Assess the state of your boat’s bottom while it’s out of the water. Perhaps everything is looking good and all it needs is a good cleaning and a little burnishing. But if it has been a few years since you’ve repainted, talk to the boatyard about your options. Bottom care is perhaps the least fun maintenance on a boat, but it’s important to stay on top of it, not just for performance, but also because a neglected bottom can lead to serious trouble down the line.

Next: Clean the rig