DIY

[rogerthebodger]

The fact that a yard can insist you use an inhouse staff to do work on your boat surprises me as do the UK consumer protection legislation allow you to select who provides goods or services to a consumer.

Our CPA does but it does not stop yards to breach any restrictions as its to the yards advantage but making more money

 

[Stemar]

IMO, it's bad enough that a yard should charge me to use my choice of contractor, but to forbid DIY? Is that even legal? What about a bit of fettling while alongside? My sailing club is very much a DIY place. There are signs saying you must be competent to use the mast derrick, and the winch for hauling out can only be used by certain committee members who have the necessary training, but the rest is entirely up to you.

 

[Laysula]

On a previous boat I replaced the diesel engine, including replacing the fuel tank, exhaust, stern tube, propshaft, prop, fuel lines filter etc. also replaced the roller reefing and instruments taking several trips up the mast to do it.

Current boat is coming out of the water in the spring so I can replace the saildrive seal, engine mounts,some seacocks,
While it's out I am having the rigger replace the standing rigging and whilst the mast is down I intend to rewire the mast and replace the deck light.
I am also getting a fibreglass guy to do some work on a couple of crazes on the gel coat.
Quite happy to most jobs myself, but some I just feel it's better to get a specialist in.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

IMO, it's bad enough that a yard should charge me to use my choice of contractor, but to forbid DIY? Is that even legal? What about a bit of fettling while alongside? My sailing club is very much a DIY place. There are signs saying you must be competent to use the mast derrick, and the winch for hauling out can only be used by certain committee members who have the necessary training, but the rest is entirely up to you.

It's their land, so they are perfectly at liberty to deny access to anyone they want.

I very much doubt that a marina or yard could stop an owner working on their own boat PROVIDING it wasn't causing annoyance or damage to others. My own marina bans activities like heavy sanding on the pontoons.

Marinas are responsible for H&S on site, which is the justification for external contractors requiring permission and often the payment of a fee

 

[Boathook]

I've installed my own bow thruster, windlass, instruments including radar, gas system, etc.

I am wondering whether to pay someone to scrape back the antifoul for a smoother finish this winter.

 

[Stemar]

I've installed my own bow thruster, windlass, instruments including radar, gas system, etc.

I am wondering whether to pay someone to scrape back the antifoul for a smoother finish this winter.

Stop wondering. I did it last winter - I have no intention of doing it again

 

[Wansworth]

This conversation is a deter ant to boat ownership

 

[Boathook]

This conversation is a deter ant to boat ownership

No it isn't. It's being realistic about what we used to do and what we are able or want to do as we become more mature. I find antifouling easy but it is the prep that I'm starting to dislike !

 

[Wansworth]

No it isn't. It's being realistic about what we used to do and what we are able or want to do as we become more mature. I find antifouling easy but it is the prep that I'm starting to dislike !

Many boat owners are romantic

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Many boat owners are romantic

The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak!

 

[DownWest]

No it isn't. It's being realistic about what we used to do and what we are able or want to do as we become more mature. I find antifouling easy but it is the prep that I'm starting to dislike !

Just slap another coat on the old, you probably won't notice the speed difference....

 

[DownWest]

Many boat owners are romantic

With your admitted lack of skills.. You must be jesting in your search for boat at a low budget..

Only pulling your leg, it keeps the rest of us amused. A true romatic about effort verses time on the water.

Keep looking, and posting, in the coming year. We are rooting for you.

 

[Wansworth]

With your admitted lack of skills.. You must be jesting in your search for boat at a low budget..

Only pulling your leg, it keeps the rest of us amused. A true romatic about effort verses time on the water.

Keep looking, and posting, in the coming year. We are rooting for you.

Thanks……almost within my grasp and it disappeared off the for sale list…now I have a cataract operation this Friday so probably another month before action can be taken…..as Mr Micawber said something will turn up……yes the cheaper and older will stretch my skills Ithink I am going to have to increase the budget to eliminate some of the fetterling!

 

[Stemar]

Ithink I am going to have to increase the budget to eliminate some of the fetterling!

Has anyone ever bought a boat that didn't need fettling?

OK, if I'm having a custom Spirit boat built, I wouldn't expect to get the toolbox out, but in the real world?

 

[Wansworth]

Has anyone ever bought a boat that didn't need fettling?

OK, if I'm having a custom Spirit boat built, I wouldn't expect to get the toolbox out, but in the real world?

On your new boat you can invent something to fettle…..Ihave

 

[Roberto]

It's their land, so they are perfectly at liberty to deny access to anyone they want.

I very much doubt that a marina or yard could stop an owner working on their own boat PROVIDING it wasn't causing annoyance or damage to others. My own marina bans activities like heavy sanding on the pontoons.

Marinas are responsible for H&S on site, which is the justification for external contractors requiring permission and often the payment of a fee

Following a grave accident (iirc a person fell from his boat which was on the hard and died) all public marinas in Andalucia -and most are publicly owned- prohibited anyone to work on their own boats while on the hard. I overwintered in one of them and had antifouling anodes etc taken care by a local contractor, it was fair the marina gave me a list of over 10 approved names to choose from; the day the boat had to go back in the water they lent me a safety helmet+vest and just allowed me 5minutes in the yard to open the companionway and get the engine ready to start, no battery charging nor anything else allowed. It was a few years ago so things may have changed, but at the time it was strictly enforced, there were even people residing on their hauled out boats who were told to leave them at a very short notice. Maybe the marina being public the local authority issued a specific regulation.

 

[Roberto]

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

Made by professionals: engine injection pump rebuild, wire swaged terminals, full new sails, fabrication of custom stainless steel pieces. When old electronics fail I usually buy new ones.
All the rest done by myself, having bought a then 20yo boat and owned it for 20 more, that means almost a full rebuild