It’s time to prepare yourself and your Optimist for the new sailing season. Signs of wear and tear will show on several places which might need some extra attention. The most common bits and peaces which need to be checked or replaced are shown below. Good luck with all your season preparations! If you need any assistance, please contact your local Optiparts dealer.

Check your ratchet!
Does your ratchet block still run smoothly and is the ratchet function still working? Clean your block by removing dirt and salt or if necessary replace your block. We recommend a block with 57mm sheave and ratchet on/off switch.

Choose a rubber stand-up!
A rubber stand-up keeps your block from hitting the deck without snagging lines and it won’t hurt your toes. This flexible 40 mm version is suitable to mount under ratchet blocks. Check our manual for installation step by step.

Replace your sleeve and collar!
A mast sleeve is fitted around the mast at deck level and protects the mast from wearing. If the sleeve is worn out, it’s time to replace the sleeve. Check our manual for the right position and how to mount.

Splice new lines!
The lines on an Optimist are being used intense and has to be checked carefully. Your sprit halyard, vang and bridle are recommended to replace in time. We recommend to use our Dyneema minireel, together with our stainless steel splicing needle for easy splicing.

Don’t lose your extension!
You do not want to break the rubber joint during a training or regatta! Replace your tiller extension rubber joint in advance. We advise a rubber joint with fibre core. The fibre core will avoid complete failure when the rubber tears. Mounted with a pin which is kept in place by a piece of heat shrinkable tubing.

Keep your daggerboard in place!
Shockcord stretches out over time. Check your daggerboard bungy and replace if necessary. Optiparts supplies a complete set with two sizes of tubing, shockcord and 3 mm Vectran rope to keep the shockcord in place and your hiking strap up too. Check our manual for installation step by step.

Create your team outfit!
Windesign tanktops are perfect for teams and visibility on the water. These lycra tanktops are ideal for wearing over your buoyancy aids and harnesses to make sure you are streamlined with no annoying dangly bits. Highly flexible, with flatlock stitch technology. Four colors available in junior and adult size.

The new sailing season is starting soon. This is the time to prepare yourself and your Optimist. After a year of intense sailing your Optimist hull and hardware will show signs of wear and tear on several places. Before you start sailing again, it’s very important to check your Optimist carefully. Where to start? Use the Optimist season preparation tips below.

Mast sleeve
The Optimist mast sleeve is fitted around the mast at deck level and protects the mast from wearing. If the sleeve is worn out, it’s time to replace the sleeve. When mounting the sleeve, you will notice the sleeve is slightly smaller than the mast. To mount the sleeve you should gently warm the sleeve with a hairdryer or paint stripper. You can easily slide the warm sleeve over the mast into position. For the correct position, have a look in the Optimist mast sleeve manual.

Deck collar
The Optimist deck collar is made of Delrin to create minimal friction between the sleeve and the collar. The oval inner diameter allows the maximum fore/aft and minimum side play and the tapered inner diameter allows the Optimist mast to be raked.

Lacing lines
The Optimist lacing lines are being used to trim the sail. Check this lines one by one and replace if needed. Available as complete ready-to-use package and on 1.2mm and 2.2mm minireels.

Control lines
Besides the lacing lines, an Optimist has several lines which are being used intense and has to be checked carefully. Your Optimist sprit halyard and vang, both Vectran or Dyneema, are recommended to replace in time. Use our Vectran minireel or Dyneema minireel, together with our stainless steel splicing needle for easy splicing.

Rubber joint tiller extension
Don’t let it break during a training or regatta! Replace your tiller extension rubber joint in advance. We advise a rubber joint with fibre core. The fibre core will avoid complete failure when the rubber tears. Mounted with a pin which is kept in place by a piece of heat shrinkable tubing.

Buoyancy bags
Optimist buoyancy bags are important for safety reasons and for having less water in your Optimist after a capsize. Inflate your buoyancy bags before your first training and check the next day if they are still inflated. If not, then you will have to replace your buoyancy bag(s).
Please note, not to over inflate the buoyancy bags. When bags are properly filled, they will be soft to the touch. Over inflated bags may burst when heated up by the sun or rising temperatures. Make sure there are no sharp points in your boat that would snag or puncture the buoyancy bags.