Planning boat jobs

[Boathook]

I live on the IOW, my boat is in Plymouth
I have a lengthy list of jobs I need / want to do as an owner of an older boat
I now go down to my boat every other week armed with the necessary tools and materials to complete 3 or 4 of those as going down with the entire list I seem to sit looking at it all day drinking tea and wondering where to start

Wouldn't have been better to get the boat to Cowes for the winter or was it plans went wrong ?

 

[FairweatherDave]

Things that MUST be done
Things that should be done
Things I'd like to do

In that order every winter

That's what I do. Combined with teasing out what can be done afloat if I run out of time....
I also find things that should be done usually don't get done and things I'd like to do do get done. I try and keep some quick easy jobs back as morale boosters. But my biggest fear is not completing a job before warm sailing weather and launch time. That's a crime! Don't start what you can't finish. I'd never sail if I did all the jobs I should do.

 

[Sailing steve]

I have a wish list and a running jobs list called Next Boat Day on a couple of sheets of paper. This gets swapped around and added too and crossed off so by launch day I have a perfectly prepared and fully sorted boat ready to go in.

That's the plan anyway...

 

[Wansworth]

I have all this to look forward to

 

[greeny]

I have all this to look forward to

Do I feel a New Year resolution coming?

 

[MattS]

Far more replies than I expected to get for that question! Although with maintaining and upgrading being such an important part of boat ownership, it's not surprising many can relate to it I guess.

Thank you for all the constructive answers and suggestions. In a way I'm glad to see there's no organisational magic that I'm missing here - it's just a case of picking a system and trying to keep oneself motivated to finish the important bits... I can definitely relate to carrying such a long list that I spend the day drinking tea trying to decide where to start... I need to work on the 'just getting started' bit.

I also need to get better at writing down the details of the jobs, especially things like parts and tools needed, so that when I do have that burst of motivation I'm not tripped up by needing to work out how to tackle it.

I think not starting something you can't finish before sailing time is a great mantra to stick to.

I suspect the answer for me might be somewhere in between a notepad, a spreadsheet and Trello...!

 

[Sandy]

Do I feel a New Year resolution coming?

And an empty bank balance.

 

[Lightwave395]

Wouldn't have been better to get the boat to Cowes for the winter or was it plans went wrong ?

In theory maybe, but since the boat returned from France in May '24 after 6 years, she's been in Falmouth Harbour on a swinging mooring up until end of last October. I'll be returning to the mooring in April so flogging up to Cowes in late October (a few days after a month of radiotherapy) and back in early April seemed like bad idea when I could be where I am now in a snug berth in Plymouth Yacht Haven until the end of March and we get a few winter days away here and there.

The cost of winter berthing or hard standing in Cowes has risen dramatically over the past few years and having sailed and raced out of Hamble and Cowes for 40 years or more I'm done with sailing in the Solent.

Five months out of the water in Cowes was more expensive than an entire year in a lovely Brittany marina and I would find picking my way through the Solent traffic whilst listening to 'radio check please' wearing to say the least...!

 

[Overandunder]

It's an excellent question. Keeping away from the question of 'being organised by software' (which imho uses up time to setup, fill in and keep track of ), it can be broadly split into either;

Jobs that MUST be done (to ensure safety), jobs that should really be done (but not urgent), and those that would be 'nice to haves' - but are larger in scope and would risk eating into seasonal sailing time.

An alternative method is to apply the above - but based on whether the boat is ashore with a deadline for relaunch, so anything underwater MUST be done.

For me this year is turning into a mish mash as the boat is new to me - so one job is tending to lead to a myriad of others (but thats boats I guess). As an example- a rebuild of the saltwater pump (due to a slow but annoying drip) - led to a check of the adjacent pipes and found this beauty hidden from view.

This is the diesel supply pipe running from the lift pump to engine filter, and shows wear caused by engine vibration.

Maybe next year I'll be more organised !!

 

[Dulcinea East]

This was recommended in a recent Facebook post. It is very detailed, designed for a commercial charter boat kept in the Caribbean. Arete - 2025 Preventive Maintenance Schedule.xlsx

 

[Wansworth]

Making lists is an endless pleasing pastime that can be enjoyed over a coffee,connects you to the boat creates dreaming possibilities and adds purpose to a visit to a chandlers

 

[Daydream believer]

Making lists is an endless pleasing pastime that can be enjoyed over a coffee,connects you to the boat creates dreaming possibilities and adds purpose to a visit to a chandlers

You only need 2 items on your list
Cut grass
Buy boat
Surely you can remember those -- or do we have to keep reminding you

 

[Wansworth]

You only need 2 items on your list
Cut grass
Buy boat
Surely you can remember those -- or do we have to keep reminding you

Can do neither at the moment as have just had a cataract op……..doing the dreaming bit!……….but the battery powered grass cutter is wonderous

 

[Daydream believer]

Can do neither at the moment as have just had a cataract op……..doing the dreaming bit!……….but the battery powered grass cutter is wonderous

Sorry I missed something off the list then:-
Charge batteries
Cut grass
Buy boat
Is that better - because I am sure the other half does not want any excuses for NOT cutting the grass.
The repercussions could be serious & delay the last item on the list

 

[mattonthesea]

I use categories above, a notebook and pencil and Access. Several tables (whereabouts, tools needed, etc) and various queries depending on what circumstances are.

I enjoy designing information systems so this is fun for me. There is an inventory included so the whole thing tracks much more. Every now and then I update it - often surprised at how much I've got done!

 

[Boathook]

You only need 2 items on your list
Cut grass
Buy boat
Surely you can remember those -- or do we have to keep reminding you

You missed Sit on sofa !

 

[Wansworth]

You missed Sit on sofa !

I am reporting you to the mods for accessories……accosting

 

[Daydream believer]

You missed Sit on sofa !

No! he does that whilst he is compiling the list of the above 3 things to do - which takes most of his time awake. The rest of the time he LAYS on the sofa with feet up the wall whilst eating crisp sandwiches,( flicking the crumbs down the back of the cushions in the hope SWMBO will not notice), or snoring, & planning in his dreams how to manage the long list of 3 things to do.

 

[Daydream believer]

I am reporting you to the mods for accessories……accosting

Admit it---You love it really

 

[Wansworth]

I

Admit it---You love it really

ts fun thinking up the answers