Maintenance log 2025

Taking care of a Tanzer 29 in 2025.

Here’s what I did in 2025 to take care of my Tanzer 29. It was a busy year with a brand new dodger, improvements to plumbing, and bigger improvements to electrical. After 5 years, I finally have shore power again!

Dodger canvas

• Drop off old canvas at Des Canevas.

Batteries

• Charged, re-connect.

Propane tanks

• Connect.

Head

• Install proper endcap on the discharge thruhull. It’s already disconnected and has an always-closed ball valve, but my purchase survey recommended capping it too.
• Install TruDesign 3/4 in vented loop for toilet raw water intake. The intention is to prevent flow-back into the toilet bowl.

Galley

• Galley sink: Install new faucet Barka RR4600 fold down low spout tap. It’s nice, I like it. Reasonably-priced, compact, the spout folds away, it’s all metal except for a ceramic cartridge. The old faucet was a Whale plastic faucet. After 30 years of reliable service, the knob’s plastic got brittle and broke off. Despite Whale’s fantastic after-sales support, they couldn’t offer me any replacement parts.
• Uninstall the shore-powered hot water dispenser. Free up counter space. Suspect wiring. Never used it.
• Galley sink filter: Simplified connections with new fittings and hoses. Replaced filter with Rainfresh CF2 filter.

Primary fuel filter

• Replace Parker R12T filter that was stored in the cockpit locker.
• Primed filter with Sea Foam Motor Treatment, poured rest into fuel tank.

Mainsail track stops

• Install 3D-printed track stop with screws and butyl tape. Thanks to my friend Steve, his patience, and his printer.

Electrical, or, now I can sleep at night

• AC socket: Install new GFCI socket with plastic box.
• Engine ground: I notice that the ground wire to the engine is attached at one of the bolts on the transmission. That seems pretty hacky, eh? What should be done: The Yanmar Service Manual (0000A0A1361) page 12-2 shows the battery connecting to terminals on the engine starter. From there it should go to a boat-wide bus bar.
• Main breaker panel: Rewire AC and DC. Parts: All new marine-grade wiring for AC and DC. Negative busbar Blue Sea 2304, Positive DC terminal block Blue Sea 2410.

Lifeline stanchion

• Re-attached the modified aluminum base to the starboard side to the toe rail. It’s solid enough but I’m not 100% happy with it.

Dodger canvas

• Pick up new canvas from Des Canevas.

Launch

Standing rigging

• Shroud tension 700 lbs.
• Backstay tension about 400 lbs.
• Bobstay tension: taught.

Boom

• Re-attach.

Bimini & dodger

• Put up frames, attach canvas.
• Dodger canvas: one panel needs adjustment, take it down to bring back to canvas shop.

Dodger canvas

• Drop off new canvas at Des Canevas for adjustments.

Dodger canvas

• Install adjusted canvas from Des Canevas. Fits like a glove.

Dock line snubbers

• Got 2 of’em.

Starboard sheet winch

• Cleaned with lots of WD40, tooth brush, and tooth picks. Harken High Performance Winch Grease on metal bearings, shafts, and gears. Sealube 48-540 oil on pawls and plastic bearings.

Winterize engine, pre-haulout

• Engine winterize checklist.

Sails

• Take down, fold, store in cabin.

Bimini & dodger

• Remove canvas, take down frames.

Boom

• Remove, store in cabin.

Haulout

Winterize engine, post-haulout

• Engine winterize checklist.

Winterize plumbing

• Water tank: 2 litres plumbing antifreeze, ran pressure pump with galley and head faucets open until they were spitting pink.
• Toilet: Pumped 2 litres of plumbing antifreeze.

Rudder

• Remove drain plug. No water.

Batteries

• Disconnect, bring home.

Propane

• Disconnect tanks.

More maintenance

At your service

Humbly yours,

Marc, Supreme Purser