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Welcome to Robust-MT Insiders, where we share what happens behind the scenes at our company! Today we're discussing the winter maintenance of our customer Leo Zuidwestersloep ZWS-595 . We're talking with Remco Putker, the director of Robust-MT. Let's hear what he has to say about the winter maintenance.
By: Yara Putker
The southwesterly sloop requires no maintenance. There's no paint to renew, no varnish to refinish, and no wood to sand. The southwesterly sloop is inherently maintenance-free. However, it does require occasional checkups. Like any other boat, fouling builds up that needs to be cleaned, and the anodes need to be replaced. A winter service is really only necessary once every two or three years to clean the bottom and replace the anodes.
In principle, the customer can clean and replace the anodes themselves. However, the engine, battery(ies), and electrical system also require inspection. This should be done every two to three years during a winter service by a specialized company.
This depends on the size of the boat and any extensions it has. For a standard Southwesterly sloop, we charge approximately the rate of one day for a winter service.
There's really no difference between a cleaning and a winter service. It's a major cleaning where the boat, including the ropes and cushions, are thoroughly dried, the boat is thoroughly cleaned, and the anodes are replaced. The engine is also checked and updated. It's only called a winter service because it takes place in winter, and that's because, despite being able to sail at any time of year, winter is the least pleasant.
For now we are going to do this ourselves, but later we may have this done by another company.
So, cleaning the boat occasionally and replacing the ropes every five years is helpful, but it's not strictly necessary. What is crucial is keeping the self-bailers free of leaves to prevent them from clogging. We also recommend keeping the battery compartment empty, dry, and clean as much as possible. The boat offers ample storage space in the other lockable compartments.
During the boating season, the propeller can also become fouled with aquatic plants or debris. The boat has an opening at the back that makes it easy to clean the propeller. If the boat is equipped with an optional swim platform, you can even do this without wearing swim trunks.
Water. We don't use chemicals for cleaning, just a pressure washer and green soap.
Robust-MT Marine Technology BV is located in Monster , on the edge of the water-rich Westland region . Situated in South Holland, between Rotterdam and The Hague, but also near Delft and the North Sea, our showroom and workshop are also located on a main waterway. We also have a mooring on the Haringvliet, near Zeeland, where we can also conduct sea trials. We also collaborate with a renowned yacht builder and shipyard in Woubrugge, near Amsterdam and North Holland. This location also has its own marina, a large crane, and both heated and unheated hangars. In short, no matter how large or small your project, we can provide you with the necessary products and support.
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