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

[Matthew Bradley]

Hi Everyone,

I am just interested in what your 3 biggest headaches are on your yacht.
I run a sailing school in the Whitsundays and would appreciate some feedback on the things that annoy the @#$% out of you.
My personal favourite is toilets, why can't some one come up with a toilet macerator that can last. Admittedly our toilets get more use than most, but I still can't understand why there isn't something with a little more grunt and less inclined to get blocked or something caught around the blades.
So vent out all you frustrations here would love to know what your problems are, maybe this list might spark some thoughts,

Vessel manoeuvring with a crowd watching
Dragging Anchor, setting the anchor, how much chain to put out?
Sail trim
Can't find crew to go racing with
Navigation
Electrics
Engines
Bilge pumps

I think you get the idea have a go I look forward to hearing all about what is annoying for you,

Remember a bad day sailing is better than a good day at work.

Kind Regards,

Matthew

[Weyalan]

The annoying phenomenon known as Hardstand Dilation... whereby whenever you pull your boat out of the water to scrub / paint the bottom, it appears to grow by 50% in size

[msponer]

The Head...

[MikeTurner]

(1) The engine: Spend an inordinate amount of time working on it, for a boat that's supposed to be powered by the wind.

(2) The marine toilet: It plugs. It leaks. It smells. Fix as required, repeat.

(3) Electrical systems: Closely related to the engine. Lots of time tracking down shorts, systems that don't work, etc. Lots of potential for fire.

[boatman61]

Other peoples boats....

[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,

Dragging anchors, Make sure your anchors are designed for the job and do work properly,

Super Sarca is one that does work and does it properly, As much chain as you have, the longer the better, But in tite area's, this is not possible,

Instruments, Your doing 7 knots forwards, 5 knots sideways, Currents and wind, The GPS is thinking your doing 1.5 knots forwards and starts going around in circles,
It cant handle very slow speeds if your drifting sideways,

Very scary untill you have figured out what the problem is,

Disregard the spectators when parking your boat, Some of them are brain dead and will get you into trouble. or put on the rocks,

You are the Captain, and totally responsible for your craft and your crew and passengers, No matter what happens, Your it,

Not the dipstick that has just put you on the rocks, Hahahahahaha

Cheers,
Brian,

[Butler]

The engine
The engine
The engine
My last DIY "frontier"

[rebel heart]

the head
wood rot
ground tackle and bobstay/whiskerstays/bowsprit


People bang into shit all the time; don't worry about it. If you have a slip get a dock wheel. They make things much easier. I have to work on new boats all the time and docking different boats that I have no experience on is a real pain in the ass. It's not easy for anyone. And if they think it is, I can put them behind some boats that will change their minds.

[Boracay]

1) Dinghy storage
2) Dinghy mooring
3) Dinghy weight

[downunder]

Originally Posted by Boracay

1) Dinghy storage
2) Dinghy mooring
3) Dinghy weight

Not really issues on catamarans.

[SteveT]

1) The Engine
2) Sewage system inc. toilet
3) Antifouling and/or its performance (lack of)

Anything else at 0200 in the rain.

[mikefossl]

Leaks (above the waterline), galvanic corrosion and chafe. We've been chasing down the sources of all three for the past three years. Galvanic corrosion is the worst. I don't know if I'll ever get my roller furling apart.

[SimonV]

1-Toilet
2-Engine
3-chain plate leaks

[Dockhead]

The most troublesome kit on my boat are the toilets. Replacing both with Raritan electrics, which I feverishly hope will end that.

Second most troublesome is Cooney-Simpson electric davits. I have to fix them on average every third cruise. Wish I had simple hand-cranked ones. What's the point of all this complication?

Another bit of useless complication on my boat is the hydraulically lifted transom platform. Rams come adrift; hydraulic leaks - bleh. If I can figure out an elegant way to secure the platform in it's raised position, I will remove the hydraulics.

Then of course there is the care and feeding of batteries. A major PITA.

Then, of course, keeping bottom clean and anti fouled and anodes changed.

I shudder when I read all these complaints about engine trouble. I have been blessed so far with nearly trouble-free propulsion - thank you, Yanmar

[Don Lucas]

1 - going to the dock just for water
2 - dinghy outboard
3 - everything else dinghy