D.I.Y or Hire a Professional?

[SV Windrush II]

I am bringing this up because I often struggle with the thought of trying to do everything myself
This includes just regular maintenance to engine overhauls, rewiring, structural repair, rigging, Sail repair, etc etc.

Right now I am faced with pulling my rudder and replacing the bronze bushings which I am not looking forward to do, but it needs to be done to the highest quality.

As for me, as the perfectionist that I am, I am always under the impression that I can do it cheaper and better than anyone else, after all its my boat and I want to know its done right?......

But now that I am older and wiser, I look back on things I have done (especially wiring) and realize some of it I should have let a electrician take over. and in the end it cost me just as much doing it myself compared to paying someone to fix it right the first time. But when it comes to structural repairs, because I have built and rebuilt all kinds of boats over the last 40 years, I feel much more confident of doing that myself and I actually enjoy doing it. (Below is an pic of me rebuilding my mast).

I guess it comes down to knowing what I am good at and what I am not so good at. and also where I am at in the world. For example here in the Philippines, it is really difficult to find anyone that knows what they are doing that will not end up making the problem worse or breaking something else in the process.

Also when does it get cost prohibitive to try and doing yourself? especially if I screw up and have to fix what I broke myself.

SO how much do you guys do yourself and when do you give it up to a pro to do it for you? Can you give some examples?

[Sandero]

Great topic!

I try to do as much as possible. Wiring is not difficult... very neat organized and labelled wiring is more difficult... tools are inexpensive.

Engine work is a whole other challenge. Special tools are required and you need to send out things like injects to be "re done"... access is difficult and when you take the engine apart you ain't goin anywhere till it's back working again. Pros are very expensive and won't work on a mooring...

Rigging you can do somewhat... you can use StaLoks...

Plumbing is a PITA but tools are not expensive... project not too difficult.

Joinery work requires expensive tools and well honed skills. Pros are very expensive.

Many things can be done well if you take your time.

BUT you need to enjoy messing about on boats to be a DIYer.

[ranger58sb]

I often decide based on factors like:
- do I have (or can I get) enough of a clue?
- do I have easy enough access to whatever it is that needs fixing?
- do I need special tools?
- or at least do I need tools I don't have and would likely be for only one-time use?
- how much physical pain will I feel afterwards?
- how much time will I need, compared to a pro?
- is a pro available in the required time frame?
- how much would it cost ($$, time, and effort) to just write a check (compare to DIY)?

Before retirement, I had little time to do much of my own work. After retirement, I have more time... but that didn't immediately confer knowledge or skill. And that "pain" thing is a big deal; extremely repetitive or contortionist work, not so great for tennis elbow, Milwaukee shoulder, arthritis, etc.

I've found it still useful to pay the pro, sometimes... and at the same time, learn from him how to do it myself next time. Or learn from him that it's a job that I don't want to do myself, next time, either.

-Chris

[brakauskas]

I really base it on an economic model. Do I pay myself or a professional. If a professional is 90-120 per hour i try and work out my hourly rate plus tools I have to buy. I then try and watch as many you-tube videos and read as many articles or blogs as possible. What this does for me is set a realistic goal and also prepare to negotiate with a yard. Easier to set expectations when you know what you are talking about. You can also hire the pro for a portion of the project.

[Rhapsody-NS27]

I try doing what I can myself. I research like crazy on the what, how, how much $$, how long does it take, and more. Electrical isn't too difficult. Just be sure to use the proper tools. Plumbing can be a pain, but not too bad overall. I did somewhat of a rebuild on my engine myself as last years winter project. It was a fun learning experience.


I wanted to repaint my mast, but decided to hire it out and had a lot of work done to it as well. In that case, it was more about getting it done right, and the speed it was done. If I did it myself, it would take SO much longer to do and I want to be done with my refit and go sailing again.


I still have a lot of work to do on my boat, but likely to do much of it on my own. There may be some thing I will hire someone else for but that will happen when the time comes.


Sometimes, it's a matter of sorting out your priorities and what other things you need to consider. Is it about saving money? Getting a job done right? Want a project to be done quickly? Certain jobs you can do yourself to make sure it's done right, but on the other hand, you may need to hire someone else to do it right, if it's beyond your skills. Or, you can meet in the middle... hire a professional to advise you on your project(s) but still do the work yourself.

[siamese]

For the last several decades, I've been fortunate enough to be able to handle my maintenance, with just a couple small exceptions. For me, that's just part of owning a boat.

You mentioned that you might have been better served in some instances to have hired a job done to get it done right the first time. Let's remember that hiring a job done is not a guarantee that it will be done right the first time, or ever. Whether your "pro" is an unskilled scoundrel or a well regarded expert in your locale, hiring work out is always a gamble.

[alexanick]

A well known individual once quoted, "A man's got to know his limitations". I have found that the jobs I don't really enjoy usually fall in the category of "call a professional". And when I do call someone, it ends up cheaper in the long run. I hope you learn your "limitations" soon.

[Stu Jackson]

Originally Posted by siamese

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You mentioned that you might have been better served in some instances to have hired a job done to get it done right the first time. Let's remember that hiring a job done is not a guarantee that it will be done right the first time, or ever. Whether your "pro" is an unskilled scoundrel or a well regarded expert in your locale, hiring work out is always a gamble.

In addition to this, there is the issue of knowing what it is that you want to be accomplished.

I have heard altogether too many stories of "I asked him to do it and he f-ed it up!"

Unless you define, usually in writing, just what you want to be done, and what materials are to be used, you may find yourself in that situation.

It's called a DESIGN.

For example, there are a few different ways to skin a cat when it comes to basic electrical wiring diagrams, of which we've had repeated discussions about on this and other boating forums.

So, I recommend doing your homework and research (as Rhapsody suggests in reply #5) on how you choose to do any given task, then do the design, and only then decide who's gonna do it.

[markwesti]

I only hire when I can't do it . And most times I regret hiring the incompetent person that insured me "I'm the best". Last time I needed some wiring help I tried to hire a electrician that was recommended , the idiot didn't want to hear what I needed he wanted to rewire the whole boat . As for your job , obviously you must haul out so hire a helper or two . That yard looks pretty good . Here is my little yard over the years I have done a lot of work there .

[Scorpius]

If you've rebuilt boats you obviously have the skills to fix a rudder bushing. Get a couple of locals to help you with the heavy grunt work - but don't be afraid to micromanage them and do the fine, critical stuff yourself.

[bobnlesley]

...I should have let a electrician take over...someone to fix it right the first time... Based on what we've seen over the years, that's a very optimistic assumption.

...also where I am at in the world. For example here in the Philippines, it is really difficult to find anyone that knows what they are doing that will not end up making the problem worse... Again, based on what we've seen in almost 14 years cruising, it sounds like the Philippines are part of the rule, not the exception.

I'm sure our approach will follow the majority of replies: If we can do it ourselves, we will do it. The only exceptions are where the tools/equipment required are just too large/specialist/expensive. If we don't know 'how' then ask around the cruising-community rather than the shoreside 'professionals' as they know and can appreciate why the job has to be done 'right' rather than just quickly; if that's not an option for advice/info, then Google and more especially forums such as this are your friend.

If you've fitted/fixed it (whatever 'it' is) yourself, you KNOW that it's been done properly/securely, if it suffers a subsequent failure out in the boondocks, you'll also know where to find it/how to fix it and the knowledge you've gained will also perhaps enable you to spot & deal with the problem before it becomes critical next time; as a rule of thumb, if something fails and we need a spare part, we'll buy two of them - three or four if they're inexpensive and/or fragile/critical.

Our current boat was bought in Greece and the previous owner had had the boat 'professionally maintained' for the preceding five years; ownership quickly added a new phrase to our Lexicon: "It's another bloody Greek Job." Five years and a whole ocean later, we still come across the occassional item that leaves us thinking "WTF? You have got to be joking!"

As I said earlier, there have been times that we've needed to hand things over to the 'professionals', though it's always been something which we've removed, delivered and re-fitted, never had one actually working 'on the boat'; odd bits of welding, injector/starter/alternator/transmission rebuilds all spring immediately to mind, but sitting here and reflecting on fourteen years and 30+ countries, of perhaps 20-25 places where we've had 'professional' assistance, I can list seven companies/engineers that we've dealt with that I would recommend wholeheartedly and without reservation and nine whom I wouldn't sic onto my worst enemy.

Despite the 'Greek Job', one of the good ones was Greek.

[Hoodsail]

Have to echo all that's been said so far. I want to be as independent as possible in anticipation of being off shore after retirement, so am learning about all vital (eg rigging, diesel, thru-hulls, steering, electronics, etc) systems, BUT also do free-lance work to fund boat projects...so that calculus involves - do I have the time and how long will it take me to do compared to how many hours of free-lance work will it take to pay for someone else to do..Most current example - I made new interior cushions for previous boat...this time I am doing free-lance to pay a seamstress. Another option - I paid for a mechanic to sit with me & my engine to review systems, identify parts, and answer questions (eg how to bleed fuel system).
thanks
dave

[SVTatia]

• Marine electronics/electrician (ABYC)
• Refrigeration Technician
• Marine mechanic
• Sailmaker and
• Rigger

These are the specialists, and the professionals outside of these are jack of all trades. They may have done the job in the past or may not. If you are not from the area, you would not know if he is qualified or not.

The only problem I have by hiring the “professional” is the inability to determine if he/she will do it correctly and/or better than I could.

[Pizzazz]

One benefit of doing it yourself, even if you do not get it right the first time, is that you learn and get to know your boat better. Rigging, deck, electrical, plumbing and most engine work can easily be picked up by an average (and committed) person. Engine alignment for example is difficult but if you take time you will most likely do a better job than the average and super expensive mechanic. I would stay away from harmful activities such as sanding the hull and painting - it is not worth the health risk IMHO.

[Stumble]

When trying to decide if I am going to do something or hire it out the first question in my mind is how much skill does it take versus how much time. A lot of jobs don't really take all that much skill or specialized knowledge, but they take huge amounts of time to physically perform. Paying someone $100/hr for unskilled labor is just hard for me to swallow. So things that are just labor intensive but not really skill based I prefer to do.

As the required skill level goes up I pass more and more of it off to real professionals. Running wires for instance is just difficult not skillful, but designing the electrical system requires both skill and time. So I would let the electrician do the design, then I will do all the wire runs, and fishing. It may still take me more time than it would a pro, but the cost is far lower.

Then there are the things I hate to do, like bottom jobs. I would rather pay someone else to do it than do it myself. Because it's worth it to me to NOT have Tom spend days sanding.