The Offshore Voyaging Reference Site

You Need More Than Money

The late, great comedian Spike Milligan once declared, ‘How can we lose when we haven’t got a plan?’ I know what he meant. But without any kind of plan or knowledge you’re entirely at the mercy of whoever has your ear at the time, and this can prove disastrous if the person concerned doesn’t have your best interests at heart, or if you’re ill prepared to deal with the results.

In ordinary life this need not have serious consequences, but where offshore yachts are concerned it certainly can. A badly serviced engine can let you down at just the wrong moment, or a cheap sail can blow out 1000 miles from land, whilst the current insistence on having everything including the kitchen sink on board means that you need to have as many arms as Buddha to keep it all running.


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Tim

I’m fairly handy with engines but also not one to ignore a suggestion of Colin either! Nigel’s booked ordered.

Colin Speedie

Hi Tim

I’m sure you’ll find Nigel’s book a real benefit – no matter how handy you are. I do!

Best wishes

Colin

Marc Dacey

When I got into sailing late (38 years old and in 1999), my ignorance of all things mechanical was a costly embarrassment to me. I fried my original Atomic 4 by forgetting to open the raw water seacock. I got a rebuilt block and found water in the valves and assumed I had a hole in the passages (it turned out to be a corroded out Onan waterlift). I rebuilt a third Atomic 4 myself that has been running tickety-boo since 2006. Now I replace head gaskets, do tune ups, adjust the planetary gear, etc. Slowly, and late, I have become handy. I’m shortly going to hit the start button on our other boat’s diesel, an upgrade that involved building an engine gantry, new welded stringers, new prop, new shaft, Aquadrive, Centek lift, everything. I am much more comfortable doing the work these days, because we will eventually be far beyond help…even the help that aren’t theiving incompentents who exploit the ignorance of wrench-wary boaters.

So I agree with your sentiments here, Colin. I really had no choice but to learn, but the upside is I discovered a bit of a knack in employing the logic of maintenance and repair. So far! I would add that the Calders of the world are not unapproachable: I recently had an email exchange with American boat-repair writer Dave Gerr, in one of whose books I saw something called the “North Sea Transverse Exhaust” which is appropriate and desirable for my boat. He was generous with his time and advice. This has been my experience with most “name-brand experts”…including at this site. Which is a cheery thought, I think. And yes, don’t cast off lines without good, slightly oil-stained reference works. Sailing is great, but few things beat the satisfaction of emerging from an engine bay and having the damn thing start properly!

Dick Stevenson

Dear Colin,
Another nice article and very pertinent about the state of the boating community.
I would wish to underline your comment about how it is hard, not impossible, but hard to find good competent engineers, mechanics and electricians, let alone more specific specialists like refrigeration etc. Although I have not owned a car in a while, I do not believe that autos suffer in the same way. When work is done on Alchemy, I want to be there, first to see it done the way I wish and, secondarily, because I generally learn something. If you must have work done when not on board, I would very much urge a thorough shake down of the worked on areas till confident of its functioning.
Speaking of learning, as someone who grew up in an environment generally devoid of tools or of any ethic of fixing things, I have endured the myriad of mistakes of the self-taught. Those times when someone has allowed me to look over their shoulder when they do a project have been quite special. I would urge those who have knowledge and skills to keep an eye out for those in the anchorage or at the marina who are curious and ambitious, but maybe a bit experience shy. When you see someone like that and you are looking to strip a winch or do a valve lash, you might see if s/he is interested. I know I still jump at the chance to get involved in someone else’s project/repair. I figure, if it has not happened to me yet, it is only a matter of time.
One of the up-sides of some of the crowded Bahamas anchorages in our first year out, was the morning net when there was a chance to ask for help. I often had little to offer, but “tagged along” on other’s repairs, learned a lot and met some great people.
My best, Dick Stevenson, s/v Alchemy

Colin Speedie

Hi Dick

all good points, and your idea to go and observe work being done is a really good one. Many people like a spare pair of hands, too, or another mind to knock ideas around with.

In fact anything that you can do to short circuit the learning experience is good, and builds confidence in your own abilities. Thanks for making such a valuable point.

Best wishes

Colin

Niels

And you’re repaying that these days with your practical and useful advice on the Valiant Owners Group site. Many Thanks.
Niels

Eric Klem

Hi Dick,

You make an interesting point about learning from others. I feel comfortable enough that I will tackle most things that don’t require really specialized tools but I do spend a lot of time on youtube if I get to something that I am unsure of and don’t own the service manual for. When friends ask me about learning to work on engines, I always advise them to get a chainsaw with a scored cylinder for cheap and then rebuild it which can you do all for under $150. It seems to give them enough confidence to move into larger repairs but with very low consequences if they mess something up like putting a conn rod cap on backwards. I suppose that cruisers could just do this with an old outboard instead.

Colin, thanks for the good article. I know of at least one engineering school that recently had to institute a mandatory first year lab to teach how to use basic hand tools because people were coming in without exposure to them.

Eric

Jeff Bander

I feel like this article was written for me. An ailing boat sent me on a search for knowledge. I’m still not a skillful mechanic but I’ve become a pretty good customer. I understand enough theory to have insights into what’s happening or what’s about to happen. Experience has also caused me to create a truism: “after the yard has done any work onboard I consider the boat guilty until proven innocent”. This approach has proven invaluable.

Colin Speedie

Hi Jeff

good point to check all work thoroughly before straying too far. Everybody seems to be in a hurry to finish work these days rather than take their time and do things carefully and thoroughly. Whilst this may, on the face of it, save money in the short term, my bet is that in the long term paying a little more to have the job done right is money well spent.

Best wishes

Colin

Ted Tripp

Colin, Buddha only has two arms, just like you and me, as he was a real person. There are other deities, Hindu and Buddhist, with lots of arms you may appeal to in times of need, but not Shakyamuni!

Colin Speedie

Hi Ted

then I humbly beg his pardon!

Best wishes

Colin

Paul Kelly

Very useful article, Colin. I have a 29 foot Beneteau with an 18hp Volvo Penta 2002 – age unknown. I am anything but mechanically minded. Last year the starter motor packed up. It was a devil of a job to get it unbolted from the engine – first time in 25 years I reckon – but I did it, got it repaired and re-fitted it. This year I had a problem with the water pump. Same thing. Got it off, thought I had solved the problem. But the new impeller was destroyed, so got it off again and took it to an engineer who shaved a bit off the shaft for next to nothing. What I have learnt from this is not engineering, but patience and determination! My engine is running very nicely…until the next time!

Colin Speedie

Hi Paul

good for you for having a go. As with all success stories, it’s 90% perspiration and 10% inspiration, and the next time you won’t be afraid to roll your sleeves up.

I have a practice of buying any specialist tool rather than bring a mechanic if I can. That way, although I’ve spent some cash, I do have the tool for the future.

But equally if IO’m stumped, or stuck for time, I’ll find the best mechanic I can.

Best wishes

Colin

Marc Dacey

Trust me, Colin, if you are the only guy in the island group with a prop-puller, you’ll be drinking the best rum around that night! If in the presence of mechanical aid, however, I suggest “walking up the hill, away from the docks, until you find the guy who fixes the truck version of what you’ve broken”.