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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 . Located 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 berth on the Haringvliet, near Zeeland, where we can also arrange trial runs. We also work with a renowned yacht builder and shipyard in Woubrugge near Amsterdam and North Holland. This location also has its own port, a large crane as well as a heated and unheated warehouse. In summary, no matter how big or small your project is, we can provide you with the products and support you need.
Do you want to buy a new electric motor for your boat or, for example, convert an existing boat to electric propulsion? Everything you need to make your project a success is available in our webshop We offer the widest range in the Netherlands in the field of electric motors and drive systems for pleasure boating and at the best prices. We also distinguish ourselves through our own experiences with electrification of existing boats and therefore guarantee that your expensive purchase also leads to a positive experience. products on sale in our webshop , we post our own test reports in our blog page and we also offer complete sets of motor, battery and all additional required equipment. Our homepage also contains a number of reviews and ratings from satisfied customers, we would like to add your review here.
