Women and engines

[JPA Cate]

Oh, I don't know, they can go as far as they like as long as they can pay the towing bill!

Some people are just not mechanically inclined. Some people feel they are being responsible if they pay to have something done for them; others, prefer to do it themselves, and I really think that for lower budget cruising people, doing "it" yourself is the more practical life stance. I see nothing wrong in learning mechanics as a form of entertainment, either. Keeps Bear out of the pool house! Ymmv.

Ann

[BandB]

Originally Posted by JPA Cate

Oh, I don't know, they can go as far as they like as long as they can pay the towing bill!

Some people are just not mechanically inclined. Some people feel they are being responsible if they pay to have something done for them; others, prefer to do it themselves, and I really think that for lower budget cruising people, doing "it" yourself is the more practical life stance. I see nothing wrong in learning mechanics as a form of entertainment, either. Keeps Bear out of the pool house! Ymmv.

Ann

It's all a matter of preferences and there is no right or wrong. If I enjoyed working on a boat engine and was capable, then I'd do it. But I consider something like that to be taking away from my leisure time, primarily from my boating.

Now, where my value of time falls apart in the opinion of some, I value my leisure time as well, just as I did my work time. You take away a day of boating from me and I feel just like you took $500 or $1000.

Also, I like to use the most skilled people I can find to do various work. I'd never be satisfied with myself doing engine work then. If I want to do something I'm not very good at, I'll go play golf or something. Unless my shot hits someone in the head, I can't do much damage there. Golf isn't my sport. I normally stick to basketball and tennis, sports I am good at.

[Cherod]

Was a time when working on the engines ( repairing / maintenance ) sorting the rigging , varnishing etc was part of the boating experience , now it seems sipping gin is all that some want to do , for the times they are a cha-a-anging

[ValiantV]

Doing routine maintenance and periodic repairs to any piece of machinery familiarizes the person with that equipment. That makes them better able to hear/see/feel/smell/taste (yes) when something's not quite right. This enables them to detect a problem before it becomes serious - as in expensive or life-threatening serious.

I suppose it would be great to be able to afford to have "professionals" fix my problems. Unfortunately, that gets expensive in a hurry, and the sad truth is that many who bill themselves as professional are no better at what they do than "shade tree" mechanics. Having worked side by side with other mechanics for a few years, there were a few times that I just had to shake my head, walk away and vow never to do that shoddy of a job for myself or a paying customer.

If you know a little about a system and experience a problem, you at least have the ability to do some troubleshooting before calling for some expensive help.

If you know a great mechanic (carpenter, plumber, accountant, doctor, lawyer, etc) good for you! Treat them well and trust their judgement.

[a64pilot]

Now I won't varnish, or have not anyway. I plan on having that done.
God knows I'd make a horrible mess of it, varnish all over the hull.
That goes in the not qualified box, I have tried painting a house, looked bad and I got paint everywhere.

[Cherod]

You should try hanging wallpaper ,, now that IS woman's work !!!

[Capt Phil]

I recall meeting a young couple in Mazatlan about 20 years ago who had both worked for a .com company in SiliconValley but had enough of the ratrace. They were both making obscene amounts of money so they sold their cars and condo and pretty much everything else they owned and bought a sweet little sailboat, about 40 feet long, called it 'Dessert First'.
He drove while she sailhandled and when he went back to CA to work on contract to build up their cruising kitty, she would tear the engine apart, repair or replace what ever she needed and have the job complete by the time he returned. Had them both over for drinks one evening and I asked them about their unique blue vs pink jobs on the boat. She replied that the only time he was allowed in the engine room was a disaster and he was quite willingly banned from any electrical or reciprocal work to be done on their boat. Worked out marvelously well and she became the 'go to' gal for engine questions in the marina! Phil

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Cherod

Was a time when working on the engines ( repairing / maintenance ) sorting the rigging , varnishing etc was part of the boating experience , now it seems sipping gin is all that some want to do , for the times they are a cha-a-anging

Wifey B: We don't sip gin either. We cruise and then we go sightseeing at our next destination.

[Pelagic]

A professionally made Bloody Mary (secret is in the Ginger) to go along with that freshly caught and prepared Ceviche for sundowners..is a valuable use of my time.
The rest is just Penance!

[Astrid]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

Now I won't varnish, or have not anyway. I plan on having that done.
God knows I'd make a horrible mess of it, varnish all over the hull.
That goes in the not qualified box, I have tried painting a house, looked bad and I got paint everywhere.

That is kinda funny, because I love to varnish the wood work.

[jonnypaget]

Originally Posted by bearkeley

Ok...don't want this to be controversial so trying hard not to vent...but....how can a woman learn about her boats engine when mechanics always ask for the husband!



We have a 1984 Ford Lehaman engine on my Albin27. It's my boat and hubby is the mate (hubby has the center console fishing boat, where I am happy to be his mate). Anyway, I've taken a 2 day diesel maintenance course and have been able to change impellers, replace battery chargers and troubleshoot, but I admit, I'm new to mechanics (never cared for it until now that I'm retired and have a Diesel engine on my boat) and don't sound confident yet because I need to learn a lot more. But it's so frustrating when mechanics asks for my husband instead of helping me directly.



For women out there, how have you overcome this? What have you done to learn your systems to gain confidence? For men, any helpful advice?

You really need a man to help you

[hellosailor]

"You really need a man to help you"
ROFLMAO. Spoken like a true goniff. Or victim, either way.

She needs a man, maybe like the mechanic who put my brake shoes in backwards once, long time ago. Or the one more recently who torqued my wheels down (state inspection, no DIY allowed) to double the factory spec, which can warp the wheels. And his male boss, who insisted that was impossible. Ahuh.

No, after a mechanic screwed up my car, I got a book, I got some tools, I figured the worst I could do was screw it up, and then at least I'd know who screwed it up and just wtf they had done.

Granted, when I was six? eight? I took apart Mister Machine and never did get the pieces back together again, but having the book helps. YouTube is there now. Cell phones let you photograph things as you take them apart--so they can go back together the same way. And there are even women running repair shops, catering to women.

"No, really, you don't want to speak to my husband. The terms of his parole are quite specific, he has to stay at least five hundred feet away from any other mechanics."

[jonnypaget]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

"You really need a man to help you"

ROFLMAO. Spoken like a true goniff. Or victim, either way.



She needs a man, maybe like the mechanic who put my brake shoes in backwards once, long time ago. Or the one more recently who torqued my wheels down (state inspection, no DIY allowed) to double the factory spec, which can warp the wheels. And his male boss, who insisted that was impossible. Ahuh.



No, after a mechanic screwed up my car, I got a book, I got some tools, I figured the worst I could do was screw it up, and then at least I'd know who screwed it up and just wtf they had done.



Granted, when I was six? eight? I took apart Mister Machine and never did get the pieces back together again, but having the book helps. YouTube is there now. Cell phones let you photograph things as you take them apart--so they can go back together the same way. And there are even women running repair shops, catering to women.



"No, really, you don't want to speak to my husband. The terms of his parole are quite specific, he has to stay at least five hundred feet away from any other mechanics."

Haha I'll pay that return

[ValiantV]

Originally Posted by hellosailor

She needs a man, maybe like the mechanic who put my brake shoes in backwards once, long time ago. Or the one more recently who torqued my wheels down (state inspection, no DIY allowed) to double the factory spec, which can warp the wheels. And his male boss, who insisted that was impossible. Ahuh.

No, after a mechanic screwed up my car, I got a book, I got some tools, I figured the worst I could do was screw it up, and then at least I'd know who screwed it up and just wtf they had done.

Ha, exactly.

There are so few real "Craftsmen" out there among the ranks of the people just collecting a paycheck. The over tightening of wheels is a very common example. Most of these guys don't know - or care - that manufacturers have torque specs even for the lowly lug nut ant that it's there for a reason.

When you send a customers car back on the road with wheels installed with an impact wrench, it can be damn near impossible to get those lug nuts off on the side of the road with the OEM leg wrench. EVEN if you're not small or weak.

Basically, lots of people we hire to do "skilled" work for us just don't care about doing a quality job.

DIY is the way to go. I've concluded I can buy all the materials, install it myself, screw it up royally, tear it all out, but materials again, do it right the second time, send STILL come out spending less than paying someone else to do it.

Yes. There are some great, skilled, professionals out there. But not every guy who hangs up a shingle is one.

[hellosailor]

Well, it could be 30 years ago now that one of the major auto makers, i think it was Ford, had a problem with warped rotors and made a big point about notifying all their dealers how to spell "torque". So if I was a cynic...Oh wait, according to this card in my wallet, I AM a cynic!

I say those guys all overtorque the lug nuts because they make more money replacing warped rotors. (Front end shops and front end work being a notorious area for rip-offs.)

Nice thing is, they don't care if you are male or female, they're equal-opportunity scoundrels. (I think men are just too ashamed to ask "Have I been ripped off?" while the women come out and SAY it.)