Introduction to MaintenanceROS: Put Your Boat Maintenance on Autopilot

During the 10 years of living aboard our sailboat Starry Horizons and circumnavigating the globe, my wife Amy and I learned one undeniable truth: good boat maintenance isn’t optional—it’s the difference between an enjoyable adventure and disheartening disaster. But we also learned that traditional maintenance tracking falls apart quickly. Information lives in too many places, spreadsheets get complicated, and staying ahead of what’s due next becomes nearly impossible.

That’s why my brother Thomas and I created MaintenanceROS — a comprehensive boat maintenance management platform I always wished I’d had during our sailing adventures.

The Problem with Traditional Boat Maintenance Tracking

Remember stepping aboard your boat for the first time as an owner? For Amy and me, that moment came in France, where we were greeted by a foot-high stack of owner’s manuals. Every system, every piece of equipment, every maintenance schedule—all documented separately with no central guide.

The learning curve was brutal. And we quickly discovered that most boat owners face the same challenges:

• Forgetting when maintenance is due - Was that oil change 50 hours ago or 100?
• Lost documentation - Where did you put that owner’s manual?
• Parts inventory mysteries - Do you actually have that spare impeller you think you do?
• No maintenance history - What work was done before you owned the boat?
• Scattered information - Spreadsheets here, notes there, nothing connected

These problems compound quickly. What starts as disorganization becomes forgotten maintenance, which turns into expensive repairs and potential safety issues.

The Solution: MaintenanceROS

MaintenanceROS brings all your boat’s maintenance information together in one organized, easy-to-use platform. Here’s what makes it different (or explore all features in detail):

Customized Maintenance Schedules

We’ve built a comprehensive equipment database with thousands of manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedules. When you add equipment to your boat, MaintenanceROS automatically generates a custom maintenance schedule for you based on actual manufacturer recommendations—not generic guesses.

The system tracks both time-based schedules (every 6 months) and usage-based schedules (every 100 engine hours), so you always know what’s due and when.

Smart Parts Inventory Management

I’m sure I’m not alone in buying a part I needed, only to later discover I had one all along in a locker it wasn’t supposed to be in. MaintenanceROS prevents that. Track what parts you have, where they’re stored, and when you need to restock. You can even link parts to specific maintenance tasks, so you know exactly what you’ll need before you start a project.

Complete Maintenance History

Every task you complete gets logged with dates, notes, and any relevant information. This creates a complete maintenance history that:

• Helps diagnose problems by seeing what work was done when
• Increases your boat’s resale value by documenting care
• Provides peace of mind that nothing’s been overlooked

Digital Documentation Storage

All your owner’s manuals, warranty information, receipts, and boat documents can all be stored in one place. Access them from anywhere with an internet connection—no more digging through lockers looking for that one manual.

Interactive Checklists

We’ve created a library of pre-made checklists for common procedures like haul-out preparation, seasonal commissioning, pre-departure checks, and more. All checklists are fully customizable to your specific boat and needs.

Dashboard Overview

See your boat’s entire maintenance status at a glance. The dashboard shows:

• Tasks that need immediate attention
• Upcoming maintenance requirements
• Equipment that needs the most care
• Equipment operating hours logbook

Built by Sailors, For Boat Owners

MaintenanceROS combines Thomas’s software expertise with the hard-won maintenance lessons Amy and I learned over a decade of cruising. We built this using modern technology (SvelteKit and Rust) to create a platform that’s both powerful and reliable.

But more importantly, we built it to solve real problems for real boat owners. Whether you’re planning a weekend cruise or an ocean crossing, whether you have a sail or power boat, proper maintenance tracking gives you confidence on the water.

Community-Powered Knowledge

Here’s something unique: as users add equipment to their boats, we crowd-source that information to help other owners with the same boat model. When you’re setting up your Catalina 30, Elba 45 or any of the hundreds of other models in our database, you’ll see what equipment other owners have added. Instead of building your equipment list from zero, you benefit from the collective knowledge of owners just like you.

Getting Started

MaintenanceROS offers a 30-day free trial for anyone who signs up directly through our website. We also partner with boat manufacturers and brokerages to provide extended trial periods for their customers.

During the trial, you’ll receive onboarding emails with tips and tricks to help you get the most out of the platform. We’ve worked hard to make setup straightforward, but we’re always here to help if you need assistance.

Why MaintenanceROS?

According to the US Coast Guard Boating Safety Resource Center, almost 10% of boating accidents are caused by mechanical or hull failure. Most of those accidents are preventable with proper maintenance.

But beyond safety, organized maintenance means:

• More time on the water, less time troubleshooting
• Lower costs by catching problems early
• Higher resale value with documented maintenance history
• Peace of mind that your boat is properly cared for

The Bottom Line

Boat ownership should start with excitement, not intimidation. After years of learning maintenance the hard way—from that overwhelming stack of manuals in France to searching islands for missing parts—we built the solution we always wished we’d had.

MaintenanceROS isn’t just software. It’s organized confidence. It’s the knowledge that you’re staying ahead of your maintenance instead of constantly playing catch-up. It’s the peace of mind that comes from knowing your boat is properly cared for.

Ready to put your maintenance on autopilot? Start your free trial today and discover how organized maintenance changes everything.

David Alton is the CEO of MaintenanceROS and documented his 10-year circumnavigation at Out Chasing Stars. He believes boat owners should enjoy their boat—not drown in maintenance issues.