All work and no play?

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Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
While I work...

While I work on my boat more than most I actually enjoy it and it has paid decent dividends over the years. I grew up working on and around boats, did a stint as a commercial lobsterman and as first mate on a couple of "shiny boats" in the sport fishing class. Those boats are 100% spit shined & always kept bristol as the owners don't want their 2 million dollar "fishing boat", as my owner called it, corroding or oxidizing including the rods reels and engine bays. Cleaning two diesel engines the size of Mini-Coopers with a tooth brush and q-tips makes keeping my 44hp engine clean look like kids play. As a lobsterman I worked year round on traps, gear, and the boat for the next season so owning a sailboat is no different. I do a lot of my projects over the winter so I have more time to sail during the summer... Working on boats is very enjoyable for me, almost as much as sailing them, but not quite..
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

.
Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
While I work...

While I work on my boat more than most I actually enjoy it and it has paid decent dividends over the years. I grew up working on and around boats, did a stint as a commercial lobsterman and as first mate on a couple of "shiny boats" in the sport fishing class. Those boats are 100% spit shined & always kept bristol as the owners don't want their 2 million dollar "fishing boat", as my owner called it, corroding or oxidizing including the rods reels and engine bays. Cleaning two diesel engines the size of Mini-Coopers with a tooth brush and q-tips makes keeping my 44hp engine clean look like kids play. As a lobsterman I worked year round on traps, gear, and the boat for the next season so owning a sailboat is no different. I do a lot of my projects over the winter so I have more time to sail during the summer... Working on boats is very enjoyable for me, almost as much as sailing them, but not quite..
 
Grizz

Grizz

.
Jan 13, 2006
179
Hunter 28.5 Park Ridge, IL
Aspiring to be Clark Kent...

Somewhere I read an owner's premise of his boat and the time spent taking care of it: he became confident only when he could look at his boat and see through it and know all the inner workings and dynamics so that when something changed, he would know what degree of risk he was facing (it'd still be nice to have x-ray vision...)
 
Grizz

Grizz

.
Jan 13, 2006
179
Hunter 28.5 Park Ridge, IL
Aspiring to be Clark Kent...

Somewhere I read an owner's premise of his boat and the time spent taking care of it: he became confident only when he could look at his boat and see through it and know all the inner workings and dynamics so that when something changed, he would know what degree of risk he was facing (it'd still be nice to have x-ray vision...)
 
Stillraining

Stillraining

.
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
Hard to give a percentage

I dito Chris: And have toruble in trusting anyone compleatly. as I have had to many disapointments with so called "professional work" the last case in piont was severed cables on unsteping the mast ( all of them ) Just becauuse I cound not be there..ArrrrrG!! Like Mainsail I try to get things done in the off season. ( Not blessed with warm sunny weather like you southern boys ) But I do actually most of my tinkering while on the hook some where and I really enjoy that. I can get alot done when I'm basicly "livin aboard" My wife gets anoyed sometimes because I cant sit still. I should probably be at the boat right now working on it instaed of typing this but it's blowing like crazy and cold outside so here I sit on a day off work. I would have to be honest and say my wakeing time aboard is 30-70% if all my tinkering were added up( 30% maintanance ) and more like 99% in offseason because if I'm at the boat i'm only there to work on or clean it. Very rarly just to drop by and crack a beer. Sucks don't it? Cant wait to Semi retire and spend 4 to 5 months living aboard. TINKERING and driving my wife nuts..;)
 
Stillraining

Stillraining

.
Dec 8, 2007
478
Irwin 41 CC Ketch LaConner WA
Hard to give a percentage

I dito Chris: And have toruble in trusting anyone compleatly. as I have had to many disapointments with so called "professional work" the last case in piont was severed cables on unsteping the mast ( all of them ) Just becauuse I cound not be there..ArrrrrG!! Like Mainsail I try to get things done in the off season. ( Not blessed with warm sunny weather like you southern boys ) But I do actually most of my tinkering while on the hook some where and I really enjoy that. I can get alot done when I'm basicly "livin aboard" My wife gets anoyed sometimes because I cant sit still. I should probably be at the boat right now working on it instaed of typing this but it's blowing like crazy and cold outside so here I sit on a day off work. I would have to be honest and say my wakeing time aboard is 30-70% if all my tinkering were added up( 30% maintanance ) and more like 99% in offseason because if I'm at the boat i'm only there to work on or clean it. Very rarly just to drop by and crack a beer. Sucks don't it? Cant wait to Semi retire and spend 4 to 5 months living aboard. TINKERING and driving my wife nuts..;)
 
B

Blueskies

.
May 6, 2005
35
Hunter fractional Port Sanilac, MI
Working on the boat

I don't resent the time working on the boat, but do resent paying to do things over that weren't done right. Heading into my fourth season with the boat, I have so many projects I would like to do, but often am held up by lack of knowledge as to what I am getting into, and how to properly do the job. The forums are very useful, I know I have picked up a lot from experiences reported there.
 
B

Blueskies

.
May 6, 2005
35
Hunter fractional Port Sanilac, MI
Working on the boat

I don't resent the time working on the boat, but do resent paying to do things over that weren't done right. Heading into my fourth season with the boat, I have so many projects I would like to do, but often am held up by lack of knowledge as to what I am getting into, and how to properly do the job. The forums are very useful, I know I have picked up a lot from experiences reported there.
 
D

Deadline

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Jun 7, 2007
515
Hunter 320 Williamsburg
I'm with Clark Kent

I would like to look through and see everything. Last year I had 345 people on my Hunter 320 during 122 sailing days, so the boat takes some wear and tear. I spend around 200 hours each winter on repairs and maintenance, but I find it cathartic. Some of my best thinking is done under the boat.
 
D

Deadline

.
Jun 7, 2007
515
Hunter 320 Williamsburg
I'm with Clark Kent

I would like to look through and see everything. Last year I had 345 people on my Hunter 320 during 122 sailing days, so the boat takes some wear and tear. I spend around 200 hours each winter on repairs and maintenance, but I find it cathartic. Some of my best thinking is done under the boat.
 
M

Mark Wieber

"Sleep thou lightly..."

'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken main halyard and a leaky toilet valve." The more you have 'messed around' and tinkered with systems on your boat the more likely you can repair or bandaid them when under way. This would lead the trained scientist to conclude that some tinkering with the important systems would be prudent. A reasonable understanding of boat systems reguarding safety and propulsion can be the difference between a wet landing and a dry landing, or even life and death. Know what is required to get you home. Have some idea how to maintain those items. ""This new ship here is fitted according to the reported increase of knowledge among mankind. Namely, she is cumbered end to end, with bells and trumpets and clock and wires . . . she can call voices out of the air of the waters to con the ship while her crew sleep. But sleep Thou lightly. It has not yet been told to me that the Sea has ceased to be the Sea." - Rudyard Kipling"
 
M

Mark Wieber

"Sleep thou lightly..."

'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken main halyard and a leaky toilet valve." The more you have 'messed around' and tinkered with systems on your boat the more likely you can repair or bandaid them when under way. This would lead the trained scientist to conclude that some tinkering with the important systems would be prudent. A reasonable understanding of boat systems reguarding safety and propulsion can be the difference between a wet landing and a dry landing, or even life and death. Know what is required to get you home. Have some idea how to maintain those items. ""This new ship here is fitted according to the reported increase of knowledge among mankind. Namely, she is cumbered end to end, with bells and trumpets and clock and wires . . . she can call voices out of the air of the waters to con the ship while her crew sleep. But sleep Thou lightly. It has not yet been told to me that the Sea has ceased to be the Sea." - Rudyard Kipling"
 
Roger (Ninette Manitoba)

Roger (Ninette Manitoba)

.
Jan 22, 2008
519
Sundance Sundance 20 Weekender Ninette, Manitoba, Canada
boat time

Any boat time is better than work or mowing the grass, so I take any available moment to be there or at the marina. I have twice as many visits to the boat, to be on it (relaxing), or puttering on something, as I do sailing it. I spend a lesser amount of time working on boat related projects at home in my workshop. Last season I visited the boat 48 times to either work, play, eat, rest, sleep or sail on it. I only have a 42 week season, so averaged being with the boat weekly. I work full time, with a working spouse, although the kids have all left the nest, so I do have more time now than I did a few years ago. I can't wait until retirement, when I can spend even more time sailing. Puttering on the boat is just as much fun as sailing. I keep a fairly lengthy 'to do list' and if I get to the marina, and it is not a good sailing day, I pull out the list and get to it. There is nothing, simply nothing as enjoyable as messing around in boats!
 
Roger (Ninette Manitoba)

Roger (Ninette Manitoba)

.
Jan 22, 2008
519
Sundance Sundance 20 Weekender Ninette, Manitoba, Canada
boat time

Any boat time is better than work or mowing the grass, so I take any available moment to be there or at the marina. I have twice as many visits to the boat, to be on it (relaxing), or puttering on something, as I do sailing it. I spend a lesser amount of time working on boat related projects at home in my workshop. Last season I visited the boat 48 times to either work, play, eat, rest, sleep or sail on it. I only have a 42 week season, so averaged being with the boat weekly. I work full time, with a working spouse, although the kids have all left the nest, so I do have more time now than I did a few years ago. I can't wait until retirement, when I can spend even more time sailing. Puttering on the boat is just as much fun as sailing. I keep a fairly lengthy 'to do list' and if I get to the marina, and it is not a good sailing day, I pull out the list and get to it. There is nothing, simply nothing as enjoyable as messing around in boats!
 
B

butchrobbins

.
Jun 25, 2004
146
Catalina 310 Hilton Head
Since I still work full time

I hate having to give up a perfectly good opportunity to sail in order to do maintenence, so I just go further into debt and have these things done when I am at work. I will attempt to learn some basic stuff to do on a rainy day, but most times I'm having it done.
 
B

butchrobbins

.
Jun 25, 2004
146
Catalina 310 Hilton Head
Since I still work full time

I hate having to give up a perfectly good opportunity to sail in order to do maintenence, so I just go further into debt and have these things done when I am at work. I will attempt to learn some basic stuff to do on a rainy day, but most times I'm having it done.
 
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