Do’s
On any body of water, rinse and wipe down the hull after every row. A clean hull is a fast hull!
It is imperative if you row in salt water that you rinse and soap down the hull, but more importantly wash all the moving parts (tracks, wheels, rigger mounts, foot stretchers and channel tracks, oarlocks and pin) daily. Be aware that a lazy rinse just moves the salt around.
Seat tracks and wheels are often overlooked but easy to maintain. Regularly wipe seat tracks and remove the seats to clean wheels with a clean, damp rag.
Use a biodegradable cleaner like Simple Green for all your boat cleaning needs.
Periodically loosen and clean all nuts, bolts, and fittings. After cleaning, apply a light layer of lubricant to these parts. We recommend the Lanocote brand.
Occasionally treat shoes or sandals with an anti-fungal spray.
At a minimum, twice a year wax your shells to protect and maintain the finish. We recommend 3M Scotchguard Marine Liquid Wax. http://www.shop3m.com/scotchgard-marine-liquid-wax-09061-500-ml.html
Protect riggers and boats with custom made bags. These are small insurance policies on large investments that not only protect the boats but make traveling and strapping boats down safer (fewer cut straps). We strongly recommend rigger bags for all carbon wings.
Always use protection between the gunwales and boat straps when trailering your boats. Over the course of long trips, gunwales can cut through straps. We provide a gunwale guard option with all new boats, but cardboard, towels, cut sections of garden hose or PVC pipe are materials we have seen crews use.
Be delicate when replacing fins. Over tightening will strip screw threads.
Have spare parts on hand for quick repairs and emergency situations. We recommend:
o Fin
o Rudder
o Complete foot stretcher
o Carbon seat
o Port bowbrace
o Starboard bowbrace
o Backup Port Wing Rigger (carbon only)
o Backup Starboard Wing Rigger (carbon only)
o Regatta Small Spare Parts Kit
Don’ts:
Never row damaged equipment.
Never use products containing bleach.
Never use a cleaner with muriatic or oxycilic acid.
Never use WD-40. It evaporates quickly and attracts dirt.
Never use duct tape or athletic tape on the boat or its parts. It leaves a residue.
Do not leave your new boat in its plastic shipping wrapping. Moisture and changes in temperature can ruin the finish if left wrapped up for long periods. Never use silicone or other adhesives on the fin box. The fin is engineered to break away. If it is stuck, damage to the fin box and/or hull is probable and much more costly than simply replacing a fin.
