CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Hull
The RS Vareo is made using a polyester GRP laminate. The boat should be supported ashore on a recognised
RS Vareo trolley and care must be taken at all times to prevent abrasion or impact.
Keep your dinghy drained and well ventilated
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.
Water absorption could cause blistering and a raised fibre pattern.
Ensure the boat is kept with the bow lifted to allow water to drain away out of the aft end of the cockpit.
Wash with fresh water
Fresh water evaporates far more quickly than salt water, so if your dinghy has been sailed in salt water wash it off
thoroughly. The fittings will also work better if regularly washed. Its is also worth washing sand and sediment off
of the working parts of the boat, especially around the mast pot and gennaker pole launch point before you go
sailing.
Damage
Hull damage falls into three categories:
a) SERIOUS e.g. Large hole, split, crack or worse. Don’t be too distressed! Get the remnants back to RS Racing
– most problems can be repaired by an RS expert.
b) MEDIUM e.g. Small hole or split, gel crazing. If this occurs during an event, sailing can often be continued as
long as leaking can be prevented by drying the area and applying a strong adhesive tape. CAUTION – if the
damage is close to a heavily loaded point then a close examination should be made to ensure joints and the
laminate are fit for the prevailing conditions. Get the damage properly repaired as soon as possible.
c) SMALL e.g. chips, scratching. This type of damage is not life threatening, particularly as modern build
techniques allows very little water absorption into the laminate. This type of damage can be repaired by the
owner, using the correct RS gel coat.
Tying down
Tying down your RS Vareo to its trailer is important because too much or too little tension could result in damage.
Only use an RS approved trolley. The boat is well located on its trolley, so you only need apply sufficient tension
to hold the boat in contact with the supports.
Tie the boat down at the bow and across the middle in the region of the trailer wheels. Pad the deck where the
straps touch. An RS Transom kit will make attaching the mast and lighting board much easier
Foils
The foils are GRP with a foam core. Look after them as you do the hull. Wash with fresh water regularly. Repair
any chips as soon as possible. An RS gel coat kit or Plastic Padding type filler is perfect. An epoxy filler will not
adhere as well as a polyester type.
If you intend to travel a lot with the boat, then an RS padded rudder bag will be a worthwhile investment.
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