Sailboats + Powerboats docked in marinas

📅 Monthly

✔ Professional diver hull cleaning (every 1–2 months)

• Remove slime, algae, barnacles

• Inspect for paint wear

• Check for blister activity

• Confirm prop condition

• Look for metal pitting or corrosion

• Evaluate fouling rate (adjust schedule if needed)

✔ Visual inspection from the dock

• Waterline slime

• Growth pattern changes

• Rust streaks

• Hull discoloration

• Odors that may indicate blistering

  
  

🔧 Every Cleaning Cycle (1–2 months)

✔ Check zinc/anode condition

Replace when:

• Zinc is 50% depleted (don’t wait longer!)

• Any pitting is visible

• Any unexpected rapid consumption occurs

✔ Diver task list

Ask your diver to check:

• prop shafts

• saildrives

• thru-hulls

• seacocks

• struts

• rudder post

• keel metal (sailboat)

• trim tabs (powerboat)

• grounding plates

• bow thrusters (if applicable)

  
  

🌊 Every 3 Months

✔ Identify early galvanic or electrolysis issues

Look for:

• pinkish metal (dezincification)

• unusual pitting

• missing paint around metal

• visible corrosion on props

✔ Record zinc usage rate

Fast consumption = stray electrical current nearby

✔ Check for:

• shaft zinc wear

• internal bonding system concerns

• new boat neighbors who could be causing stray current

  
  

🧭 Every 6 Months

✔ Check bottom paint condition

• thickness

• wear patterns

• patchiness

• high-fouling zones

• diver observations

✔ Inspect underwater metal hardware more thoroughly:

• prop fasteners

• keel bolts (visual exterior evidence)

• shaft coupler area

• saildrive housing

✔ Evaluate diver schedule alignment

• winter fouling rate vs summer

• marina-specific growth patterns

  
  

⚙ Every 12 Months

✔ Full underwater metal system audit

• prop shafts

• props

• saildrive/gearcase

• struts

• rudder hardware

• trim tabs

• grounding plates

• thrusters

• thru-hulls

• seacock operation test (haul-out if needed)

✔ Bonding system inspection (haul-out)

• continuity test

• green bonding wires

• inspection for broken loops

  
  

🛠 2026 Seasonal Checks (4 times per year)

Spring / Summer / Fall / Winter:

✔ Inspect:

• antifouling paint effectiveness

• barnacle attachment patterns

• zinc consumption patterns

• prop speed reduction

• engine load changes

✔ Update maintenance log:

• diver notes

• zinc percentages

• seawater temperature trends

• performance changes

• average fuel burn changes (powerboats)

  
  

📌 Annual Haul-Out Considerations

Sailboats: every 18–36 monthsPowerboats: every 12–24 months

At haul-out:

• bottom inspection

• repaint antifouling if needed

• barrier coat inspection

• seacock service

• thru-hull hardware inspection

• rudder bearing inspection

• prop balancing and polish

  
  

🌊 Specific Bay-Area “Watch Items”

✔ High-fouling marinas:

• Richmond

• Alameda

• Sausalito

• Oakland Estuary

Expect heavier seasonal fouling—stick to strict 1–2 month cleaning.

✔ Electrolysis hotspots

Any marina with:

• older electrical infrastructure

• a high density of neighboring boats

• houseboats

• transient slips

  
  

⛽ Powerboat-Specific Reminders

• Track fuel consumption

• Watch engine load / temp

• Clean props frequently

• Inspect trim tabs + drive units

• Monitor cooling performance

Growth affects performance fast and visibly.

⛵ Sailboat-Specific Reminders

• Watch rudder and keel metals closely

• Pay attention to light barnacle fields

• More idle time = more fouling risk

• Slow speed = increased attachment rates

  
  

🧩 Parts That Fail the Most from Neglect

Prioritize inspections of:

• props

• shafts

• saildrive housings

• thru-hulls

• seacocks

• trim tabs

• grounding plates

• rudder components

This is where the big money repairs hide.

🧾 Logbook Template (copy/paste)

2026

• Date:

• Diver:

• Growth type seen:

• Anode percent remaining:

• Notes:

• Performance changes:

• RPM max:

• Fuel burn (if powerboat):

• Next service scheduled:

  
  

🧨 “Emergency Red Flags”

Call your diver immediately if you notice:

• sudden loss of speed

• engine running hotter

• increased fuel burn

• boat feels heavy

• steering feels sluggish

• visible brown/green waterline growth

• vibration at certain speeds

• visible corrosion

• pink metal

• missing zincs

  
  

The Big Rule

Skipping either one is where almost all the expensive problems begin.