Maintaining the deck and structure
The Chief Mate plans and supervises the maintenance of the hull and superstructure, the deck fittings, the paintwork and corrosion control, the rigging and lifting gear, the ground tackle and mooring equipment, and the watertight and weathertight closing appliances. On a yacht the standard of finish is high, but the underlying purpose is to keep the ship seaworthy and safe, not just presentable. Work is scheduled through a planned maintenance system driven by running hours and the calendar, with the work done and the defects found recorded.
- Plan maintenance of hull, deck, rigging, lifting gear, ground tackle and closing appliances.
- Run a planned maintenance system by running hours and calendar, recording work and defects.
- Control corrosion through coatings, cathodic protection and keeping spaces clean and dry.
- Manage stores and consumables so the work can actually be done.
NOTE — Plan the work, work the plan Management-level maintenance is about foresight: scheduling and resourcing work so that failures are prevented rather than chased. A planned maintenance system with honest records is what keeps the deck reliable.
WARNING — Presentation must not hide seaworthiness On a yacht the pressure is to keep everything looking perfect, but a fresh coat of paint over corroded steel or a frayed wire hidden behind a cover is a trap. Maintenance serves seaworthiness first, appearance second.