Essential Yacht Maintenance
Learn the essential maintenance skills needed to keep a modern cruising yacht safe and reliable. This practical three-day course for boat owners and skippers covers diesel engines, marine electrics, winches, rigging checks, and preventative maintenance, and includes online pre-learning in marine electrics before the course begins.
Description
This practical hands-on course gives you the knowledge and confidence to better maintain a modern cruising yacht and reduce the risk of mechanical problems at sea.
You will learn how to carry out routine maintenance checks, identify common faults, and better understand key onboard systems including engines, marine electrics, winches, steering systems, pumps, and safety equipment.
The course includes online pre-learning in marine electrics covering 12v systems, batteries, wiring, charging systems, fault finding, and onboard electrical checks before the practical training begins.
Course programme
Day 1 — General yacht systems, marine electrics, ropework, safety equipment, and preventative maintenance
- Managing maintenance schedules (servicing, defects etc)/legal obligations
- Service schedule (engines, winches, sails, ropes, steering, and safety equipment)
- Annual out of water jobs (antifoul, anodes, keel bolts, rudder bearings, and seacocks)
- Practical ropework, whipping, splicing, and 12v electrical systems
Day 2 — RYA Diesel Engine course
- Marine diesel engine operation and maintenance
- Engine checks, fault finding, and bleeding the fuel system
Day 3 — Winch servicing and general yacht maintenance
- Winch servicing
- Rig and steering inspections
- Pump servicing and maintenance
Professional instruction
Learn from experienced Flying Fish instructors and marine professionals with extensive practical knowledge of modern cruising yachts and onboard systems.
The knowledge gained on this course can help improve safety, reduce maintenance costs, and increase confidence afloat.
Before you start
- No previous experience is required.
- This course is highly valuable for boat owners, operators, cruising sailors, and anyone wanting a better understanding of modern yacht systems, maintenance, and onboard safety.
- It is especially useful for sailors planning to work commercially as Yachtmasters, charter skippers, delivery crew, or professional sailing instructors.
What next?
- We recommend you combine this with our Dayskipper or Yachtmaster courses.
What's included
Tuition, and certification.
Qualifications
- RYA Diesel Engine certificate
- Essential Yacht Maintenance
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Faq
- Booking information
- If you book in advance, you can secure your place with a 20% holding deposit using the links above. The remaining balance is due 60 days before the course start date.
- The deposit is non-refundable but can be transferred to another Flying Fish course or event.
- Receive a 10% discount when booking three or more courses in a single transaction.
- We recommend booking early as spaces are limited.
- View our Terms and Conditions.
- What will I learn on this course?
- You will learn the essential maintenance skills needed to keep a modern cruising yacht safe, reliable, and operational.
- The course covers marine electrics, diesel engines, winches, ropework, steering systems, pumps, safety equipment, and preventative maintenance.
- You will also learn how to identify common faults, manage servicing schedules, and reduce the risk of breakdowns at sea.
- Do I need any previous experience?
- No previous experience is required.
- This course is suitable for boat owners, cruising sailors, Yachtmasters, charter skippers, and anyone wanting greater confidence maintaining a yacht.
- Is this course practical?
- Yes — this is a highly practical hands-on course combining demonstrations, onboard systems training, servicing tasks, and workshop-style learning.
- You will work with real yacht systems and equipment throughout the course.
- What is included in the online marine electrics pre-learning?
- The course includes self-paced online marine electrics training before the practical course begins.
- Modules include:
- Basic electrical principles
- Marine DC systems onboard
- Circuit diagrams and wiring schematics
- Batteries and power supply
- Connections, wiring, and installation
- Fault diagnosis and troubleshooting
- Practical tools and onboard electrical checks
- Final assessment
- Is this course useful for professional Yachtmasters and commercial skippers?
- Yes — this course is highly valuable for sailors planning to work commercially as Yachtmasters, charter skippers, delivery crew, or sailing instructors.
- A strong understanding of yacht systems and maintenance is an important professional skill for anyone operating vessels commercially.
- Will this course help me maintain my own boat?
- Yes — the course is designed to help boat owners better understand their yacht, carry out routine maintenance, identify defects early, and communicate more effectively with marine technicians when required.
- The knowledge gained on this course can improve safety, reliability, and reduce maintenance costs over time.