Most important thing to a new boat owner?

[Bunnellr]

Hello, Friends,

(I am an American, and if the reference to Jim Nance doesn't work, I apologize. I've not posted before, but I have read a lot of posts, garnering good info. Hence the greeting.)
I am buying an ex-charter (2006 Hanse 400E) in Palma (de Mallorca), current French flag. Full survey will be done in two days. I am in the process of becoming resident in Italy. My wife is British. Current plan is to register in Gibraltar, because we can. Then move the boat to Siracusa, Sicily over an indeterminate time along Spanish, French and Italian coasts.
Question for all if you have the time: What are the things I should most worry about as a new boat owner? Please pick one and let me know. If you have time to pick two, grazie mille!

Bob

[Shrew]

I'm not sure I understand the Jim Nance reference or the question in general.

Are you asking in regards to the boat or the owner?

There is no ONE important thing. There are many important things. This is like asking "I want to be a doctor, lawyer, chemist, engineer.... what is the one thing I need to know?"

The learning curve is steep and there are no short-cuts.

If I had to choose one thing....

"The boat needs to float"

[Bunnellr]

Shrew,

Apparently, I did not make my intent clear. I recognize that there are thousands of things that are important. What I was trying was to tap into the experience of the members to see what they thought was MOST important, without burdening them with ALL the things that are important. I have your input, and thank you: I'll make sure it floats.

Bob

[Terra Nova]

Originally Posted by Bunnellr

...What are the things I should most worry about as a new boat owner?...

Going broke and blowing your brains out.

[Bunnellr]

Terra Nova,

OK, got it, and humor is good. But I see a long membership and a similar type of boat. Got any real advice?

Bob

[Kelkara]

What are the things I should most worry about as a new boat owner?

The previous owner ...

you've no idea what he has done to your boat ... it might be good, or it might be very very bad.

[Shrew]

Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship.

You can't really short-cut experience with a punch-list of everyone's collective knowledge amassed over decades. I honestly and strongly suggest getting and digesting Chapman's Piloting and Seamanship. That will give you a foundation to work with.

[laika]

Make sure the seacocks are in good order; make sure the rig and sails are in good order; make sure the engine is in good order and you know how to change filters and bleed the fuel system. Then get out there and sail the thing and learn as you go.

As is said, "keep the water out and the mast pointed up."

Have fun!

[Ded reckoner]

Unless you have receipts that indicate otherwise, I would assume no maintenance has been done. You should go through the boat and all the systems and do maintenance. This is a reliability and safety issue. When you establish your own maintenance schedules, you'll have some things that need to be done daily, some weekly, monthly, semi-annually, annually, and some by hours of use. Do it all now. Then, take her out sailing and have fun. Typically, this means something breaks. So, you get to redo the maintenance thing.

[Kenomac]

Get insurance and practice docking procedures. Nobody should be allowed to jump off the boat and onto the dock.

If you dock the boat properly, then someone should be able to sep off easy without jumping onto the dock. That's how people get seriously hurt, by jumping.

I just helped a neighboring boat owners wife out of the water two days ago, I think her arm was seriously injured when she struck it on the dock on the way dowm.

[DeepFrz]

Here is ONE thing to make sure are in good shape. Mast, sails, hull, keel, steering, anchoring gear and engine. (I know, I know).

[Bunnellr]

Kelkara,

Thanks! I'm having a full survey including pulling the boat and checking for osmosis. Big issue is "has it run aground?"

[Bunnellr]

Shrew,

Thanks! That was helpful. My copy is dog-eared and I have been sailing for 46 years. I just haven't owned a boat like this before. I have had my earhole slammed with salt water.

Bob

[weavis]

Its a funny thing about abilities...

I started boating at a young age. Boat handling came naturally to me. I kinda had watched MANY people before I actually did it myself.
Same with driving a car, same with flying a plane.. I took my plane licence age 16 and car at 17.

Last week I docked a 117 foot pleasure boat here on the river in Seville.. of course the conditions were perfect so it was down to me.. I sweated a lot and took 2 attempts and went VERY SLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW... the owner said he sweated too at the time taken but was ok with the approach to the dock.. he said he would have aborted on the first attempt too.

He said that if the weather had been bad, he would have to show me how to dock differently because of the length... so lots of practice for me then...

100 foot plus is a different experience.. it makes a person sweat.. but doable.

I just wanted to write this as a semi brag... but inside I was so very nervous.. 100 foot is a lot of length to get right for an amateur like me..

[Bunnellr]

DeepFrz,

Ciao. I have a lot of confidence in the surveyor.

Bob