of the
boatyard. They will know which is
the best type of lifting mechanism

6. Standard crane? If this is the case then the straps will be hung from a single hook which can put
pressure on the hull topsides. The beamier the boat the greater the pressure on the topsides.
The most common areas which could end up
damaged are toe-rails, guard wires, and
masthead instruments. Crane drivers will often
recommend using a spreader bar to open up the
stern strap, but for a sailing boat, this means
removing the backstay which is not ideal.
Standard cranes tend not to be used when there
is much wind due to the dangers of boats being
swung by the wind.

7. Travel hoists – larger boatyards with a
purpose-built dock will normally use a travel
hoist instead of a crane. The widespread of
the straps takes away much of the risk
created by standard cranes.
Specialist forklift crane – originally developed
for drystack storage where large rubberised
forks slide under the boat enabling the boat
to be lifted up or down. For sailing boats
instead of having the forks under the boat,
slings are attached to the forks. Strong
winds make little difference to a forklift.

8. Work out for the boatyard the
best lift points (sling positions)
– mark them with tape for the
crane operator.
Plan your journey – if you can,
check out the entrance to where
you’re having your boat hauled
out so on the day you know how
to approach the lift.

9. Take the sails off – it’s so much easier taking sails off when you
have the boat heading into the wind that it’s a good idea to take
them off when the boat is in the water rather than risk taking the
boat out of the water and having to take the sails off with the wind
in the wrong direction. Always take any furling sails off as well to
avoid the sails accidentally unfurling and being damaged or
causing damage elsewhere. Ideally, all the sails should be
washed, hung out to dry, packed up, and taken home. It’s also a
good idea to get the boatyard to unstep the mast so you can
check the running and standing rigging and work out what needs
to be fixed or replaced whilst the boat is out of the water.

10. Clean off any black mold – Once the sails and any
other canvas parts (biminis etc) are dry it’s worth taking
some time out to clean off as much black mold as
possible. The simplest and best way to clean is to wait
until the canvas is completely dry, put on a mask, and
brush the mold off. This is the only sure way of
retaining the waterproofing.
Clear the boat – it never ceases to amaze us the
breakables left on board a boat. Take off the boat
anything precious or easily breakable. Just in case
there is more movement in the boat than planned! If the
boat is going into storage it’s a good time to clear the
boat for winter:

11. • Take off anything that can freeze, rot or attract animals! Take
off all the food and drink containers, and soft furnishings,
towels, bedding etc. We also recommend taking off any paper
(tissues, toilet paper) as mice love paper to make nests.
• If you have room, take home any cockpit upholstered
cushions so they can be aired. If you can’t take them home at
least stand all the cushions on their sides so they can have
some ventilation.
• Take off your bimini and take it home to air or leave it out flat
somewhere on the boat so there is less chance of black mold
and fewer pockets for the local wildlife to nest in.
Change the engine oil – Over the season condensation will
have collected in the engine and will also be present in the oil. If
the oil is left in the engine whilst it is in storage then it could
cause damage so the oil and the oil filters must be changed.

12. On haul out day

13. And then on the day of haul-out:
For any boat owner seeing your boat
being lifted out of the water is a
nervous time.
Positioning the straps – lifting
straps need to be put in the correct
place otherwise there could be
damage to the rudder, the propeller
and shaft, and the through-hull log
impeller. It’s helpful to the crane
drivers if you mark up with bright tape
where to put the straps.

14. Hull protection – make sure the yard staff put some
protective cardboard or other soft material between the
hull and the strap.
Be prepared to be off the boat – assume you will
need to be off the boat during haul-out. Grab your
wallet, car keys, and any other essentials.
Find out where to get water and power – drinking
water and boat washing may be different places.
Find out how to access the loos and showers –
normally there is a key or code to enter.

15. After haul out

16. Tie the ladder to the boat! – It’s obvious, but
extremely annoying if you’re on the boat and
the ladder slips off.
Stop the dirt coming on board – put a rug at
the base of the ladder and leave your shoes
there or at least wipe them thoroughly. The
less dirt you have on the boat the better.
Be polite to boatyard workers & other boat
owners – after all the community of boating is
part of the fun of boating.

17. At Nanaimo Boatyard we have many
years of experience in hauling boats in
and out of the water. Please come and
talk to us and I’m sure we’ll be able to
help. Our modern boatyard has all the
facilities and expertise you could
possibly need. Have a look at our
boatyard facilities.
Contact us via our website, or pop in
and see us.

18. Contact Us
Website: https://www.nanaimoboatyard.ca/
Email: info@nanaimoboatyard.ca
Phone: 1-250-716-9065