lpdsn
Well-Known Member
Actually I think it's a lot more than that.
You could start a whole thread on the practical skills a boat owner needs. You know the sort of thing:
You know you're a practical boat owner when you can...
Running costs and maintenance costs
- Thread starter Goody
- Start date
Actually I think it's a lot more than that.
You could start a whole thread on the practical skills a boat owner needs. You know the sort of thing:
You know you're a practical boat owner when you can...
Uricanejack
Well-Known Member
mogmog2
Well-Known Member
One of the biggies is engine maintenance. If you have an outboard, it is quite a bit easier, as you can take it to get it done if necessary but maintenance is also easier as you have it in front of you.
Inboards are harder due to lack of access and usually ageing. Having said that, I've been pleasantly surprised how easily my 1974 Volvo Penta MD2B has come apart. The difficulty, on a Centaur and presumably other small boats, is hanging half through the engine hatch, one foot hooked through the guardwire to stop you from falling in, your shoulder or forehead rests in something uncomfortable taking half your body weight, whilst reaching with outstretched arms whilst undoing the inaccessible water pump bolts or whatever.
The photo shows my engine access hatch. It is a bit wider than my shoulders . There is access to the front of the engine from the cabin too.
If you can't/won't do this, you have to either take the boat to a yard (extra berthing fees) or get a mobile person out. You also have to wait till they're available, which may not be convenient, or be quite a long time during busy periods. I would guess that marine mechanics, like everything else boaty, cost more than the land-based equivalent.
Antifouling is just tedious scraping and easy painting.
A fair amount of things are hard to get to to work on - seacocks, wiring, deck fittings....
If you're at least a bit handy or more importantly have a can-do attitude, you are right for this. If not, then chartering or crewing is probably a better option.
Inboards are harder due to lack of access and usually ageing. Having said that, I've been pleasantly surprised how easily my 1974 Volvo Penta MD2B has come apart. The difficulty, on a Centaur and presumably other small boats, is hanging half through the engine hatch, one foot hooked through the guardwire to stop you from falling in, your shoulder or forehead rests in something uncomfortable taking half your body weight, whilst reaching with outstretched arms whilst undoing the inaccessible water pump bolts or whatever.
The photo shows my engine access hatch. It is a bit wider than my shoulders . There is access to the front of the engine from the cabin too.
If you can't/won't do this, you have to either take the boat to a yard (extra berthing fees) or get a mobile person out. You also have to wait till they're available, which may not be convenient, or be quite a long time during busy periods. I would guess that marine mechanics, like everything else boaty, cost more than the land-based equivalent.
Antifouling is just tedious scraping and easy painting.
A fair amount of things are hard to get to to work on - seacocks, wiring, deck fittings....
If you're at least a bit handy or more importantly have a can-do attitude, you are right for this. If not, then chartering or crewing is probably a better option.
Attachments
Fr J Hackett
Well-Known Member
So start a list, her's a few to be going on with:
Antifouling and hull preperation
small GRP repairs
Engine servicing
hull cleaning and polishing
Inevitable electrical troubleshooting and repairs 12 volt
Annual winterising sails and engine
Lots of mechanical stuff ranging from winch servicing, cutlass bearing replacement, rudder pintals to stuffing gland replacement.
Feel free to add to the list there are many more examples.
Antifouling and hull preperation
small GRP repairs
Engine servicing
hull cleaning and polishing
Inevitable electrical troubleshooting and repairs 12 volt
Annual winterising sails and engine
Lots of mechanical stuff ranging from winch servicing, cutlass bearing replacement, rudder pintals to stuffing gland replacement.
Feel free to add to the list there are many more examples.
Uricanejack
Well-Known Member
Another piece of string to measure. So many variables. Depending on type of boat.
I started out crewing on an old silver motor yacht with my Uncle. He rarely went very far. talked and dreamed of big voyages. For him most of the pleasure came from working on the boat. And the social aspects of hanging about the boat yard with old like mined pals who had similar boats. I spent a lot of time scrapping, painting, sanding, varnishing and caulking every year.
Another old friend kept his old wooden cruiser immaculate. In a covered boathouse. On the River. Stopped by to polish something and relax almost every day on his way home from work. If he every exceeded 50 miles a year I would be surprised.
My sister and her husband would spend a couple of weeks in the boatyard prior to the summer working on a beautiful old long keel boat to get it ready.
I bought a GRP boat. Eliminated most of the above. DIY is not something I enjoy, I like sailing.
I looked for a boat which had a good motor. Good rig and Good sails. Which would be comfortable "enough" for a few days.
"Enough" for me is not a lot.
Most maintenance I do, is just keep it clean. Or clean enough for me. I am not a fiberglass repair type. I make to much mess. Occasionally I may need to take a piece kit off. Unbolt recaulk and put back on.
I have a little bit of mechanical knowledge. Derived from owning old crap cars. You don't need a lot with a sail boat. Just how to do the basic checks. An annual service shouldn't break the bank.
If you can do an oil and filter change, bleed a diesel and change an alternator or water pump impellor.
You would be well set. as far as mechanical knowledge.
Electrical stuff mystifies me. Change a fuse. find a breaker. Change a bulb. My boat is old, has been damp. The circuits hard to trace. I find it frustrating and slow progress. If the light doesn't work in the loo. I do without till I figure it out.
My boats old. But well rigged. I go sailing.
Rope work to replace rigging. I can do quite easily. Sail repair not so much. Good enough to putter about with. Not quite Admirals Cup.
I paid cash. No payments. I keep it on a mooring, No payments, Winter Moorage is a low cost public dock. I don't need or expect a lot of comforts. My wife demands a working head and a dry bunk. I do like to have a stove to make tea and bacon sandwiches.
When I get it hauled out. I go to a boatyard. Where they let me do everything myself, even pressure wash. I scrape by hand, I paint and can put an anode on.
I run it like an old Greek Freighter. I do the minimum maintenance to keep it insured and sailing.
I do get a wee man to change the oils and service the engine. I find it just to awkward and difficult to get at. So I cough up. Consider it money well spent.
DIY I am no expert. I Get by. Advice from others, YouTube Helps. Take a photo with your cell phone before you disconnect something.
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jac
Well-Known Member
Absolute minimum:
Basic GRP care - cleaning, polishing, waxing.
Basic wood care, scraping, sanding, varnishing, painting etc
Engine winterising, filter& oil change, Impellor change, bleeding. ( Is a course for this)
simple ropework - how to splice, whip, for example. (e.g. to change running rigging)
Basic 12v electrics - topping up batteries, changing fuses, bulbs, tracing simple faults.
Basic equipment maintenance - cleaning & greasing seacocks, winches, blocks etc.
Doing all those will cover most of your regular costs and leave your budget available for the more specialist things that might only crop up once and where you may want to pay for more specialist help.
Basic GRP care - cleaning, polishing, waxing.
Basic wood care, scraping, sanding, varnishing, painting etc
Engine winterising, filter& oil change, Impellor change, bleeding. ( Is a course for this)
simple ropework - how to splice, whip, for example. (e.g. to change running rigging)
Basic 12v electrics - topping up batteries, changing fuses, bulbs, tracing simple faults.
Basic equipment maintenance - cleaning & greasing seacocks, winches, blocks etc.
Doing all those will cover most of your regular costs and leave your budget available for the more specialist things that might only crop up once and where you may want to pay for more specialist help.
Goody
Well-Known Member
Thanks everyone for your very detailed replies. It’s certainly opened my eyes to what’s involved and what I need to prepare myself for.