When is Near Enough Good Enough?

[zeehag]

As there is no such thing as a perfect boat, it is all a matter of what you can deal with -- will you be sailing or fixing. I would rather be sailing--my teak is plenty and takes exactly 6 hours every year to complete. I do not varnish. Is unnecessary. Does engine function?
Does water system function?
Are sails in good or een decent shape??
Does sanitation system function?
Does packing gland work properly?
Is engine in good running order?
Do you have vhf? A compass? Charts???
Are you aiming at perfection or functionality??
If all the important stuff is good-- go for it-- the rest can be done elsewhere.

[Catamount]

The last few respondents are on a similar tack. What is your ultimate goal? To have the most beautiful yacht in the marina, or to go sailing?

[Allan S]

This is one of the better topic and responses I have read on this forum.....and I find this forum excellent on the whole so that is saying a lot!

[Talbot]

This decision is dependent on how much of a perfectionist you are.

Personally I would rather tackle two tasks up to the point of diminishing return, than see one through to 100%. It is a well known rule that the first 80% of a task takes 20% of the time, and the final 20% (which is the search for perfection) will take 80% of the time.

Personally, I take all the time needed to ensure that the repair is sufficient for the task, whilst trying to maintain a balance on cosmetic perfection versus sailing time.

[delmarrey]

People that walk the docks always tell me how nice my boat looks. I tell them "don't get too close".

It all comes down to priorities. Do you want to sail? Or do you want to show off the boat? Besides, old boats are supposed to be a bit rustic.
"See that big ding there, that was when............."

Good fixes are acceptable. Bad fixes is what makes a boat ugly.

I have a 100 YO rifle that my fathers had before me and I look at all the nicks and dings in the stock that have been lacquered over several times. And it just me wonder how it still works.

[zeehag]

i own a formosa 41 -- before the pastowner bught her she lay on a breakwall for a weel in santa barbara. not a goood place for breakwall sitting. there are only a few signs of this badness.. she is a solid and formidable boat-- make sure she floats without taking significant water. make sure she can sail. form follows function-- the pretty stuff can be done underway or at the anchorage upon arrival.

[easterly38]

After two years of renovating our boat, I'm finding that "near enough is good enough" more and more often.

The little cosmetic imperfections that would require way too much effort to repair we now call "character", and the boat's got a lot of it!

[David_Old_Jersey]

Where was this thread 5 years ago?