Credit card or wrench?

[Philip Harris]

It depends...

It depends on the task as to whether I use a credit card or wrench.For example, I had to get the bottom scraped (barnacles) by a professional because the boat is in the water and must remain there for now; I do not have a wet suit, and I don't know how to dive anyway. On the other hand, my poor rudder is in sorry shape. That is something I can fix myself so I took it off and am sanding, varnishing and painting it at home.

 

[Denny P.]

Fixin my horses shoes

Oh Boy! did we get the heat started with this one. I am sure that there are many people out there that are not mechanicaly inclined. Most of us sailors seem to be blessed with what it takes to repair our fragile craft, if we were not we probably not want something as complicated as a sailing vessel in the first place. As for me, my boat is hauled every year when the northern sailors are enjoying their summer sailing, as the weather in south central Florida really is terrible for sailing in the summer. Along with the haulout goes a complete testing and repair and preventive maintenance of every system on the boat, plus any new goodies that need to be installed. This year I could afford to do have it all done by a yard, but, where is the satisfaction in that. And, as many others have agreed, Ya gotta know your boat!! I just about gagged, Peggy when you mentioned the YACHT OWNER who asked where the seacock for his head was. My wife ran in my office to see if I was having a seisure. I would find that hard to believe, however, after dealing with so many idiots on the water the last couple of days who don't even have the slightest idea of the very simple rules of the road I can really picture Mr. Yachtie on his cell phone while wifey is trying to "flush the commode". All the best........Denny P.

 

[Peggie Hall/Head Mistress]

I don' TEENK I said "yacht owner"

But that's ok...I wouldn't want to spoil your mental image. Ok...so not everyone is mechanically inclined...but anyone who has enough mechanical ability to sail a boat can at least check the hoses, wiring, rail stanchions, cleats, vent thru-hull etc on a *regular* schedule ('bout once a month should be often enough) and if he's so mechanically challenged that he can't even tighten a hose clamp or remove a couple of screws and follow the directions on a tube of bedding compound--and he can afford to whip out his credit card every time he finds something--then I guess that's what he'll have to do. But the trouble is, people who rely on credit cards DON'T ever check their boats at all for small problems...they only fix what breaks. But so do a lot of people who do all their own work, so I guess there's not much difference after all.

 

[Doug Rodrigues]

Fix your boat....know your boat.

Anyone who does there own repairs comes to know their boats intimately. I know where ever little blemish, crack, scratch, leak, rust spot, fitting, hose, etc. is on my boat. Nothing catches me by surprise. For that reason I recommend that even those who don't have the confidence to do their own repairs at least try. You'll be safer for it, plus nobody is going to dare attempt to rip you off on any repair if they have any idea that you know what actually has to be done for any particular fix.

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ernding 3/31/2002:The following best represents my attitude on boat maintenance:   46% I do most everything but the really techie jobs. 26% Nobody touches my boat but me. 25% I do the minor stuff, hire out the big jobs. 03% I sail my boat, not fix it. 

 

[Dale Wells]

I wrench with pride.

I am on a tight budget and hardware alone breaks the bank. Any woodwork or simpler metal fabrication is done in my woodworking shop. I think that sailboat ownership is part fix and learn. It is like breaking and training your own horse then the ride means just that much more to you. All you need is money to own a hotrod but it is still only a car. He who builds his own, now THAT'S a hotrod!

 

[Geof Tillotson]

New boat for me

I'm very interested in this thread. I've recently acquired an O'Day 25. This is the first "big" boat I've owned and I am returning to sailing after a rather lengthy time away (about 18 years). I used to crew on a Bermuda (Block Island) 40. I felt the boat was in pretty good shape, and the surveyor agreed. There are a complete list of "projects" that the surveyor listed, most being what you might expect for a boat of her age. I am willing to let the yard do a few things, I suffer from asthma, so anything that needs a respirator I will gladly let the yard do, I also don't have a lot of fiberglass experience so I'll let a pro do that.Otherwise, I don't feel that I will know my boat and it's systems well enough to be able to rely on her when my entire family is aboard. For that reason I will endeavor to perform all the maintanance that I can on the boat to learn her better.From new gudgeons and lifelines and swage fittings to re-bedding the deck fittings to getting the frozen seacock (in the CLOSED POSITION) free I will do all the work myself. She already has a new tiller that won't bang me in the knees, the autohelm is attached and the hiking bar too. I'm thinking about cleaning up the old tiller and presenting it to the last owner as a momento for him.But back to the thread. I will sail this boat as a cruiser/weekender with my wife and two sons and it is important to me that we all understand the various systems on-board. From experience I know that the only time you really need to understand how to use something is when the proper use of that system stands between you and your safety.So, in short, I will do as much of the work as I can. And, so far, I'm loving it.

 

[Tom Hopely]

Instant Cash

Not to belabor the subject, but with the price of everything going off the scale these days, who has the cash in their pocket to afford almost anything. VOILA, enter the credit card, which will allow you to purchase almost anything. So, there you have it, instant cash.And, unless it's something that is really very costly, pay it off as it comes in and it is the same as cash, with a paper trail. And, some credit companies back it up to the hilt.What more can you ask for?That is not to say, I can afford anything I want, not by a long shot. Retired on a fixed income leaves a lot to be desired (especially money), so I wrench when ever and whereever I can or must.When you are out there on a toerail and something carries away,(and it has happened)you'd better have a gut feel as to how to get it jury rigged or you have no business on a sailoat.

 

[Leonard Mack]

Credit card, then wrench

Usually the credit card comes out first to order what I need over the Web, then the wrench to install, replace, repair as necessary. Other than welding on a replacement skeg You river sailors know about that, I've always done all of my own repairs, outboard included.