Maintenance for
Cruisers

There is an old joke that "cruising is repairing your boat in strange and exotic locations."  Well, maybe that is less a joke and more of a curse.  Many cruises are slowed or stopped by breakdowns in boat systems.

Based on our experiences as cruisers, we have created this two day, hands on basic course in boat maintenance, to try to help cruisers understand how to fix the things that break.

The course consists of four modules, each lasting half a day.  The first module is an introduction to tools and fasteners common to modern boats.  The second module consists of performing basic maintenance on an actual boat, one of our Island Packet 32s.  The third module is taught in the classroom and deals with electrical systems, both 12 volt DC and 110 volt AC.  Finally, the fourth module works through some of the other systems the average boater might have to deal with - plumbing, winches, air conditioning and refrigeration.

We’ll provide you with a textbook, unique to our school, with pictures, descriptions and procedures for handling issues like changing the filters and belts on a small diesel engine, diagnosing problems in electrical and plumbing systems and disassembling, cleaning and repairing winches. You’ll get a chance to make and test electrical circuits, to use basic and advanced tools and gain an appreciation for how to repair your boat and when to call in the experts.

Because of the hands-on nature of this course, it is taught at our Lankford Bay Marina location and classes are limited to no more than 8 students per course.  It was created by our Maintenance Manager, Captain Frank Mummert, and is taught by professionals who have experience in boat repair.

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