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How does one go about finding the right boat? On the surface, buying a new boat sounds ideal, if you have the money and the temperament to go through new-boat growing pains. Building a boat can cost less than buying a new boat, while allowing for features to be customized to your needs. Converting a sailboat or work boat is often possible, but to avoid unwise design alternations, a knowledgeable person's guidance should be sought. Rebuilding, refurbishing and upgrading a cheap, run down hull is ideal for those on a micro budget, or for those that just enjoy that kind of work, but more time and effort is often required than initially imagined. To our way of thinking, the smaller the boat, no matter which route taken to get a boat, the cheaper it is to buy, to fix up and to operate. Of a greater concern to us, is that we see too many broken dreams because the boat was too big, draining the budget long before the boat could be returned to the water. We see no reason that cruising under power cannot be done on a boat that would cost the same as a modest, used sailboat. Old boats can be great bargains, but old boats are, well, “old”. Their less than stellar reputations exist because after the “old bucket” is dragged home, much of the old stuff is often kept- old wiring, old instruments, old hoses, old pumps, old toilets, old engine, old anchors, old rodes, old hardware, old tanks, old upholstery, old spars, old this, and old that.
Just because this stuff is working when the old boat is purchased, does not mean it can be depended on for long distance cruising, or at all, for that matter. We think it is better to buy smaller and spend money on replacing everything, or at least replacing the critical stuff, rather than buying big and keeping unreliable gear. For fun, satisfaction, and cost savings; plus, to gain knowledge, experience and skills, try doing the work yourself. If questioning your ability, buy the tools and try it anyway. After all, how bad will it have to be not to work? The second attempt can be better, but only if there was a first attempt to begin with. If your knowledge is lacking, talk to someone who knows how to do it, and hopefully, they know more than one way. Also read books and articles. If your skill is lacking, build it, tear it out and build it again until it meets the minimums required. It's the only way to gain the skill. Fortunately, most of what is needed is easily and quickly learned, and there are usually many ways to do it right. All you want to be sure of is not doing it wrong. If necessary, there is always someone, somewhere who, if needed, can put it right if you eventually can't. Perfection is illusive, frustrating and unnecessary; on the other hand, your work cannot be less than adequate. We love the old Maine proverb that states, “Nothing too strong ever broke.” —Rudy and Jill Sechez
Here’s how the Briney Bug story is presented: What does Briney Bug look like? Editor’s note: Rudy and Jill Sechez, when they are not away cruising, live aboard Briney Bug in Port St. Joe, Florida, and provide boat and yacht repair services. They can be reached at 850-832-7748 or via e-mail by clicking here. |
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Simplicity taken to the max |
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© 1997-2014 Water World Productions, formerly Trawler World Productions. All rights reserved. Reproduction of material from any trawlersandtrawlering.com page without written permission is strictly prohibited. Any copyrighted images remain the property of the copyright owner and are believed to be used with permission. Unsolicited letters, e-mails, articles and other materials submitted to us may be published, distributed and stored by Water World Productions and its assignees in whole or in part, in print or by any other means, including but not limited to electronic, and may be edited for clarity and space. Trawlers & Trawlering and its abbreviation T&T, I'd Rather Be Trawlering, Passagemaking Under Power and its abbreviation PUP, Trawler Buy-Sell-Trade, Trawler News, Circumnavigator, and Power Catamaran World are trademarks of Water World Productions.
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