Overlooked Maintenance: Ahh Sh*t factors

[LionessRacing]

Having the fun of a diesel fuel tank that recently picked up quite a bit of water from what appears to be a 20+ yr old deck plate O-ring and intense rains. Retrospectively this is something that should have been replaced a while back, they are even in stock at WestMarine. 

What suggestions on commonly overlooked maintenance items? 

I'll put these out: 

• Water level in batteries
  
• Charger fuses, and all battery connections
  
• Oil level in engine and transmission
  
• Coolant level in engine and overflow
  
• Tape on rigging cotter pins 
  
• Lifeline and Standing Rigging corrosion check
  

 

[Sunset2]

My recent AH Sh*t moment was experienced by my son on a short cruise. The head completely stopped up and he assumed something inappropriate had been flushed.

The bottom line was that the hose were so calcified that the opening in the 1 1/2 inch hose was down to about 3/4 inch. 

So replace all of the head hoses every ten years.

 

[Gabe_nyc]

So replace all of the head hoses every ten years.

This was the main sheet attachment to the traveler on my first boat (28-ft).

The boom-side shackle looked similar.

It was a low price, quick purchase w no survey and I had been sailing along happily for a few weeks when I finally noticed this -)

Everything else was ok, I loved the boat and it was a good purchase, but this could have ruined my day in all sorts of bad ways ...

 

[SloopJonB]

Anything at the masthead.

 

[European Bloke]

Parts of the steering system, hidden behind all the shit that's never been removed from the bottom of the big locker.

 

[El Borracho]

What suggestions on commonly overlooked maintenance items? 

Here is my list:

1. Everything below the waterline. 
2. Everything above the waterline. 
3. The mooring. 

 

[LionessRacing]

Here is my list:

1. Everything below the waterline. 
2. Everything above the waterline. 
3. The mooring. 

and that's why it gets overlooked....

 

[silent bob]

Having the fun of a diesel fuel tank that recently picked up quite a bit of water from what appears to be a 20+ yr old deck plate O-ring and intense rains. Retrospectively this is something that should have been replaced a while back, they are even in stock at WestMarine. 

What suggestions on commonly overlooked maintenance items? 

I'll put these out: 

• Water level in batteries
  
• Charger fuses, and all battery connections
  
• Oil level in engine and transmission
  
• Coolant level in engine and overflow
  
• Tape on rigging cotter pins 
  
• Lifeline and Standing Rigging corrosion check
  

Don’t forget to change the filters on your spark plugs!  

 

[Grande Mastere Dreade]

Having the fun of a diesel fuel tank that recently picked up quite a bit of water from what appears to be a 20+ yr old deck plate O-ring and intense rains. Retrospectively this is something that should have been replaced a while back, they are even in stock at WestMarine. 

What suggestions on commonly overlooked maintenance items? 

I'll put these out: 

• Water level in batteries
  
• Charger fuses, and all battery connections
  
• Oil level in engine and transmission
  
• Coolant level in engine and overflow
  
• Tape on rigging cotter pins 
  
• Lifeline and Standing Rigging corrosion check
  

crimped wire connections

 

[SASSAFRASS]

Everytime I start our aux I check the raw water, coolant oil, fuel level and racors.  It's a simple two minute routine that's a hold over from being a marine engineer.  Never push go without the bare minimum.  Also makes you look at some other stuff in the process.  One thing that got buy us with the convenience sail stuff is a good once over that you get flaking and stowing. The jib on the furler sun cover stitches were toast should have caught bit sooner but out on the ten ft bowsprit it looked fine.  Also cycling thru hull valves is some we should do alot more but rarely do.  If you are actively using your boat you tend to be alot better at catching stuff.  The worse damage we have had is sitting bat the dock through shitty winter storms and something chaffing etc.

 

[ghost37]

My recent AH Sh*t moment was experienced by my son on a short cruise. The head completely stopped up and he assumed something inappropriate had been flushed.

The bottom line was that the hose were so calcified that the opening in the 1 1/2 inch hose was down to about 3/4 inch. 

So replace all of the head hoses every ten years.

Would recommend soaking hoses and head discharge fittings in white vinegar for a few hours. We liveaboard and do this every few years. Head hoses are expensive so keen to get as much life out of them as possible.

 

[brucephenry]

Cycle your through hulls!

Check ATF levels in dripless shaft seals. 

 

[Parma]

water level in the batteries. Such a pain I went with gels.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Does overlooking this thread count?

 

[Grande Mastere Dreade]

crimped wire connections

of course I would post this and the have a navigation light wire come loose...  

 

[Autonomous]

Whatever is hard to get at or you don't want to deal with.

 

[El Borracho]

water level in the batteries. Such a pain I went with gels.

WTF!!! Watering batteries is a pain? I do that task with a cocktail in one hand. All is lost!

 

[DriftingWithoutGrifting]

WTF!!! Watering batteries is a pain? I do that task with a cocktail in one hand. All is lost!

As an extra bonus, it always makes the cocktails so special?

 

[El Borracho]

As an extra bonus, it always makes the cocktails so special?

Don’t ever drink the battery water. Fish pee in it.