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6. MAINTENANCE
6.1 Boat Care.
The RS 500 is made of FRP (fibre reinforced plastic), a fibre glass cloth and
polyester resin. This is stiff and light, but will dent if subjected to point loading.
The boat should be supported ashore on a recognised RS trolley, as the hull
may distort if not supported properly.
Obviously in dealing with a marine environment, equipment gets wet, which in
itself is not a problem. The problem starts when moisture is trapped for any
length of time. The key, therefore, is to store the boat properly ashore.
Keep your dinghy drained and well ventilated.
All composite structures, no matter what they are made from absorb moisture
which increases weight and under additional circumstances causes cosmetic
blistering and raised fibre pattern. Obviously in dealing with a marine
environment, equipment gets wet which in itself is not a problem. The
problem starts when moisture is trapped for any length of time - e.g. a dinghy
is left with a PVC cover on for several weeks, the cover fills with water and
pulls the cover tight over the foredeck and sidedecks, the moisture trapped
between the cover and the deck alters in salinity and creates the start of an
osmotic cell.
To help avoid this situation
a) Ensure the boat is kept at an angle that allows water to
run off the cover and internal water to drain out of tanks.
b) If using a PVC cover, make sure it is removed and the
boat well ventilated at least once a week. Better still, get
a breathable cover - polycotton, acrylic or cotton duck.
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