Hunter H18 - Exterior Care and Finish Protection

Hu
nt
e
r 1
8
• M
a
int
e
n
a
n
ce
7.
2
M
aintenanc
e
(The information below is Hunter Marine’s opinion and
should not be considered complete or exact list of recom-
mendations.)
You have made the investment to purchase
y
our boat.
Now is the time to take care of it. Here we will suppl
y
y
ou
w
i
t
h
t
h
e
k
now
l
e
dg
e to
d
o
j
ust t
h
at.
We will separate this chapter into sections that deal with
e
ach part of
y
our boat. The exterior, the interior, and the
mechanical components. At the end o
f
the chapter, we
will offer
y
ou some maintenance tips and also
g
ive
y
ou
a schedule of maintenance to be
p
erformed. Remember
that an
y
manu
f
acturer’s recommended maintenance
schedules supersedes ours and their specific schedules
o
r tasks should be
p
erformed.
7.1 Maintenance Materials
Followin
g
is a list of tools we recommend that
y
ou carr
y
o
n
b
oar
d
y
our
y
ac
h
t.
N
ote t
h
at t
hi
s
li
st
i
s t
h
e m
i
n
i
mum
required
:
Fl
as
hlight
V
ise
g
rips
(
small and medium
)
Needle nose pliers
S
crew and nut driver set with ratchet handl
e
Mu
lti-
b
l
aded
kni
fe
S
et of screwdrivers
(
Phillips and flat blade, includin
g
“
short
y
” in bot
h
Off
set screwdriver
S
et of combination wrenches
(
box at one end, open end
at the other
)
E
xtra batteries
f
or
f
lashli
g
h
t
S
et of tubin
g
wrenches
Hacksa
w
7.1.1 Recommended Maintenance Material
s
We recommend that
y
ou carr
y
the
f
ollowin
g
on board
y
our
y
acht
:
P
lastic marine tap
e
Instant
g
lu
e
S
ilicone rubber
E
lectrical tap
e
Two-part epox
y
adhesiv
e
S
pra
y
lubrican
t
7.1.2 Recommended S
p
are Parts
We recommend that
y
ou carr
y
the
f
ollowin
g
spare parts
o
n board
y
our boat:
P
ull start chord
f
or en
g
ine
(
i
f
installed
)
A
sso
rt
ed
fas
t
e
n
e
r
s
To keep the exterior o
f
y
our boat in
g
ood condition,
y
ou
should
f
ollow a periodic preventive maintenance pro
g
ram
an
d
pract
i
ce
g
oo
d
stora
g
e
h
a
bi
ts.
I
n t
hi
s sect
i
on, are
important su
gg
estions that will help keep
y
our boat in the
best possible condition.
7.2 Exterior
7.2.1 Care and Maintenance Durin
g
Summer Month
s
Be
f
ore storin
g
y
our boat, remove loose items such as
c
ushions, towels, and similar items. Water trapped under
t
h
ese
i
tems can cause
g
e
l
coat
di
sco
l
orat
i
on an
d
m
ild
ew.
After each use, rinse the entire boat with fresh water. I
f
t
h
e
b
oat
h
as
b
een use
d
i
n
b
rac
ki
s
h
or sa
l
t water, use a
mild soap durin
g
the washdown
.
C
overin
g
y
our boat between uses will protect the finish
f
rom direct sunli
g
ht. Do not cover it with an
y
thin
g
that
will not allow moisture to evaporate, for example, sheet
pl
ast
i
c.
7.2.2 Finish Protection
Waxin
g
two or
f
our times a
y
ear is recommended. I
f
y
ou
are in a climate where
y
ou use
y
our boat
y
ear round, wax
y
our boat ever
y
three months. If
y
ou have a summer
boatin
g
season, wax at the be
g
innin
g
o
f
the season and
before winter stora
g
e.
Waxin
g
helps protect
y
our boat
f
rom ever
y
da
y
elements.
U
se a wax recommended for fiber
g
lass
(g
elcoat
)
finishes.
M
an
y
automat
i
c, over-t
h
e-counter waxes can
b
e use
d
.
C
heck the product label
f
or recommended sur
f
aces and
applications
.
7.2.3 Color Fadin
g
and Yellowin
g
D
arker colors are more prone to fadin
g
because the
y
absorb more o
f
the sun’s ultraviolet ra
y
s. Whites and o
ff
-
whites will
y
ellow, usuall
y
on the deck radii. I
f
the
f
inish
o
n
y
our boat has started to fade or
y
ellow, and waxin
g
will not restore the
f
inish, compoundin
g
with a
f
ine
g
rit