Hauling Out: Necessary Step for Boat Maintenance and Upgrades

We hauled our Amel Santorin, the heart of our voyages, out of her natural habitat and onto dry land last week. The mission? A full-scale antifouling makeover, a thorough check of her through-holes, and the installation of a new through-hole for a water maker promise future adventures with a splash of convenience.

There’s a moment every boat owner dreads—the sight of your vessel being lifted out of the water, hoisted into the air like a great bird being pulled from its element. Last week, we hauled Bagabonda, our Amel Santorin, out of the water for a much-needed antifouling treatment and a thorough check-up. For anyone who loves being on the water, this moment is bittersweet. While the work is essential to keeping Bagabonda in prime condition, seeing her on blocks instead of cutting through the waves tugs at the heartstrings.

But like any seasoned sailor knows, maintaining your boat is as much a part of the adventure as the sailing itself.

The Haul-Out: A Necessary Rite of Passage

If you’ve spent any time following boat maintenance videos online, you’ve probably seen a few horror stories about hauling out. Boats lifted at awkward angles, gusts of wind knocking them off their cradles—those videos always stick with you. Fortunately, Bagabonda’s haul-out went smoothly. Watching her rise from the water on the sling is a strangely nerve-wracking experience. For a few moments, your beloved boat, your floating home, is dangling mid-air, exposed and vulnerable.

Once securely set down on the blocks, Bagabonda was ready for her makeover. This wasn’t just a quick inspection. No, this was the full works—a deep clean, antifouling, and a critical examination of the through-hulls, with a bonus project to add a new one for our future water maker.

Cleaning the Hull: Scrubbing the Wear and Tear Away

The first step in any haul-out is the cleaning. Months in the water leave a boat’s hull covered in algae, barnacles, and other unwelcome passengers. We watched as the high-pressure hose blasted away the grime that had accumulated during our recent adventures. There’s something incredibly satisfying about seeing the green and brown scum wash away, revealing the sleek hull beneath. It’s like giving the boat a fresh start—ready to glide through the water once again, free from the drag of marine growth.

The cleaning also serves a practical purpose: it lets us get a good look at the hull’s condition. Any cracks, blisters, or damage that might be hidden beneath the muck are now exposed. Luckily, Bagabonda was in great shape—no surprises lurking beneath the surface.

Antifouling: Bagabonda’s Secret Armor

Once the hull was spotless, it was time for the antifouling. For the uninitiated, antifouling paint is what keeps your boat’s hull free from marine organisms like barnacles and algae. It’s like the secret weapon of the boating world, and it’s crucial to keeping the boat’s performance at its peak. The smoother the hull, the easier it is for Bagabonda to slice through the water. The antifouling treatment we applied last year in France had done its job, but it was time for a fresh coat.

The choice of antifouling paint is critical, especially for a boat like ours that spends so much time in different waters. We opted for a high-performance, long-lasting antifouling that would give Bagabonda the best chance to stay clean and fast for months to come. Once the paint was on, she looked brand new again, her sleek lines ready to take on the sea with grace.

Through-Hull Inspections: Beneath the Surface

With the hull cleaned and painted, we turned our attention to the through-hulls. These are the small openings in the hull that allow water to flow in and out—whether it’s for engine cooling, plumbing, or other systems. It might sound like a small detail, but these openings are crucial to a boat’s safety. A compromised through-hull can lead to leaks, or worse.

Inspecting the through-hulls is like checking the health of a boat’s circulatory system. We went over each one with the care of a surgeon, ensuring that there was no corrosion, damage, or signs of wear. The through-hull in the engine room, which takes in water for cooling, felt a bit suspect. Rather than risk it, we decided to replace it entirely. Better safe than sorry—especially when you’re talking about something as critical as keeping the water out.

Adding a New Through-Hull: Preparing for the Water Maker

One of the exciting upgrades on our project list is installing a water maker, which will allow us to convert seawater into fresh drinking water while we’re out at sea. It’s a game-changer for long voyages, offering a level of self-sufficiency that every sailor dreams of. To make that a reality, we needed to add a new through-hull dedicated to the water maker.

Instead of relying on a T-connection from the engine’s intake, we wanted to ensure there was enough water flow for both the engine and the water maker. The team at Almerimar Shipyard expertly installed the new through-hull, setting the stage for the next phase of our upgrades.

The Emotional Storm of Hauling out and being in Dry Dock

Watching Bagabonda on the hard, perched on supports and stripped of her usual grace, brought about a strange mix of emotions. On one hand, it’s a relief to be giving her the attention she deserves. On the other, seeing her out of the water makes you realize how vulnerable she is. She’s not just a boat—she’s our home, our adventure companion. And seeing her in this state reminds us of the responsibility we have to keep her in the best shape possible.

Maintaining a boat like Bagabonda isn’t just about ticking off items on a to-do list. It’s about ensuring that she’s ready for whatever the sea throws at us, that she can handle the demands of our voyages with ease and grace. This haul-out, with its cleaning, antifouling, and through-hull inspections, is part of the ongoing story of our life at sea. It’s the work behind the scenes that makes those picture-perfect sailing days possible.

Looking Forward to the Next Adventure

As we wrap up the haul-out and prepare to put Bagabonda back into her natural habitat, there’s a sense of excitement building. The new antifouling will keep her hull clean and fast, and the updated through-hulls give us peace of mind. The new through-hull for the water maker opens up a world of possibilities for longer, more self-sufficient journeys.

The Almerimar wharf - and Bagabonda in the slings

There’s still work to be done, of course—there always is with a sailboat. But this haul-out was a big step forward, and soon enough, we’ll be back on the water, ready for the next adventure. Because in the end, the time and effort we put into maintaining Bagabonda is what allows us to keep exploring, to chase the horizon, and to live this incredible life on the sea.

What is “hauling out,” and why does Bagabonda need it?

Hauling out is taking Bagabonda out of her natural aquatic element and onto dry land. Think of it as a spa for boats, a necessary respite for thorough cleaning, inspecting, repairing, and upgrading. It’s an essential part of boat maintenance, allowing us to check her usually submerged parts and ensure she remains as sturdy and reliable as the day we first met her.

What is anti-fouling, and why is it essential for our seafaring companion?

Anti-fouling is the superhero cape we drape over Bagabonda’s hull; it’s a specialized paint designed to ward off barnacles, algae, and various aquatic freeloaders that fancy attaching themselves to her underbelly. These uninvited guests not only slow her down by increasing drag but can also compromise her hull integrity. Regularly applying anti-fouling paint ensures Bagabonda glides through the waters as gracefully as a dolphin, minimizing fuel consumption and preventing damage.

What is a “through-hull” fitting, and why must we keep a vigilant eye on them?

A through-hull fitting is essentially any opening that pierces Bagabonda’s hull, allowing for the sea to meet her inner workings in a controlled manner. These fittings are gateways for essential functions, such as water intake for cooling engines, discharging bilge water, or even for those less glamorous but necessary facilities below deck.
Think of through-hull fittings as the controlled breaches in Bagabonda’s armor. They are indispensable for her operation but also represent points of vulnerability. Because these fittings breach the hull, they must be meticulously maintained to prevent leaks, ranging from the mildly annoying dribble to the decidedly more dramatic and potentially disastrous influx.
Inspecting these fittings during a haul-out involves ensuring their integrity; no cracks, corrosion, or signs of wear should mar their surfaces. The seals must be tight, the valves operable, and the hoses attached to them in good condition. It’s also wise to operate each seacock (the valve controlling the flow through the through-hull) to ensure it hasn’t seized. Neglecting these vital components can compromise Bagabonda’s safety, so a thorough check is as essential as the air we breathe.

Author

Koen

Koen Blanquart is a strategy consultant, journalist, and author. Wanderlust is one of his driving factors, and he shares his travels here on SailingBagabdonda.com and on Boarding Today.
Koen is the skipper of SV Bagabonda, a sailing vessel making a slow circumvention of the globe.
Koen recently published a book on how to manage a remote team: The Suitcase Office. More about Koen on his website: koenblanquart.com

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