MBY What Now Skip? This month's scenario

P

PaulAshton

New Member
Joined
14 Apr 2008
Messages
4
Visit site
MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

It's that time of the month. In the latest scenario, a friend in need isn't necessarily a friend indeed. As usual, the best suggestions and solutions will be published in July's MBY.

"Last season you took your friend and his wife on a couple of day trips in your new 45ft sportscruiser. They both enjoyed themselves so much that they vowed to get their own boat one day. And now they’ve done it! They hadn’t asked your advice as they wanted it to be a surprise. The boat in question is a 12-year-old sportscruiser fitted with twin 230hp Volvo sterndrives. Unfortunately, it has been laid up ashore under a tarpaulin for the past three years, which accounts for the absolute bargain price. Your friend feels you should be as excited as he is. Alas, he didn’t get a survey before buying, but the boat is now in the water and doesn’t leak. He says that the engines seem to be okay, albeit rather smoky, the canopy is torn and tattered, and some of the electrics are on the blink.

“Your friend has got a temporary berth in the same marina as you and the weather looks good for next weekend. But he’d like you to help bring the boat back for him – a coastal trip of about 20 miles. That's a question you didn't want to hear. What now, skip?"
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

Since the fine craft is afloat, he can take the opportunity to get a decent mechanic to service the engines and a sparks to look at the electrickery. Then pull the boat out and get a surveyor to check out the structure. Or, on the other hand, he can die on his own.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

This is sort of straightforward isn't it? No need to be cruel by mentioning the tatty canopy but tellim 3 years ashore means it needs a thorough engine/drive/elec/general service. Say it in a non combative way to lead him along to agreeing with you, and the conversation ends with him saying "yep mate you're right, I'll get it sorted out". Recommend a service firm if that would help. Then do the deliv trip with him (and take yr VHF, mobile, EPIRB) and a nice day out had by all etc.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

'Av a spin around the marina to check it moves and offer to follow him in your sea-worthy well found boat.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

You don't think that telling him to go and die on his own is sufficiently non-combative? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

Right you where talking to a student I had a few weeks ago , or sounds very like it /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

recommend she is serviced before you go ,
then take a grab bag with charts, flares, 2x handheld GPS as one always goes down otherwise oh AND BATTERIES.after all we mite loose 12v system. Life jackets, Hand held VHF etc

Say how great sea start is and recommend a membership for future use.

check boat over , and do a quick primary filter bleed, ie open nut on base and make sure its diesel coming out.

Start her up, if that goes OK, your off,

Treat her gently to start with let her warm up and monitor exhaust smoke and water.

treat her like a lady , do not keep the revs at the same for a great distance vary them a bit and if all OK, give her a short full throttle burst but monitor temperature all the time .
then sit back and enjoy the run.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

Be very grateful that you were not involved in the purchase of either this OR any other boat.

Get the engines looked over by a proffesional.

Have a bl##dy good look all over the boat to assess condition yourself. Have a look at the survey (if any).

take the boat out for a run around the bay on a nice day (and make sure you have at least a dinghy).

20 miles? fook it, give it a go /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif If you have your own liferaft, then take it as well as yer own personal safety gear and a handheld VHF.

As you will need to be onboard with him, then see if another mate with a boat wants to tag along......

Pick a very nice day.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

I take it we should conclude that the happy buyer isnt very knowledgeable about boats, so his comments on the electrics and engines is valueless.He cant hope to run the boat all season without some servicing, so may as well get that done and reduce the risks up front. It will have to come out for the legs, so once over the hull is the least check to do. And investigate quite what electrics he means before going anywhere.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

[ QUOTE ]
Unfortunately, it has been laid up ashore under a tarpaulin for the past three years, which accounts for the absolute bargain price.

[/ QUOTE ]

Isn't this what happens to the vast majority of boats? I have yet to see 90% of the boats move from the boatyard im in.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

Much has bee said already. Boats and engines like to be used and its a mis conception to think being laid up ashore means less use and better condition. Ok the hull will have dried out but thats about all.

Normally I would have wanted to crawl all over this boat before it went in the water, but lets assume its too late for that so first lets get a look at the internal structure and see what can be gleaned from looking in all the tucked away places and in the bilge. No stress craks and no delam of bulkheads etc etc, so we can assume some basic hull soundness.

Engines, easy to clean the filters which after those years will be full of muck and water, and drain the water trap on the fuel tanks etc. Look at the intack filters and clean etc etc. All pretty basic maintenence stuff that they should learn from watching you. Start up, run them warn and see if you get a comfortable feeling about the engines. Electrics are tempermental, check them all, see if there are spares.
Ok if its past these tests, I would consider the 20 mile trip but I would go prepared, with all the safety equioment and with the trip logged with the cg. Consider having a friend at the destination point available to monitor your progress on vhf and be ready to come tou your aid. Finally get your friends to get it seerviced and go on a rya course to get some knowledge for the future
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

Thats the question I would love to hear.
20 miles not far even if an engine fails.

1) sign him up for sea start and get two free boat show tickets

2) wear my own trusted life jacket with EPIRB attached

3) Put handheld plotter / VHF in my pocket with pre set course laid in

3) Take coolbox full of beer and Cornish Pasties in case his fridge packs in

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

thats how boating should be done, safe but care free /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Not to forget this is an ideal chance to sell off cheap all those buckets of out of date flares /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Pardon?

Sorry if I appear unpolite, but I can't really see a sense in all that.
What are you asking for, if it's better to use common sense in purchasing and using boats or not?
If so, well, yes, it's definitely better to use it.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

[ QUOTE ]
Not to forget this is an ideal chance to sell off cheap all those buckets of out of date flares /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

So he hasnt bought the boat early November then /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

If you hadnt noticed I have matured somewhat since my early days on the forum, I am no longer irresponsible on Bomflare night .

Besides that was the Rockets, the floating smoke gets used at paint balling.
Still leaves the hand held flares /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

20 miles is nothing. I'd get a crew together, have a good look over the boat, go for a quick spin and then if any doubt take my boat along as safety cover with experienced crew on mates boat.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

20 Miles is a long way if nothing works.

I'd advise him to load the whole thing on to a truck, get it to somewhere closer where he could supervise the work, spend 3 months getting it shipshape, then organise a proper launch party with plenty of canapes and bubbly.

dv.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

Well I think the correct answer is get him to service the engines and have the hull checked before you go, but actually i'd probably just agree to go with him. I'd do basic oil, water, strainer and visual checks before leaving, and would want to circle round near the port we're leaving till the engines get up to temp, to be sure they don't overheat. Other than that make sure its a calm day, have an inflated tender or liferaft on board, and a VHF and mobile phone.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

Have a poke around on board, all the while saying stuff like ”Is that all you paid, looks like you found yourself a real bargain, why do I never find gems like this, you left more than enough in it to take care of the few bits & pieces with some to spare”. That takes care of the not losing a friend bit (for now anyway)
Then ask if he’s already decided on who’s going to service the legs and engines and look at the sparks or would he like a recommendation, making it appear he’d already decided to have those things done himself as it’s the most natural thing in the world. He won’t but it’s all implied consent, then you can have a word with the peeps you recommend to do the service and ask them to have a proper look whilst making it appear to be only a standard service.
Then take your own portable safety kit with you and let him start enjoying the thing on the delivery trip, because if it goes even slightly pear shaped he may be put off forever.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

Along with all the safety gear already mentioned, take a decent digital multimeter and a long test wire. There's bound to be the odd leccy problem and you'll be flummoxed without it.
 
Re: MBY What Now Skip? This month\'s scenario

[ QUOTE ]
Along with all the safety gear already mentioned, take a decent digital multimeter and a long test wire. There's bound to be the odd leccy problem and you'll be flummoxed without it.

[/ QUOTE ]

That raises another interesting question, what do you consider safety gear, probably, like you I would assume a decent tool kit and cruising spares to be an essential part.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top