Haul-Out Day Guide: What Happens When Your Boat Comes Ashore?
Haul-out day is the most critical and most valuable day your boat has all year. From the pre-prep to the moment she is slung, from trestle setup to the 10-minute to-do list while she's ashore — the whole haul-out day, hour by hour.
Haul-out day is when the boat comes out of the water and the year's busiest maintenance window opens. Once the boat is in slings, a number of jobs that would be expensive to do separately can be tackled all at once, more cheaply, while she's already out. That is why a haul-out is really a chance list.
The table below shows the jobs that can be grouped into one haul-out.
Haul-out opportunity list
Job | Why do it at haul-out |
|---|---|
Hull photo | Year-on-year comparison, osmosis and paint decision |
Anode inspection and renewal | Below-water access |
Shaft seal check | Hard to do while the boat is afloat |
Propeller and shaft | Cavitation, balance, fishing line wraps |
Seacocks | Removal, cleaning, corrosion check |
Keel joint | Keel smile and bolt area |
The 'three jobs in one haul-out' approach is the smartest way to use your budget: the lift and relaunch cost is fixed, so the more work you stack onto it, the more economical it becomes. This is why Care planning builds the haul-out day around a job list in advance.
In the hull photo archive, a close-up of the keel joint line and the propeller is repeated from the same angle every year; problems only show up early when you can compare like with like.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be on the boat during haul-out?+
Nobody is allowed on board during the lift itself, for safety reasons; but being on site — or having someone there to represent you — is very useful: sling positions, lift photos and the opportunity list are managed there and then.
How should I prepare the boat for haul-out?+
Secure loose items inside, close all hatches, know the sling points and have the work plan ready. Keeping fuel and water tanks from being overly full helps reduce the lifting load.
What jobs can be done while the boat is in slings?+
During a short lift, only quick checks and washing down; the main jobs (paint, seal, propeller) are done once she is on trestles. 'Hanging around in slings' is charged by the hour, so clear planning saves money here.
Why shouldn't I leave straight after launch?+
The real test of anything touched during haul-out is back in the water: seal, valve and hose tightness show up in the first few minutes. Launch + 15 minutes on bilge watch + a short running test is your haul-out day insurance policy.