Getting cold feet about boat ownership....

I absolutely sympathise - I'm now at the short list stage and am finding it hugely stressful! Looked over dozens of boats and whittled it down to 2, but as the BIG moment comes close I cant stop the niggling doubts from creeping in...Will we really use it? Is it too selfish to spend a huge wedge of cash on a 'toy' for daddy? What if this or that happens? and so on and so on...

But then I think, whats the worst that can happen? The boat just rots on its mooring and all that hard earned cash slowly sinks to the bottom of the ocean. But to live with the regret of not ever knowing I'm sure must be far worse for the soul.

Maybe its just one of those things in life where you have to go with the heart and then let the brain sort ot out the mess later on!

Oh and by the way the guy you see effing and blinding covered in grease, dripping in blood with a huge pile of tiny engine parts all over the pontoon will almost certainly be me!

Good luck!

Mark
 
Sounds to me like you have a disease with only one known cure …. BOAT OWNERSHIP! You are unlikely to sleep at night until you have one. So, now we have established that, it’s simply a matter of making the right choices.

Buy the newest, bestest boat you can find. It’s challenging enough dealing with routine maintenance when getting started.

If you have an aspiration to maintain yourself, a combination of a few good books and the YBW forum will soon have you getting by (which is all the rest of us do). If you don’t, be sure to do your sums properly before buying.

Focus on the upsides ... It's not so scary once you are over the fence
 
nah go for it. Its better to regret the things you have done, rather than the things you never did. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
After a couple of days of broker visits, the doubts are creeping in. Not about the costs (tho' I try not to look at my calculations of running costs) or about our ability to sail the thing (we are confident of becoming only moderately dangerous to other water users...)

No, its about maintaining the boat. All you good folks on S'butt exude an image of competent practicality that scares me. Electrickery is a mystery to me (I thought a dry joint was a place where you couldn't buy alcohol), and carpentry is not much better (my old woodwork master called me a "wood-butcher"). As for that thing under the companionway steps that goes "chug-chug"......

I daren't look on the PBO forum. It seems full of posts like " Ah, yes, thats a known problem with the Omnibombulator MkV. Just release the queech valve - if it's tight a half inch naggler will do the job - and reverse the flow, then Robert is your avuncular relation". At least, I think thats what it said /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

So help me guys & gals -

a) Am I worrying needlessly, and the knowledge will seep into my brain by some form of osmosis?

b) Will I aquire a close relationship with the boatyard, and a less close relationship with my money?

c) Should I get my daughter to marry a diesel fitter?

d) Is stamp collecting a socially acceptable pastime instead?

[/ QUOTE ]

OK - to give you a semi serious answer. Assuming you actually are a beancounter, then there is nothing in a boat that you cannot master. Anyone who can understand double entry and the UK tax and vat system can deal with simple things like boat engines - IF HE IS WILLING TO TRY

The best solution to any anxiety is to buy a new or nearly new boat (that usually gives you as much as 10 years before serious maintenance probs) and above all to join a sailing club not just park in a marina. From a sailing club, particularly away from the "I let a little man in the yard prepare my boat this season" Solent type clubs, you will find yourself learning from older more experienced members. So that even if you decide to have the yard do a job you will at least know which yard to go to and what to ask them about, check on etc.

If you buy an old boat, dont try to learn the basic diy, have a yard do all the jobs - you might just as well buy the KY and brace yourself! To be a bit vulgar /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

So - join a real boat club and enjoy not only the sailing but also the fitting out, laying up and the company. And buy a boat that isnt worn out, rather than the boating equivalent of an old banger.
 
There's very little that you can't learn from a good book ! One of my favourites is the one on 12V electrics by, I think (cos its on the boat) Minor Brotherton - slim paperback which tells you LOTS. And when you overcome the fear buy Nigel Calder's encyclopaedic Handbook and you'll never walk alone !

And, strange to say as a SWMO I get quite a lot of satisfaction when I can service the engine. So GO FOR IT - there's nothing as wonderful as a love affair with a boat (sorry HWMBO !")
 
[ QUOTE ]
If you buy an old boat, dont try to learn the basic diy, have a yard do all the jobs

[/ QUOTE ]

Why?
 
I know how you feel as I was in your position 18 months ago. Have now got the boat and what I found helpful was to completely ignore some areas of the boat to avoid going into panic and overload. In my case, I ignored the engine and pay the professionals to do that.

That has allowed me to concentrate on learning the plumbing, rigging and deck hardware, electrics etc. Nigel Calders book has been my bible through out.

Go for it.
 
Feeling better now...

thanks for all the encouragement. The Memsahib & I had a good chuckle at some of the responses, and have duly noted the many words of wisdom.

Now, where can I buy a copy of "The Ladybird Book of boat electrics"....

John
 
Re: Feeling better now...

I think i have the answer to all problems of boat maintaience. Buy a waarship 1010 Not long ago sailing in a good breeze to port cross i was passed yes passed by one of these at speed!!! I even change the genoa for my super large light one at great risk--and couldent catch it!!!
When i found it it turned out to be a Dutch built boat, made of plywood,so no osmosis,it looked really elegant and fast, it did have an engin but it seems it was out of service, so the main engin had become a small 9.9 outboard which seemed to push her along quite well. A very nice boat indeed.
So no hull problems
no engin problems, if the outboard stops just drop it overboard and get another!
No electrical problems, as there wernt any!
Just remember to greace the headsail system and sail trouble free!!
 
Re: Feeling better now...

As a newish boat owner, coming up to third season of ownership of an Achilles 24, my advice is stop shilly-shallying and do it. If you don't know how to fix it, ask someone how. If you then bottle out of fixing it, pay someone to do it.

If you buy a new or newish boat, you may never find out how any of it works..... until its too late.

We had to completely rewire our Achilles 24 after our first season, because we couldn't get everything to work all the time. We read the books, asked lots of questions, planned carefully, and did a great job, even though I say so myself.

A boat is a hole in the water into which you throw money, but I couldn't be without it now.
 
Re: Feeling better now...

Electrickery is easy as long as you remember -

Connect red to red, black to black -
And blue to F%@*

/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
We resemble that remark!

Actually, it is not the wooden bits of the boat that have been the problem, on the whole. When a boat gets to the far side of fifty, most of the other stuff needs replacing - we've re-wired, re-plumbed, re-upholstered... In fact I ripped the whole of the insides out, bulkheads and all, and started again. Should see me out, now.

A GRP hull would be the same, so far as that goes, but would it be worth the effort, for a standard production boat?
 
Re: I\'d be with you all the way

Boat ownership sucks.

Drawbacks include. The cost, the worry, cruising the same area , being on the same boat (which will be the wrong size, type & colour.) Problems will only arise at the start of your well deserved holidays or at least when your fully crewed.

Half of the people you meet will tell you how theirs is bigger, better, was a better deal, they could have got that sorted for half what you spent, when they sailed with Chay he didn't do it like that. The other half will be tossers.

Oh! and you won't be able to sell it.

On the other hand it does get you out of the house.

Charter. Even better be a charter skipper.
 
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