How long before it goes wrong?

[Nostrodamus]

Ok, there is always something on the list that needs doing but how long have you managed to sail without nothing breaking, or going wrong.
I wonder if anyone has managed a season without adding something to the list.

 

[Woodlouse]

How major does the breakage have to be? If it's something like a glass or a mobile then not more than a few days. If we're talking sails and spars and the like then years.

 

[[2068]]

Nope, on a 9 year old Mobo with two engines, there is always something that will go "sproing", "pertwang", or is imminently about to do so in any given season.

 

[jonic]

Cruising is fixing boats in exotic places.

By it's very nature.

 

[jerrytug]

Perhaps you should take up stamp collecting if you can't tie a knot or get a diesel engine going are you British?

 

[Koeketiene]

Ok, there is always something on the list that needs doing but how long have you managed to sail without nothing breaking, or going wrong.
I wonder if anyone has managed a season without adding something to the list.

There's always something, but our list is getting shorter all the time.
Items on our 'to fix' list are becoming cheaper and easier to fix too.
Replace one cabin light and fit new spinnaker halyard are currently top of the list.

 

[jwilson]

Ok, there is always something on the list that needs doing but how long have you managed to sail without nothing breaking, or going wrong.
I wonder if anyone has managed a season without adding something to the list.

Every time I have bought a boat the first few sails something breaks or goes wrong. After the first winter when all the temporary fixes have been refixed properly, you can usually have a few years with very little problems, before wear creeps in again.

I do seem to have many more problems to fix with a modern hot-and-cold-full-electronics-lots-of-gizmos boat than I ever had with just wood, wire, string and a compass and leadline.

 

[Leighb]

Last year for us it was about 400 yards. I found that the genoa would not unfurl when asked, guess who had put the reefing line the wrong way round the drum.

Anyway it was a nice day, we picked up a mooring at Pin Mill, decided it was lunchtime and while SWMBO got the picnic ready I re-rove the reefing line.

We then continued our planned potter round to Hamford Water. However careful one is the first outing will inevitably show up some fault or bit of stupidity.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

I don't let it bother me. As stuff stops working I just carry on. As long as the boat floats, the mast stays up and the sails keep working, everything else is a distraction. In the winter I fix the things I want fixed and remove the stuff that doesn't work. I find life is simpler that way and the sailing less complicated.

 

[Baggy]

Getting caught in Squalls can be very expensive..
New main required for moi..

 

[Blueboatman]

Get a sense of perspective perhaps?

Always look on the bright side of life..Worse things happen at se....never mind, Nostro

A boat is the complex technological vehicle and your home-so of course there is a war of attrition and ageing, whats the problem?

If you budget and put aside 10% yearly of the purchase price ( EEk!) you wont get caught out. I prefer to regard repairs as sensible upgrades and improvments. ''Always look on the..."

Just think, you might have two crappy expensive cars, two crappy jobs, two horrible commutes, one dilapidating house in a falling market AND an unused boat sitting forlornly miles from your home..There, thats better innit

 

[onesea]

Just think, you might have two crappy expensive cars, two crappy jobs, two horrible commutes, one dilapidating house in a falling market AND an unused boat sitting forlornly miles from your home..There, thats better innit

Or even worse all of the above without a boat I could not hack that no dreams of escapes hoping for nice weather. Worries of breakages

No boat is ever perfect the list is always there, question is what you will accept. The hard part is guessing what your next big expense is going to be ...

 

[johnalison]

It happened to us about three years ago on a three-month cruise. We were a couple of miles from home when SWMBO voiced a thought that I had been entertaining for the last week. "Nothing has gone wrong!" she said. I have seldom been as nervous as during that last half hour, but we got home without incident.

Even with a boat we have owned from new, there was always:
Electronic glitches
Torn sails
Leaks in the pressurised water system
Loose saildrive anode
Minor damage
Outboard failure etc. etc.

 

[mikemacdonald]

that's part of the fun of having a boat, and acquiring the skills to keep it going!! Plus the satisfaction of knowing the job is done properly, and hopefully, cheaply.

 

[Conachair]

Ok, there is always something on the list that needs doing but how long have you managed to sail without nothing breaking, or going wrong.
I wonder if anyone has managed a season without adding something to the list.

Ah, didn´t they tell you? I found it gets a bit easier when you relax into the realization that a boat is not something you have.

A boat is something you do.

 

[jonic]

Ah, didn´t they tell you? I found it gets a bit easier when you relax into the realization that a boat is not something you have.

A boat is something you do.

Brilliant

 

[Tomahawk]

I think I know your game???

Nostro..
You are just trying to upset people.. You have had a wonderful time in La Rochelle followed by a beautiful sail to Guijon..

It is late at night and you have been ashore for some wonderful local seafood... Then you get back to the boat and whilst the children go to bed you post a really provocative thread.

I say old chap.. That is really not on... Most of are here in Blighty, we have to put up with water shortages in the South East. Traffic jams to the South coast not to mention all the stupid Olympic hype whilst you soak up the sun in Spain...

Is this simply to get a reaction? If so why? Are you missing us? You are on board Cygnus.... Life could get better but not sure by how much...

 

[KellysEye]

Long distance sailng, using things 24x365, we spent two days a week on fixing things or maintenance. In six and a half years the longest we went without anything breaking/ maintenance was one month. Then three thing broke in two days. As Jonic said 'Cruising is fixing boats in exotic places'.

 

[jordanbasset]

With us something invariably has gone wrong when we have returned to the boat after being away. Last thing was the fresh water pump gave up the ghost. I'm a little nervous as we are due back aboard in a week. It is as if she is punishing us for being away