A Perfect Day Out
A gentleman's guide to pretending your anchor windlass isn't seized while casually lifting 40kg of wet chain in front of a crowded bay and more ….
Picture this: It’s September. The sun is shining, the wind has abated, and the Hauraki Gulf is calling your name. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for all winter! It is time to wake "your precious" from her hibernation and show the world what a seafaring captain you are.
You back down the ramp perfectly, unhook the safety chain, and turn the key. Click. Absolute silence. Meanwhile, the local boat ramp critics have already lined up with their lawn chairs and phone cameras, ready for the entertainment. Hanging your head in shame, you frantically hunt for a jump pack. If only you installed that smart monitor, you would have known the battery was dead before you even got out of bed. (But hey, if you like living on the edge, we also sell excellent battery jump packs).
She’s started, but the engine sounds a little rough, misfiring and threatening to quit. It’s probably that cocktail of condensation and stagnant fuel that’s been brewing in your tank all winter.
But you are not a quitter... you make it to your favourite fishing spot. The fishfinder screen starts flickering, the GPS thinks you're currently in the middle of the Kaimai Ranges, and the VHF radio is making strange alien noises. Corroded winter wiring … Your electronics aren't broken; they’re just possessed by the ghosts of maintenance past.
"No worries," you tell your increasingly grumpy crew. "We'll head into a nice bay, drop the anchor, and have a picnic." Perfect!
You cruise into the bay, strike a heroic pose at the bow, and push the anchor release button. The windlass makes a sound like a blender full of rocks. When exactly was the last time you greased that winch? Alternatively, the anchor drops perfectly, but when it’s time to leave... guess what! It’s okay though, your partner really doesn’t mind hauling up 30 meters of muddy chain while you "supervise" from the helm.
Back at the boat ramp, it wasn’t so bad after all. The boat is back on the trailer safely and you’re heading home for a beer. Job well done!
You drive up the boat ramp, pull onto the main road, and... ‘KABOOMFA!’ Is that a trailer wheel overtaking you down the road? Seized bearings and rusted axles, trailer maintenance is a real thing, folks.
This is why we recommend you get onto that Winter Maintenance today or …