DIY

[zoidberg]

Which boaty jobs would you tackle yourself - and which would have you reaching for a pro ( if you could find one)

 

[Sandy]

Finding a pro is the problem, well one that gets back to you within three full moons when there is an R in the month. Still waiting for somebody to get back to me even though his dad prodded him.

I don't do structural GRP work, but will tackle most things.

 

[rogerthebodger]

When I built my current boat the only pro I used was to spray the final paint job.

I did have someone to do some of the fabrication and prep work now that I could not do it myself but to save my time and increase the speed of fitting out.

I used local labour to do the fairing of the hull as fairing needed 3 people on a long board

 

[Graham_Wright]

Which boaty jobs would you tackle yourself - and which would have you reaching for a pro ( if you could find one)

Too many!
However, if you do it yourself, you know what quality or lack thereof you have invoked.

 

[Stemar]

I'll take the mast down and put it back up, using the derrick at my club, I took the bottom back to a sound surface last winter, but that's a job I won't be doing again because two hulls took nearly the whole winter between storms.

I also get an expert to service the engines now, because I started when I was recovering from a serious illness, and kinda got to like the idea. He also found some issues that I might well have missed, so no regrets there.

I'd also tackle almost anything electrical, but not electronic because I know next to nothing about electronics. I know it's pretty much board swapping, but first, you've got to be able to work out which board, and I can't.

 

[neil_s]

Which boaty jobs would you tackle yourself - and which would have you reaching for a pro ( if you could find one)

The only thing I prefer to get a pro to do lift out and back in and launder the sails. I can do the mast myself, but that is generally no longer possible in the confines of a boatyard. I will tackle all repairs. Have just repaired the oil pump and starter motor and serviced the life jackets.

 

[colind3782]

I'll have a go at pretty much anything that can be done in the water as the yard won't let you work on your own boat except for painting the bottom, they won't even let anyone but their staff use the pressure washer at €20 per meter!

 

[john_morris_uk]

I’m struggling to think of a job on the boat I won’t have a go at. Once upon a time I’d have said ‘rigging’ but with Sta-Lok available I’ll do that now as well.

 

[DownWest]

Just about everything except the electronics. I have built several smallish boats. Happy to make sails, fittings, rigging and even the trailers. In the past have done grp mouldings too.

 

[john_morris_uk]

I’ve just remembered. I don’t make sails or some canvas work. I leave that to the experts in sail lofts. (Notably Pete Sanders)

 

[Wansworth]

Had a go at most boat related jobs to a lesser or major degree but my main skill is indelegation

 

[rogerthebodger]

Had a go at most boat related jobs to a lesser or major degree but my main skill is in delegation

That is a viable way but must also include an inspection after the job was done.

Also, it you are out at sea there may be no one to delegation the rectification work of a fault too

 

[scozzy]

Pretty much everything I can besides sail repair and major engine issues.I enjoy the tinkering required to keep my boat in shape along with the £££ saved doing so

 

[Chiara’s slave]

We’ve just finished a major refurb, and apart from the swaging of the rigging fittings, and a bit of stainless welding it was all done by us. We have also had some new sails made, though I could have done that if we’d had a 13.5 metre long room. Folding tris are relatively complicated, the most difficult part was checking the alignment after some work on the hinge mechansims due to wear.

 

[The Q]

I designed it,
I built it,
I race it,
I'm currently sewing a new jib for it.

It is only a 16ft mini keelboat.

 

[johnalison]

I did a Volvo engine course when I graduated to a 2002 in ‘87 and happily serviced it for many years. On retiring and getting a boat with a 2030 I decided to go for regular pro servicing, in view of the much greater use I would be making of it. Although within the capabilities of anyone with basic engineering skills, I don’t regard myself as falling into that group, and have had to put up with the much greater expense, but the engine is still going strong after 24 years and many miles, so maybe my decision was right.

 

[PetiteFleur]

Don't do haulout, mast lowering, mooring servicing & mast climbing. 99% of other jobs I do or certainly attempt.

 

[chris-s]

I’m happy to tackle almost anything, upholstery, glass work, wood work, rigging, engine rebuilds, plumbing, electrics, cabinetry, metal work. Anything i don’t need super special tools for.

The only job I would like to have outsourced is replacing the headlining in the heads. The previously replaced headlining suffered with plasticiser migration turning the glue back to goo over the summer. It took 5 weekends to get it cleaned back to bare grp, then the process of working out the best way to recover it, first with foam before getting to the vinyl. It has so many curves, lumps and bumps arghh! Three months (of weekends) into what I thought would be one at the most and we are about ready to tackle the vinyl.

 

[veshengro]

Practically anything except electrics..Even with 12 volt, with my skills there are two options, either find someone competent or DIY and have the Fire Brigade on standby..

 

[Wansworth]

I lied…….years ago took out a water tank and then replaced keel bolts on a wooden 30 foot sloop,probably now would find that a challenge