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Steadman Uhlich · 10-06-2016, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoQuarter79

It's a 1981 Watkins 27. We paid $1600 and a survey would probably be half that, and we just can't afford that. We are new to diesels. This is our first inboard, our first galley, our first head. A lot to learn and do with dwindling time and money.

You have already gotten lots of great advice from other members, and it sounds like you are eager to learn.

Here are a few things I think you should spend some money on ASAP as it will prove to be a good investment in your boat, your peace of mind, and will likely save you frustration and effort and money in the near future.

Buy some "boat education" in a couple of books that are highly recommended by countless sailors who have bought them. Here are two that are full of things you should find helpful NOW. You can literally download them (say onto a kindle or to a laptop or tablet using the free kindle software) and begin reading them today.

If money is too tight now, you are very likely to find a copy in any library that is near boats. If you don't, then ask around in the marina, because these two books are VERY popular and are often sitting on a shelf on a boat in a slip near you. Make a friend: Borrow them, in return for some free bottom cleaning for the lending sailor. That helps the lender and also may get you a good local reference or future customer.

Don Casey's Complete Illustrated Sailboat Maintenance Manual: Including Inspecting the Aging Sailboat, Sailboat Hull and Deck Repair, Sailboat Refinishing,

Downloadable from Amazon for $29
Hardcover (my preference) for just $31 (plus shipping)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/00...510_em_1p_0_ti

Marine Diesel Engines: Maintenance, Troubleshooting, and Repair
by Nigel Calder

Downloadable for about $16
Hardcover about $17

https://www.amazon.com/Marine-Diesel...VJVBBV700DAT8K

Those two books should give you the basic knowledge, and the confidence to start doing some of your own boat maintenance. Many sailors like them and use them to learn.

Good luck on your future boating!

**TrentePieds** · 10-06-2016, 10:19

Since someone brought up Sociology 101... :-0)

Bei mir, the MAJORITY of universities (though not all), and most university "offerings", are "holding units for unemployables". Universities on this continent, and increasingly in Blighty, are there to keep a sufficient number of youths (respectably) out of a labour market that can't absorb that number of labourers. Beats having them on "welfare" in the ordinary sense, and it compels them to absorb their own welfare cost via student loans.

It is striking that successful "graduates" holding down good jobs come from families that are parented by successful graduates holding down good jobs who come from families that are parented by successful graduates..... Almost ad infinitum, sort of like the ditty about the big fleas that have smaller fleas. This is true particularly, though not without exception, for graduates of "professional" schools such a Medicine and Law.

At one point, a long time ago, I was prolly the best educated truck driver in Vancouver. My mistake was to have forsaken the fleas-paradigm, and to have made a cultural transition that fractured the succession of fleas and left me in a foreign land whose language I did not speak, and where I had no support structure. Well - I recovered, but it nevertheless throws a light on why my boat is a wimpy 30-footer and Dockhead's is a glorious 57-footer ;-0)!

Hi, Dockhead - no disparagement intended at all. I actually LIKE your posts :-). My comments are just a plea that you might allow that not every land is a copy of Blighty (certainly not West Virginia!), and not every Joe Bloggins has the advantages of a young Master deVere.

Cheers :-)!

TrentePieds

qwerty950 · 10-06-2016, 11:41

Wow...... They have got the engine running, been out for a sail and some of you can't let it go.... They have probably spent more time on the water than some of the blow hards here...
😀

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Cadence · 10-06-2016, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwerty950

Wow...... They have got the engine running, been out for a sail and some of you can't let it go.... They have probably spent more time on the water than some of the blow hards here...
😀

Sent from my 2PS64 using Tapatalk

**Dockhead** · 11-06-2016, 02:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrentePieds

. . . Hi, Dockhead - no disparagement intended at all. I actually LIKE your posts :-). My comments are just a plea that you might allow that not every land is a copy of Blighty (certainly not West Virginia!), and not every Joe Bloggins has the advantages of a young Master deVere.. .

Presenting another point of view is nothing like disparagement

For your information, I'm not from Blighty (rather, two states away from the Mountain State, i.e. the same crappy region as you

), and do not come from money. Whatever I have comes from hard work and a good education, which I paid for myself, and a bit of luck. Working two jobs while attending a good private university, and buying rental property before even graduating from law school. Even that's no guarantee of success, but in our society your best chances by far are with creative brain work, especially entrepreneurship. You don't need to be a DeVere . . . in fact, growing up with a sense of privilege and entitlement probably works against you.

**Dockhead** · 11-06-2016, 02:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwerty950

Wow...... They have got the engine running, been out for a sail and some of you can't let it go.... They have probably spent more time on the water than some of the blow hards here...
😀

Oh, come on -- let the guys chew the rag . . .

And why aren't YOU out on the water, rather than lurking here?

qwerty950 · 11-06-2016, 03:47

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**Pete7** · 11-06-2016, 04:09

Now come on, we both know all those jobs are finished yet. Teak oiled? sails ironed flat, topsides polished to a mirror finish

Rock-Head · 11-06-2016, 04:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul J. Nolan

. Still, most people who have their own company or are successful traders went to college.

Says who?

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**TrentePieds** · 11-06-2016, 06:55

Quote: "...and buying rental property before even graduating from law school."

Ah, yes! And there we have the secret :-) In my "crappy region" (which is rather more than two states away from the Mountain State, Lord be praised!), I was, in 1958, offered a duplex on a large corner lot in a toney part of Vancouver near UBC for sixtyfivehunnert bux. Had neither the smarts nor the money to buy it. Today that property would prolly sell for four million - to "overseas" buyers!

Too soon olt - too late schmart! Else we coulda sailed as a flotilla ;-)

Quote: "Says who?"

Sez the stats. How could it be otherwise when every Tom, Dick and Harry, since the mid '60, has "gone to college" :-)?

TrentePieds