3 Steps to Maintain Your Collar
NIP UP SCREWS
KNOW ITS LIMITS
SHADE OR PAINT
#1. NIP-UP SCREWS
DO NOT OVER-TIGHTEN
During the first month
Your Collar is settling into place. As it does, the screws will loosen due to a reduction in pressure on them. So, in the early days, before each use of your boat, nip up the screws, ensuring you don't over-tighten (can strip the thread off the screw).
Think "snug" and firm (see image, this section). If the rubber dome washer underneath the stainless washer becomes splayed out and misshaped, loosen off a touch until the rubber washer regains its shape.
Ongoing screw maintenance
Once your Collar has settled into position, it will only need periodical checks to see if screws need nipping-up.
Note: Failure to maintain your screws may void your warranty as it can cause subsequent damage to your Collar. The first sign that a screw is loose is a water leak.
In severe cases of neglect, the loose screws can elongate the holes in your boat &/or pull the screws from the plates.
A short routine check-up is worth the five minutes.
OPTIONAL: permanently fix the screws
Wait one month.
Internal screws: One at a time - remove screw and squeeze Sikaflex Marine in the hole, reinsert screw and tighten. Repeat. Leave to dry for 48 hours before using.
To permanently seal External plate screws, undo each screw, and [one at a time] squeeze half a pump (with cartridge gun) of Liquid Nails into the hole, coat the head of the screw with Tef-Gel (the same that comes in your Boat Collar pack) then re-insert and tighten until you see the same snug pressure on the Collar as before (5mm indented into Collar at most).
What your rubber washes should look like:
Note for Collars pre-2015
If your fixings are leaking, it may be from the black rubber washers breaking down. In 2015 we changed to nylon dome washers which have a much longer lifespan, are UV resistant and provide a fantastic water seal. They're the same washers used on corrugated tin rooves so are perfect for the job. If you need to replace your old washers, contact us for a maintenance pack.
Order a maintenance pack
Standard Maintenace Packs include; stainless steel screws, stainless steel washers, nylon dome washers, driver bit, 30g tube of Tef-Gel cream, and includes standard postage Australia wide.
Available sizes (12 gauge or 14 gauge), and in 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 lots. From $64 to $94 including GST & postage.
If you just require the new nylon, EPDM 13mm dome-head washers, or a 30g tube of the Tef-Gel anti-corrosive cream, or even a pair of Strap Protectors to keep your Collar going stronger for longer, give us a call, and we'll get you set up.
Note: since Kapten Collars expand slightly when hot and shrink slightly when cold, small fissures will occur in painted coating over time. This is normal and not detrimental, but explains why it's important for the paint to be flexible.
Painting your Collar will produce it's own need for maintenance. Painting your entire Collar will incur the most maintenance as it is bound to be scuffed and worn as it's on the outermost edges of the Collar. If you just paint the top, softer layers of the Collar, you'll have less maintenance as the harder, outer layer is left to take all the bruises, and not your paint work.
CONTACT/VISIT
Office: (07) 5441 3636
Mobile: 0423 499 047
58 Arundell Ave Nambour, QLD, Australia 4560.
info@boatcollar.com.au
BUSINESS DETAILS
Australian Patent # 2010201449. American Patent Application # 13/083,588 - Watercraft Accessory.
Marine Safety Innovations Pty Ltd.
ABN # 53 141 908 385
Australian owned & operated since 2010