Sailboat mentor in Massachusetts area?

[maine89]

(If this is not allowed here I will (re)move it immediately)

First let me say that since 2011, while I was still in college and before I bought my boat, I have found a wealth of information from this and similar forums. Several of you on this forum have helped me through various boating roadblocks through threads and PM. I thank you all!

However, I am starting to find I am limited to what I can do on my own. I do not come from a boating family or have any significant boating experience. I do however love being out on the water and am trying my best to not let hang ups knock me out for good.

Some things simply require two people to make an impossible job less impossible, like even just holding a bolt on the other side of a bulkhead or lifting something heavy.

I have learned a lot since I starting lurking in forums and even more since 2012 when I bought my own boat (ODay 27) but there are a lot of "simple" things that aren't so simple when you have never been exposed to them before. Trial and error is ok but a lot of what I am up against now related to safety (rigging, backing plates, seacocks, etc.). I know that in a few years all of this will come more naturally but I could use some in-person assistance getting to that point and hopefully paying it forward.

What I really wish for is a mentor that can help me actually work on some of these projects. I don't see it as quitting or not learning it myself. I learn as much as I can but in almost every issue I research there are some people who say "just do X it will work fine" and then some people who say "if you do X you may hurt someone". This is not encouraging. My usual strategy of just looking up as many threads as I can find does not pay off in most cases now.

I've tried hiring someone to help with my engine in the past and I have found from a recent survey that the work he did was with the wrong materials and was very dangerous. I am instead going to go with an outboard but then that brings up issues with a mounting wedge, reinforcing the transom, etc.

Is there anyone in the Massachusetts/Boston area that would be interested in this? In return I can offer assistance working on your boat (obviously I'm inexperienced so it would be under your direction) and/or paying a fair rate.

I ask because it seems like it could be the perfect fit for someone who wanted something like this. A way to use their experience in a way to help a starting boater, as I know I would enjoy doing if I can make it that far.

I know a couple people on these forums that would help in a heartbeat but they live far away. Maybe this post will reach the right person

 

[StinkBug]

It sounds like you simply need to start hanging out at your local yacht club more. Find out when they do some races and see if anyone needs crew, they almost always do. Be honest about your skill level and they will put you in the right place and you will learn what you need to know for sailing. You will also make friends with people who probably know a lot of the stuff you're looking to figure out on your own boat. Basically what I'm saying is that you need to make some friends in the sailing world, and since sailors are generally pretty friendly and welcoming that shouldn't be a very hard thing to do. I'm a little bit of a social retard, and I made quite a few friends just by showing up to the dock on saturday mornings and asking if anyone needed a hand when I was a teenager.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Send me a PM with your home location and I will try to get you in touch with the local United States Power Squadron in your area. They offer courses from Seamanship to Celestial Navigation and everything in-between. They are also a boating organization filled with people who like the same things as you and will undoubtedly have experience from which you can benefit.

 

[dlewis812]

definitely try to find someone that can help out. in my case it was a friend who was knowledgeable about sailing/mechanics however didn't have a sailboat. i had a sailboat without much knowledge. he gets to go sailing, i get help with the boat; works out great!

 

[maine89]

StinkBug - Yes I agree. It is just hard to spend much time on the boat when I can't do anything with it. It's a 2-3 hour round trip to get to the boat (another thing I'm working on) so unless I can line up a full day of work on it (which sadly require equal parts of materials and skill) it usually gets put off until I can. It feels like I'm begging if I wait around hoping someone will help me - but I suppose that's what I'm doing here too.

Rich Stidger - PM sent with my location. Thank you. I bought my boat from the URI boat foundation by the way, right in your area.

dlewis812 - That sounds like the perfect match. I am fond of the saying (something like) "the only thing better than having a boat is a friend who has a boat" Really good deal for you both

 

[StinkBug]

StinkBug - Yes I agree. It is just hard to spend much time on the boat when I can't do anything with it. It's a 2-3 hour round trip to get to the boat (another thing I'm working on) so unless I can line up a full day of work on it (which sadly require equal parts of materials and skill) it usually gets put off until I can. It feels like I'm begging if I wait around hoping someone will help me - but I suppose that's what I'm doing here too.

I'm not suggesting you go stand around your boat waiting for someone you can beg for help. I'm suggesting you show up to their boat when you know THEY will need help. It's a great way to make friends who know more than you do, and who will likely return the favor down the road.

 

[maine89]

I'm not suggesting you go stand around your boat waiting for someone you can beg for help. I'm suggesting you show up to their boat when you know THEY will need help. It's a great way to make friends who know more than you do, and who will likely return the favor down the road.

I think the problem boils down to my long distance from the boat. I would enjoy spending more time with sailors but I'm usually all about business when I get there due to limited time.

I'm going to start looking for apartments closer to the boat and see what our options are. I think this will be a good step in the right direction.

 

[maine89]

Thanks to all who have contacted and even met with me to offer advice!! I feel MUCH better now and feel my "time to splash" is greatly reduced!

Amazing people!

 

[Tom J]

Years ago, I was in the same situation you are in. The boat was located 50 miles from my home, and my Dad and I were attempting to restore an O'Day 23. It was; load up the van with every tool, part, or any materials we thought we would need, work on the boat all day, and go home at night. We didn't move her closer to home at the time, because we had the use of a mooring in a great sailing area. Eventually, we had her trucked up to Quincy, and sailed out of the Quincy Yacht Club.
If you prefer to sail your boat where she is, then the new apartment would be a good idea. If you want to bring her closer to Weymouth, a boat transporter would give you a reasonable price to move the boat.
If you are staying in the Weymouth area, you might want to check out the Wessegusset (spelling?) Yacht Club. I'm a member of the Town River Yacht Club, in Quincy, so if you would like to come by for a visit, you can PM me your info, and we will get together there. I can also give you the name of the boat transporter I have used in the past.
Good luck!

 

[25yearslater]

For what it is worth there is some German girl who bought a boat sight unseen in Panama. She is a year in to repairs with no end in sight. Her experience is on Youtube under the heading, "Untie the lines," that you can probably empathize with. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DVplr3um9k It is in 30 parts so far and she updates about once a week.

 

[maine89]

Years ago, I was in the same situation you are in. The boat was located 50 miles from my home, and my Dad and I were attempting to restore an O'Day 23. It was; load up the van with every tool, part, or any materials we thought we would need, work on the boat all day, and go home at night. We didn't move her closer to home at the time, because we had the use of a mooring in a great sailing area. Eventually, we had her trucked up to Quincy, and sailed out of the Quincy Yacht Club.
If you prefer to sail your boat where she is, then the new apartment would be a good idea. If you want to bring her closer to Weymouth, a boat transporter would give you a reasonable price to move the boat.
If you are staying in the Weymouth area, you might want to check out the Wessegusset (spelling?) Yacht Club. I'm a member of the Town River Yacht Club, in Quincy, so if you would like to come by for a visit, you can PM me your info, and we will get together there. I can also give you the name of the boat transporter I have used in the past.
Good luck!

Thanks Tom! Actually the boat is in Weymouth but I am in New Hampshire/Maine. I had he shipped there (by Continental Marine) directly from RI where I bought her. I joined Wessagussett in 2012 and they're all really great but I haven't been able to be around much due to the distance and work. Last year was a completely miss due to work travel.

This year is looking much brighter thanks to some additional help from these forums! Hopefully I can splash at a reasonable time this year and get some actual sailing in. Really looking for to it.

For what it is worth there is some German girl who bought a boat sight unseen in Panama. She is a year in to repairs with no end in sight. Her experience is on Youtube under the heading, "Untie the lines," that you can probably empathize with. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DVplr3um9k It is in 30 parts so far and she updates about once a week.

This is great! I just watched the first one real quick and I feel my boat is the jewel of the sea compared to all that mold she had to deal with. Will get to watching the rest now. Thank you!