I learned in another forum that modern Hunter boats have their electrical wiring all running through PVC pipe...complete with messenger lines to make installing new wires a snap! Nice.
This got me to thinking about all the new ideas and technology in sailboats and all the upgrades to my boat over the years. One of my favorite aspects of working on my old boat is that it's fun to take what is old and make it new (parts of it anyways). 36 years ago, who would have thought a Hunter 27 would have GPS-guided autopilot, digital wind instruments, LED nav and interior lighting, thin low-stretch running rigging, assymetric spinnaker, digital battery float charger, AIS radio, DVD player, Interlux VC-17 bottom paint, 12-volt powered mini-cooler, wall mounted USB charger, solar powered vent, automatic battery charging relay......and on and on....
I believe that this one aspect of old boat ownership, that in fixing something we often by default are also upgrading it, is what makes DIY repairs so rewarding. My Dad, who is often sailing on his friends' newer (and might I add larger) sailboats often expresses his exasperation at the fact that my 'lowly' 1978 Hunter 27 has newer equipment and more advanced features then much 'better' boats he's sailed.
We all know the inside joke is that as the owner of boats which cost very little to aquireand free of monthly payments we often have larger budgets when it comes to upgrades/repairs (well, sometimes). Plus the fact that when a 36 year-old (insert part here) breaks, usually the only option IS to upgrade. Like when my brittle cabin light lenses began to fall apart...the only sensible option was LED lights. When I finally sprung for some wind instruments, they were the latest Raymarine digital kind. My autopilot is paired to a Garmin GPS. For a small kicker engine I am now contemplating...you guessed it...a four-stroke model. So, yes...my Cherubini-designed boat of 36 years is in many ways more up-to-date technology-wise than many well maintained boats less than 2/3rds its age. Now, if I could only just point a few degrees higher than that nice new Beneteau next-door.......
(DISCLAIMER: When I win the $500 million lottery I will be getting a very big, very new Island Packet IP520. I may have been born a dreamer, but not a fool. That being said, I will keep my H27 as my little personal runabout and perhaps make it a showpiece. In the end the H27 and an IP520 would be nice bookends for a 1949 Chriscraft powerboat.......) :dance:
This got me to thinking about all the new ideas and technology in sailboats and all the upgrades to my boat over the years. One of my favorite aspects of working on my old boat is that it's fun to take what is old and make it new (parts of it anyways). 36 years ago, who would have thought a Hunter 27 would have GPS-guided autopilot, digital wind instruments, LED nav and interior lighting, thin low-stretch running rigging, assymetric spinnaker, digital battery float charger, AIS radio, DVD player, Interlux VC-17 bottom paint, 12-volt powered mini-cooler, wall mounted USB charger, solar powered vent, automatic battery charging relay......and on and on....
I believe that this one aspect of old boat ownership, that in fixing something we often by default are also upgrading it, is what makes DIY repairs so rewarding. My Dad, who is often sailing on his friends' newer (and might I add larger) sailboats often expresses his exasperation at the fact that my 'lowly' 1978 Hunter 27 has newer equipment and more advanced features then much 'better' boats he's sailed.
We all know the inside joke is that as the owner of boats which cost very little to aquireand free of monthly payments we often have larger budgets when it comes to upgrades/repairs (well, sometimes). Plus the fact that when a 36 year-old (insert part here) breaks, usually the only option IS to upgrade. Like when my brittle cabin light lenses began to fall apart...the only sensible option was LED lights. When I finally sprung for some wind instruments, they were the latest Raymarine digital kind. My autopilot is paired to a Garmin GPS. For a small kicker engine I am now contemplating...you guessed it...a four-stroke model. So, yes...my Cherubini-designed boat of 36 years is in many ways more up-to-date technology-wise than many well maintained boats less than 2/3rds its age. Now, if I could only just point a few degrees higher than that nice new Beneteau next-door.......
(DISCLAIMER: When I win the $500 million lottery I will be getting a very big, very new Island Packet IP520. I may have been born a dreamer, but not a fool. That being said, I will keep my H27 as my little personal runabout and perhaps make it a showpiece. In the end the H27 and an IP520 would be nice bookends for a 1949 Chriscraft powerboat.......) :dance: