Preparing for Dry Storage
Our big debate this year was what to do about our deep-cycle lead acid batteries, which are brand new and cost us about $650. (Last year, one of our six-year-old batteries was dead after being disconnected for 8 months in the heat.) We entertained a variety of options:
- disconnect them
- leave them connected to one of our big solar panels, turned at an angle; maybe look for someone to check the water
- leave them connected to a little solar panel
- try to find cooler storage off the boat in San Carlos somewhere
- lug them back to CA where we could keep them cool and charged
We finally decided to go with the little solar panel option. We bought a solar battery maintainer from the folks on Runaway. Todd coated the edge of the panel with silicone sealant to try to weather-proof it. Lets hope it works!
Here are our “To Do” lists from our 2009 haulout:
Before Haul
- schedule haulout
- get car out of storage and restart car insurance
- remove dodger
- remove outside speakers
- aluminum foil over winches and blocks (outside)
- aluminum foil over ports and hatches (inside)
- survey parts and inventory spares, making list for re-supply next season
- measurements for replacements: oven solenoid, stern tube (for dripless packing), windlass, lifelines
- clean out galley and foodstuffs
- clean sink and flush lines with fresh water
- change engine oil and transmission fluid
- dinghy: scrub clean, deflate, and cover
- laundry: wash all sheets, towels, etc.
- clean head
- cover dorades with bug netting (instead of replacing with caps)
- take down and bag sails: main, jib, stay
- replace halyards with messengers
- rinse dive gear with fresh water
- rinse and store kayak
- polish stainless
- clean and store BBQ
- take down HAM antenna
- mop floors
- empty fresh water tanks
- start packing
Things to Pack
- clothes
- shoes
- DVDs
- electronics
- books
- games
- first aid kit and temperature-sensitive medications (including items in ditch bag)
- toiletries
- passports
- boat documents
- computers, printer, scanner
- jewelry
- EPIRB (replace battery or get a new one?)
After Haul
- wash down boat
- engine: flush with fresh water, remove impeller, remove belts
- outboard: run with fresh water, run with salt remover, fog
- flush fridge with fresh water
- flush head with fresh water
- close all thru-hulls except cockpit drains
- stuff 2 cockpit drain thru-hulls with Scotch-Brite pads, leave one free (hedging our bets against insects and mud)
- cover other thru-hulls with duct-tape
- close propane tanks
- treat water tanks with bleach
- add mineral oil to head
- clean out fridge and rinse with bleach solution
- disconnect antenna leads
- equalize batteries and add water
- remove and store big solar panels
- set-up little solar panel
- disconnect batteries from all but little panel
- anchor chain: untwist, end-for-end, replace markers, rinse
- remove and pack LED bulbs
- take batteries out of electronics that will remain on boat (bilge alarm, stereo remote, clocks, smoke alarm)
- put out roach poison (boric acid)
- put out 5-gallon buckets with water and a bit of bleach (to protect wood inside)
- empty trash
- tarp boat
- pack the car
- pay yard bill
[…] for hauling and storage, and a day and a half in the workyard after we hauled. Though there were a lot of tasks to do, we adopted the motto “Hard work is only hard if you work hard at it”; meaning, with […]