As Far as Boats are Concerned What are Your 3 Biggest Headaches ?

[Coops]

Not enough time.

Not enough skill.

Not enough money.

Coops.

[Sandero]

Interesting question.

As far as recurring PITA it would be Spring Prep of the bottom and waxing the hull (painting itself is no prob, but prep and waxing are an annual PITA)

Engine would be the next PITA. My MD17D is now 27 and it does need not only regular oil changes (YUCK) but when something breaks it's a PITA to get at it and repair it.

Changing out the batts is a major PITA - heavy and hard to get at.

PITA 4 would be getting stuff from dink to boat. No prob when it's calm.... but when the conditions are rough, the ride is too, things get wet (not to mention occupants and off loading can be a challenge. Moving/stowing the OB used to be more of a PITA but that PITA is reduced with a Garhaurer demountable lifting crane.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Mostly the Owner Me.....he's a fuggin slow worker .

apart from that:-

a) Cooking - haven't really nailed the making decent food onboard thing Hey, I struggle onshore .....hopefully that will come with time once I move onboard for a few months (neccessity being the mother of invention ).

b) Engine - not a natural spanner waver . But I figure god loves a trier .

c) Electrics / Electronics - I don't really understand how electrickery works , can work my way through the basics when I really want / have to. But nothing really sticks in my noggin .

Originally Posted by Mr B

Bilge pumps, You dont know they are inadequate untill you have water coming in,
You need a high volume 3 inch bilge pump minimum, Preferably a couple of them,

If you knock out a thru hull, Depth sounder, boat speed, water inlet, etc, These are all 3 inch in Diameter, If you lose one, you have a 3 inch hole in your boat,

I would say you are closer to have the equivalent of a 6 inch hole - given that the hole will likely be 3 foot underwater.

and no, my bilge pumps could not cope with that either .

[unbusted67]

the 3x rule: every project costs 3 times more and takes 3 times longer than expected.

The head

The engine

cored decks

[Mr B]

Sydney company is selling fully submersible bilge pumps,

3700 Gallons per hour or 12,000 litres per hour, 12 volt DC. $70-00 AUD. I will have four of these little beautys on my boat,

By the time the batterys have gone flat running them, I will have plugged the hole or run up the beach,

Not that I will be getting a hole in my boat, But it is much better to be prepared,

[boatman61]

[QUOTE=David_Old_Jersey;880734] But nothing really sticks in my noggin .
QUOTE]

Thats something you'll have to get used to... the older one gets... the greater the Teflon deposits on the brain... it'll get worse..

[mrohr]

Any repair.

[Sailmonkey]

Deck leaks......
Deck leaks.........
DECK LEAKS!!!!!!!!!!

[cfarrar]

1. The Head (especially with two little kids onboard)
2. Outboard Engines (all of them)
3. Mildew (during those foggy months in Maine)

[boatman61]

Can't figure out how come all these 'Head' problems...
Just grab the handle... tie a line throw overboard and rinse...
Then replace the bucket...

[capn_billl]

I would say,

1. The Dinghy Motor, heavy, hard to put on dinghy when it's rough, hard to start after hanging off of back of boat for a few weeks.

2. Head, smells bad, breaks.

3. Batteries, require much more attention than they should in this century.

4. Engine, didn't really join this hobby to become a mechanic.

[Mr B]

The Head,

Use the Marina's dunny,

Mines connected with salt water, I flush it 3 or 4 times after use, It gets rid of any Poops in the lines, No smell.

The Dinghy,

Yes, it is heavy to put on and off in bad weather,

Use fresh fuel when its been sitting for a while, Fuel goes off,

Leaks in the deck,

Use silicon (or equivalant) on top when you find where the water is coming thru. Usually after it rains,

It dont look good, but you dont leak water inside,

The Batterys,

Use AGM's No maintenance,

The motor Battery, check and fill once a week.

The Diesels,

Run them once a week, 10 minutes, Fast idle,

Change your filters often, even if they dont need it, Diesel goes off also, and it grows sludge,

Change your zincs frequently,

Preventive maintenance, usually stops things from being a Drama,

Happy sailing,
Cheers,
Brian,

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mathew.

[boden36]

Not much really. I do hate officials and the rules they make - after 50 yrs on the water I resent being babysat.
The only job which I do regularly and really dislike is diving to clean the prop.
Regards,
Richard.

[Curmudgeon]

1. The F&#^&ing duckbill pump for my electric head.

All else pales in comparison, even the invoices from the boatyard.