Do you work on your own boat?

Do you work on your own boat?

  • I don't even polish mine. I job that out too.

    Votes: 1 1.1%

  • Polish and wax only. Job out even small stuff.

    Votes: 6 6.9%

  • Minor maintenance only. (oil changes, spark plugs...)

    Votes: 46 52.9%

  • Major engine and drive rebuilds. No fiberglass work.

    Votes: 18 20.7%

  • I can build my own boat if i wanted to, I can do anything needed.

    Votes: 16 18.4%
  • Total voters
    87
  • Poll closed .
jitts3

jitts3

Well-Known Member
Dec 16, 2008
1,374
Freedom, WI
Boat Info
1989 Sea Ray 268 Sundancer
Engines
454 Bravo 2
I am just curious on how many of us work on our own boats. We come here from many walks of life and backgrounds and skill level. It would be interesting to see.
 
To a very minor degree, but after the issues I have been dealing with I will start to learn for sure.
 
Hell yes! I'm cheap so if I can do it then I'll take the time and do it. Major repairs I break out the cash and bite the bullet but most things I can do myself.
 
I have extensive automotive mecanical background
and I'll try anything once...the key is knowing when to quit before you really screw something up bad :wink:
 
Bucit said:
Hell yes! I'm cheap so if I can do it then I'll take the time and do it. Major repairs I break out the cash and bite the bullet but most things I can do myself.
Click to expand...

Ditto!!!!
 
I'll do anything but opening up the engines or transmissions. I do sub out some small stuff, but it's because I can't get to it, or it will cost me time on the water.

Don
 
I have a disease that requires me to completely disassemble each boat I buy, and restore it to better than new. There is no known cure. I could have been vaccinated when I was a child, but now it's too late for me. Those of you following my blog know how sick I really am. I think there is a clinic on the west coast.....but the travel time takes away from my boating.

Dale
 
MasterFab said:
I have a disease that requires me to completely disassemble each boat I buy, and restore it to better than new. There is no known cure. I could have been vaccinated when I was a child, but now it's too late for me. Those of you following my blog know how sick I really am. I think there is a clinic on the west coast.....but the travel time takes away from my boating.

Dale
Click to expand...

I would be happy to contribute my boat in the event you run out of things to do on yours
 
When I had boats with gas engines I did spark plugs, oil changes, filters, etc. Now with diesels I'm a newby and not familiar with them. I've already made arrangements for a diesel mechanic to come down to the boat every spring and give it a good once over. Plus, while he's not a boat mechanic, he will work on the boat if something is wrong with the engines or genset.

Clint Eastwood said it best in "Magnum Force"....

[video]www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VrFV5r8cs0[/video]
 
As much as possible! I've been into electricity/electronics since I was a pre-teen and now I'm an electronics engineer by trade. My brother was the mechanic of the family and taught me a whole lot about cars, engines, and transmissions. I don't do uphostery work. Other than that, I can't think of anything that I haven't done at least once.
 
I'll do anything but transmission work. Not only is it very satisfying to do ones own work, it makes boating far more affordable. This way my annual cost of ownership is low enough that I can step up in size comfortably and not sweat the budget too much. And if I don't get as much use from the boat as I could in a given season, I don't feel like I've wasted any money.
 
Enjoyed figuring out how system work since I could pick up a stick. After all these years the sense of satisfaction and savings from repairing and maintaining still gives me a boost.
 
I do most of the maintenance and mechanical repairs on my boat. I've never mastered things like carpentry though, and don't have nearly the skills or patience needed for stuff like that.
 
With each boat I've owned, there has been more mystery revealed regarding fixing what's broken. When I bought my current boat, it needed some maintenance items done and since the boat was new to me I had a local mechanic complete the job. I've regretted it ever since... Took over 1 month in drydock, was way too expensive (not just labour - but PARTS), and the worst part is that I didn't learn anything about the affected parts of the boat. I know I would have done it much faster, much cheaper, and would have had the satisfaction of knowing things were dealt with very thoroughly. I must have been experiencing a BRAIN FART to make this error!!
 
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