Mr./Ms. Fix-it?

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Brad Purvis

Check Book or the tool Bag

I think that I prefer to do what I can on my small 22 foot Catalina. I am blessed with the fact that there are many of us sailing this boat and the web site we all use is extremely helpful in solving problems. I am also fortunate to live in the same geographic area that my boat was built. Thus many of the members of the factory when it was in FWB are still around. How do I know when I am in over my head? When I have no idea of what the problem is and how to solve it or I know what the problem is but do not have the skill or special tools to fix the problem. I work alone on my sailboat thus many things that a friend could help with like removal of the keel for fairing is out for me. The more I have my hands on the boat, the more I know her and can feel comfortable that she is seaworthy.
 
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tom

As much as possible

I like to do my own work. With our simple Mac 26 this was easy. With our new boat it is harder to do everything.
 
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Bruce

Wrench first

If you keep it long enough, everything on a sailboat will break... at least twice. Everything mechanical can either be fixed, or replaced. I try to fix it first; if I fail, I generally screw it up to the point where it has to be replaced!! Replaced pieces is what artificial reefs are made of.
 
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Dave

I can do most anything

I'm lucky enough to be able to do most anything, so I'll try it first before looking for someone else. I'm getting real good at taking that OMC SailDrive out. The scary part is when I call the parts guy, he knows my voice! Dave
 
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Glenn E. West

Not All Have the Same Talents

A long time ago a wise ole sage told me "So much Good in the Worst of us and So much Bad in the Best of us that it don't pay for none of us to talk about the Rest of us". Being in my late 50's and raised by a father that was a plumber by trade and a mother that grew up on a cattle ranch in central Texas, I was taught that I could make anything work - by either rebuilding it or making a "baleing wire" repair. To this day I still have that same attitude--sometimes that is a good thing--sometimes I would be better off knowing when to throw in the towel and pull out the check book. Does this mean that is the only way to be--NO. My brother in law is a doctor---he was'nt taught to work on anything but people and like he says--"I'll just do a little more doctoring--and pay someone to do doctoring on those "other than people" things. I get great satisfaction on making repairs to my boats--fact is the sense of accomplishment is almost as good as making a good tack. This is not everyones cup of tea and certainly the main goal should be to SAIL as much as possible and enjoy it as much as possible! Is'nt that why we have the boat to begin with? Enjoy--if that means writing a check to replace a winch OK or if it means getting pulled to the top of the mast to replace a line--OK. JUST SAIL and SAIL and Sail, and Sail. Glenn West Lago Vista, TX
 
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john

blame factor

Although I like working on my boat, when it comes to mechanical fixes over the years, it is easier to keep the first mate happy if you have a professional perform the work. That way, if there is a problem you can both agree on where the blame may lie
 
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John Taylor

Boat work and time

Hi, Reguarding boat maintaince and repair I have a simple guide line that follows an old tale. I can do almost anything. It is the everything that gets in the way of ...... Labor at my dock is now $75 per hour so I do what I can with the time I have. WARM CHEERS and WARM BREEZES John
 
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Gary

The more you do , the more you know

I like to do as much as possible on my boat. There is nothing hard about doing anything with fiberglass or outboards. When in doubt, buy a manual and follow directions.
 
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Dennis Clark

Bent over

I've just had some refitting completed on my 1985 42 First. I would have to say, after this experience, do your own work unless you have a carte blanche checking account. I've been given $1500 estimates that turned into $4000 bills with elaborate stories of their trials and tribulations. Everyone is 60-70 dollars per hour with no guarantee's. Read install manuals and you can get tech support from other users that sometimes surpasses the knowledge of boatyard "professionals"? Try to be there if you are having someone else do the work so you can learn as you pay.
 
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Alberto Balzac

Reach for a wrench!

Doing it yourself is not only the only way of making sure it's done right, it's the only way you will get to know your boat and all the systems in it. Who are you going to call when you're out in the middle of the ocean and something breaks down? In my opinion, you need to be self sufficient and that will give you confidence in yourself and in your boat.
 
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Alan Huffman

Help not always available

We are on a lake in the midwest, and there are few(almost none)professionals to do work, so we do most ourselves. I bought my C-30 so I could work on it and learn the systems, but there are times I would rather be sailing than working on the boat. The luxury of occaisionally writing a check instead of turning a wrench would be nice.
 
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Sid Ballantyne

Part of the Hobby

Fixing my boat has always been part of the hobby of sailing for me. I love spending time on my boat even if its in the slip or on the hard in the yard. I didn't know much about boat systems when I first bought my boat but I purchased books on diesel maintenance, wiring and fiberglass repair and read them all. I can "cookbook" any project and with the right tools I enjoy doing the work myself. I am certainly proof that owning and sailing your own boat are not just for rich people. All it takes is dedication and love for the sport and your boat.
 
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David Heath

On my own

Out of necessity I have had to learn how to maintain key systems on Twogether. I bought the boat new in 2000 because I did not want to have the problems others have in taking care of a boat. We are on an inland lake, and since we purchased the boat, many of the local support providers have disappeared due to a major lake drawdown to build a backup dam behind the existing one. When we first got the boat, it was a new thing to us and were just learning how to sail it. Now, I am glad to learn engine, electrical, plumbing and air conditioning skills, since I do plan to do some offshore sailing in the future and will need to know these things. I attended the Yanmar engine school in January, and would recommend it to anyone with a Hunter. Well worth the money. Some things I am not ready to tackle yet, but I am wondering if anyone reading this knows of a good book/DVD/VCR that tackles ongoing maintenance issues of sailboats?
 
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Chris

welding bow pulpit

does anyone know if welding stainless is harder that welding other metals. my bow pulpit, a poor design to start with, has been crushed by previous owneri want to weld a crossbar, and weld some cracks any info would be great!
 
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Michael Jones

Yes, Stainless is Difficult to weld

There are many stainless steel fillers. Some like 309 are fairly crack resistant but is a little less strong than 316 and dothers. It's a good filler material for most stainless to stainless welds. If you have little or no experience welding the bow pulpits, I's suggest you have a pro do it. They are a little expensive and aesthetics are desired on this. I'm not a welder, but I used to direct marine repairs to ships engines and we used a lot of stainless materials. Somewhere I likely have some old process specifications. If you can tell me what your base materials are and type of welds you are planning I could likely get you the process specifications. It will look nicer though if you have a pro do it.
 
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Michael Jones

I usually pick up those tools

Being a repair engineer for some 30 years, (My how time flies...) I'd best take a shot at fixing it. There are times though when I don't feel like crawling around in the bilges of my 36 footer and will just have someone else do the job. Electrical up the mast is no longer my cup of tea!
 
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Tomm

It's all good!

I would rather just sail the boat because my time just won't let me sail it enough and the season is so short here, but when something breaks it needs to be fixed. That's when I learn a little more about my boat. The more I learn about the boat, the more I enjoy sailing it and the longer trips I feel comfortable taking. It's all good! Just think of all the fun you would miss if you had a big new perfect boat that didn't need any lovin. But wait a minute.....just think of all the sailing you could do if you didn't have to repair anything. Maybe we should each have two boats...one for fixing up and one for sailing.
 
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Dr. Thagg

PRACTICAL SAILOR

The more repair, maintenance and upgrading I do on this boat, the more it becomes an extension of myself. It becomes a living , breathing thing and I sit at the tiller an integral part of it all.> Gestalt. I've done the bottom scraping/pressure washing & painting myself, Repaired the water leaks myself, Repaired and mounted the porti-potti myself, Installed the stove myself, etc. I've taken the mast down myself. I've replaced the water pump, changed the oil and tuned-up the o/b motor alone... and I WOULDN'T HAVE IT ANY OTHER WAY! THAGG.
 
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Roger

The Hard Way

Mea Culpa. I am not good at fixing things; never have been. Great SAT scores, Ivy League educated, failed shop. But I really love to sail. And I am not rich. I have discovered that having a small, experienced cruising sailboat(read affordable) has meant learning at least enough about diesels and MSD's and DC electrics and wood finishing and rigging to enable me to get out and do what I love to do: sail the boat. Of course, along the way, I feel good that I actually put the new engine harness on (after it would no longer start, of course). If I were rich, I would probably pay $75-$85 an hour, then would be all frustrated about the quality of the work. Actually, come to think of it I have and I was. So while my own work will win no prizes, there is a certain satisfaction in self-sufficiency. Even the Hard Way for one who failed shop. Roger C27 #5012 &Mabel Cape Cod
 
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Tim Welsh

All by myself

I do everything from the haulout, towing, bottom job, new sole, wiring engine repairs and anything else. Yes it can be a madness. One mission in mind though. Finish it so I can enjoy it again. Tim Welsh Hunter 34 AKA Cabo Wabo
 
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