Tips? You can’t get these kind of tips past the YouTube censors. Truly when you get to #6 you’ll understand. These are things I discovered that I wish I’d known.
- Have you ever thought about stuff breaking in remote locations? If you buy something to repair something buy three. Put the two spares in bags and make an inventory. If you do this well and you go to get insurance. You will impress the insurance folks so much they will give your insurance for free… Maybe. You should have two lists for the boat. Spares and consumable and you should track consumable rates (oil, filters, zincs, etc) so that you know per voyage/season what you might need.
- How many times have you seen cruisers with fuel bug? If you have a boat buy a real Racor/Parker or similar fuel polishing system ($500). You can build one for about the same cost, but it won’t be that nice or work nearly as well. You might think you don’t need it, but you do. You sail from x to z to y and back why would you need fuel filter. THAT IS THE EXACT reason you need it. If you cruise the tropics, you need it. Run it once a week for 24 hours. Replace filter every season. It’s like insurance for your fuel supply.
- What’s the most expensive consumable on a cruising boat? Buy the best sails you can afford. Best being the operative word. Best sails last 20 years. Expensive sails might last 5 years. That means something. Best as in best for cruising. I like to talk to experts with decades of experience like Bob Meagher at North Sails. Talk to racers, cruisers, and people who have done what you want to do. Ask about laminate glue failures due to tropical heat. Ask about UV damage on certain colors of dacron. The sails are the heart and engine of a cruising boat.
- Why do you think there is no perfect boat? The only perfect boat out there is the one you love. And the model two feet longer than you have. Oh and that one over there. And… yeah… Love the boat you own. I love Lin Pardey and Larry. However, go small, go simple, go now works for a single cruiser or maybe a couple. Kids and wives with no time aboard a boat have expectations. Buy want you can and love it.
- If you’re in a remote location and something breaks, what do you need to fix it? I’ve never seen a tool I didn’t lust after. My tools inventory is significant. You’re going to fix boats a lot. I can build anything I can get raw materials for. I have portable drill presses. I have … just about everything. Funny… for me… I don’t have a vice. Other than bourbon.
- I’m going to get banned from posting… Here is my nugget of wisdom. It’s your boat. You’re the master of the vessel. It’s your decision to go out in the weather. It’s your decision to buy or sell stuff. It’s your decision. You know what. I don’t tell adults how to spend their money and I get peeved when they tell me how to spend my money. If somebody says you need “X” ask them why. A lot of times their reasoning has nothing to with you. Be wary of the guy who answers with a question, “Well, have you ever seen this very specific problem that plagues cruisers?”