Yacht Maintenance Training

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liverpool

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I'm planning setting off cruising this summer (having taken early retirement) (I know this may not be the best economic time to go!) and as I've only owned a yacht (a Sweden 45) for 2 years I urgently need to get experience/hands on training on all aspects of boat maintenance. Welcome any suggestions on practical training. From reading this forum over the past two years I realise how little I know about maintenance!
 
Where is the boat kept, I can give you a couple of days on board before the summer, for you to pick my brains, I am in North wales but get about visiting Wigan, Liverpool, Conway etc. I used to race out of Liverpool and although not a professional I look after all my own yachts etc. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Drop me a PM if any use to you
 
Oooh, if I'd known you was a Liverpooll fan I may have kept me ead down /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I would start by buying Nigel Caulders boat maintenance book. He writes in a sensible way which I find easy to follow. I keep a copy on board and its proved very handy.
Good luck with the getaway! Hope to follow soon
 
Thanks all for helpful input - both training courses look great and will book up for one. Have bought Nigel Calder "bible" and reading avidly(but soooo much to learn!!). Thanks also Tabernacle Man for offer of help.
 
"Simple Boat Maintenance: DIY for Yachts and Motorboats" by Pat Manley. I browsed through a copy once and liked the pictorial approach. Covers the most frequently encountered maintainance issues. £13.99 from Amazon. Nigel Calder is however the "bible".
 
Totally agree about the Pat Manley book - not comprehensive, but covers lots of the main stuff you'll need with very very helpful photos, as well as useful ratings of difficulty of each job & clear details on what tools etc you need.
 
I can understand your interest.

I used to repair cars etc so am always up to have a go at anything.

Recently replaced the cutless bearing and shaft seal for the first time and all rather common sense (and I enjoyed it) but was struck by how difficult it would have been if I did not have a comprehensive socket set/spanners etc including a 3/4" drive socket set for the larger nuts. I also needed pullers to get the prop and gearbox flange off.

I am relatively new to major items of yacht maintenance but another good thread to start may well be what tools to take on board for a long voyage.
 
[ QUOTE ]
(and I enjoyed it)

[/ QUOTE ] You're weird! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif [ QUOTE ]
I am relatively new to major items of yacht maintenance but another good thread to start may well be what tools to take on board for a long voyage.

[/ QUOTE ] You obviously missed the TCM tool-kit list which would sink an ordinary yacht under the weight. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
(and I enjoyed it)

[/ QUOTE ] You're weird! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif [ QUOTE ]


Yes I agree unfortunately I can relate to anothers tag line "Fixing things that aren't broke".

As a child I always loved taking things to pieces and finding out how they work.

It turned to my advantage though when we had old bangers to repair if we wanted to be mobile and later I turned these skills into a small garage business that helped pay for my degree as a mature student with a wife & 2 kids.

I still enjoy the sense of satisfaction of completing a job I have never tackled before especially knowing that its been done properly rather than quickly with possibly a few shortcuts come bodges.

I hated taking cars to pieces and finding nuts and bolts missing and bolt of different strength mixed up.

The one thing that I have found is that you can rarely do a proper job without the correct tools.
 
ooh, where's that list - i oughta update it.

I'm not sure you can just "learn" boat maintenance to fab standard from a course for a few days, altho of course all trainng is good. But there's a zillion devices and things , some of which not fixable, and maint is sometimes swapping bulbs early etc, and other things a bit ttrial and error. Maintenance also a state of mind - you have to hunt for things to maintain, not wait til they're bust, cos it might be a bit late (or dark).
 
I am running a week long course in general boat maintenance that would be ideal for you .It covers practical powerwashing sanding and antifouling, varnishing ,engine and gearbox oil checking and changing and a practical; cleaning and polishing element. At the end of the refit sorry meant to say course,successful candidates will be issued a certificate of competence. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
thanks again for all contributions - I agree training courses are not the full answer - nothing like it - but hopefully a good start.
 
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