Offshore Cruising Resources

Maintenance Hub | Pro-Active Yacht Maintenance

Offshore Leopard 45 & Lagoon L400 Refits  Proactive Major Refits

Yanmar 4JH45-C Starboard Engine installed


Engines are a critical safety system. Whether you're manoeuvring through a narrow reef pass, or motoring into strong headwinds, engine reliability can make the difference between a minor inconvenience and a serious problem.

Routine inspections often reveal small problems such as a weeping coolant hose, loose hose clamp, worn drive belt, contaminated fuel filter or slight oil leak before they develop into costly failures.

Yanmar places strong emphasis on daily inspections and scheduled maintenance, stating that regular servicing helps prevent breakdowns, reduces running costs, maintains safety and performance, and extends engine life.

Over thousands of engine hours, these simple maintenance tasks can reduce operating costs while increasing confidence that your engines will start when you need them most.

Yanmar notes that neglected filters, lubrication systems and cooling components can reduce combustion efficiency, impair engine performance and accelerate component wear. BE PROACTIVE.

⛵🔧 Leopard 45

(Saloon Windows, Antifoul, Engines & Saildrives - out, Cabinetry)

⛵🔧 Leopard 45

(Solar, Batteries, Electrical, Antifoul, Gori Propellers, Rudder Tubes, Induction Cooktop, Microwave)

⛵🔧 Lagoon L400

(Solar, Electrical, Mast, Saildrives, Cushions, Alternators, Antifoul)

⛵🔧 Lagoon L400

(Square Top Main & Genoa, Docril Canvas Covers, Stella Watermaker, Antifoul)

Specific Upgrades : Extended Cruising Toolbox

Yanmar 4JH45 Common Rail Engine 

Highly reliable and fuel-efficient option offshore, running on one motor. Skipping scheduled maintenance can lead to boat insurance coverage issues (View Here...)

Yanmar 3JH5E Common Rail Engine 

We found these to be highly reliable and fuel-efficient for our cruising. Skipping scheduled maintenance can lead to boat insurance coverage issues (View Here...)

Offshore Engine Spares

All Filters (3 of each), Engine Oil (10lt), Alternator (1), Starter (1), Engine Fuel Pump (1), Fuses & CB's (Various).

Yanmar Engine Review

Yanmar 4JH45  💰💰💰💰 Use again? - 100% (2025)

Yanmar 3JH5E 💰💰💰💰 Use again? - 100% (2021)

Yanmar 3JH5E Common Rail Engine

Yanmar SD60 

Superb sail drive. However, annual maintenance is required (View Here...)

Yanmar SD50

Continually had 'cone' challenges. For Offshore, would avoid if possible.

Offshore Saildrive Spares

Prop Oil (5lt), Prop Seals (2), Anodes (3 sets).

Yanmar Saildrive Review

Yanmar SD60 💰💰💰💰 Use again? - 100% (2025)

Yanmar SD50 💰 Use again? - 30% (2020)

Yanmar SD60 Saildrive corrsion

Gori Propellers 

Heavy, no nonsense fantastically engineered machinery. Amazing reverse-blade-pitch fuel saving mechanism (View Here...)

Gori Propeller Spares

Gori Specific Propeller Tool (1)

Propeller Review

Gori Folding Propellers  💰💰💰💰 Use again? - 100% (2021 & 2025)

Kiwi Feathering Propellers 💰💰 Use again? - 30% (2019)
Std Yanmar 3-Blade Fixed 💰 Use again? - 31% (2019 - 2025)

Gori Folding Propeller with Propspeed applied

Meteor Batteries (House)

We are guided by professionals here. These batteries carry their own BMS units and can be 'trained' together (See more...)

Victron Smart LiFePO4 Batteries (House)

Good quality battery with a solid following for a reason (See more...)


Battery Spares

The Meteor 'trains' allow for easy removal of a battery with a malfunction (takes 5 minutes). No spares carried.


Lithium Battery Review

Meteor Batteries  💰💰💰💰 Use again? - 100% (2025)

Victron Batteries 💰💰💰 Use again? - 100% (2020)


Meteor 12v & 48v DC Lithium Battery

SunPower MAX3-400 

High quality anodised frames. Performance oustanding. Never plugged into shore power since, generator sits idle 95% of the time (See more...)

LG Solar Panels 

350 Watt solar that have performed flawlessly. Required minimal Marina power. Big alternators available to assist top-up (See More...)

Solar Spares
Nil. Generator if needed and engine alternators.

Solar Panel Review

SunPower MAX3-400  💰💰 Use again? - 100% (2025)

LG Solar Panels 💰💰 Use again? - 100% (2020)

SunPower 400 Watt Solar Panel

Seahawk Biocup

Used on our current Leopard 45. Found this to be amazing and offshore and east coast Australia berthing situation (View Here...)

PPG ABC 3

Mainly used on our Lagoon L400 and Easy 11.6. Found this to be a good all round antifoul for east coast Australia (View Here...)

Offshore Antifoul Spares

Nil

Antifoul Review

Seahawk Biocop 💰💰💰 Use again? - 100%

PPG ABC 3 💰 Use again? - 70%

Antifouling a Catamaran

Leopard 45 110&240AC

Why both? Induction cooktop and 4-in-1 Microwave (View Here...)

Lagoon L400

Lithium and Battery rewire (View Here...)

Offshore  Spares

Fues (various), Cabling (Various), Multimeters (2), Soldering equipment, SS Bolts/Screws/Nuts & Washers (many of various sizes), Electric Drill and Bits, Socket Sets (2), Tools multiple.

Electrical Installer Review

SigTec Electrical  💰💰💰 Use again? - 100% (2020-2025)

Installing Electrical equipment

Saloon Windows

Complete removal and reseal of all saloon windows (View Here...)


Lewmar Flush Mitre Porthole Windows 

Complete removal, sandblast, paint and reseal of all Lewmar Portlight windows (View Here...)

Lewmar Portlights ...are for use on the deck and coachroof of yachts in accordance with ISO/DIS 12216.2(E), DESIGN CAT. "A", AREAS II, III and IV for Portlights...
Fitting Instructions:
Where craft are intended to be operated on 'OCEAN' or 'OFFSHORE' voyages (as defined by ISO/DIS 12216.2(E)), no part of the plate or its framing is to extend beyond the outer surface of the hull or of a built-in-fairing being an integral
part of the hull. (Ref: Lewmar Document B5960 Issue E).


Offshore Window Spares

Nil.

Review: Lewmar Porthole Windows WARNING

Lewmar Flush Mitre 💰💰💰💰💰 Use again? - 10% (2026)

(Do NOT Buy these until they stop powder-coating the frames. We had to replace 8 at an insane cost, however got the new ones ANODISED black straight away. A sad reflection on Lewmar normally a great company. Do a search and judge for yourself.)

Leopard 45 internal view of the main windows

Cabinet Rebuild

A single-door locker beside the fridge and freezer, beneath the electrical cabinet, had become a convenient place for miscellaneous items. We decided to remove the side panel and convert the space into a dedicated liquor cabinet.

All hinges and latches were designed specifically for the installation and 3D printed at home. The cabinet doors were custom-made from tinted glass, providing visibility while helping protect the contents and reduce the risk of accidental scratching.

Spares

Nil

Review

Nil



Saloon Cabinetry in a catamaran

Custom Long Range Fuel Tank

Atlas tanks built this custom 280-litre tank to our specifications. We required additional strength across the top surface, so the internal baffles were specially cut and welded to provide greater structural support.


To maximise the available storage space around the tank, we specified all inspection, filling and connection openings on the top surface.

This allowed the tank to fit efficiently into the available space while keeping access points accessible for maintenance. It is positioned under our rear aft external saloon seat.

A separate pump was installed to allow diesel pumping in and out of the tank. This reverse cycle system (with shutoff valves), permits fuel polishing if required. The diesel then goes to the Starboard Fuel Tank only.

Spares

Nil


Atlas Tanks Review

Long Range Fuel Tank  💰 Use again? - 100% (2025)




leopard 45 catamaran

EPIRB, ELT, Jon Buoy, Life Rings & MOB

Detail is not listed here, however contained in our Crew Manual - Administration.

Life Raft, Life Jackets, Jacklines & Tethers

Detail is not listed here, however contained in our Crew Manual - Administration.

First Aid Kit (Cat1) & Daily First Aid Kit

Detail is not listed here, however contained in our Crew Manual - Administration.

Spares
All inflatable Life Jackets are the same brand.
- One Firing Mechanism (1)
- Cartridge (1)

leopard 45 catamaran

EPIRB, ELT, Jon Buoy, Life Rings

In progress (See more...)

Life Raft & Life Jackets

In progress (See More...)

First Aid Kit (Cat1) & Daily First Aid Kit

In progress (See More...)


Spares
Inflatable Life Jacket cartridge (1)

leopard 45 catamaran

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