Mareva-
Something you may find "educating" <G>. Start at the bow and
work your way ALL the way astern. Lay your hands on every device, fitting, and fastening, and learn what it is, how it can fail, how you would need to replace it...etc.
While you are at it, that allows you to verify that every piece is in working order. When you reach through-hulls, are there damage control plugs attached? If not...you add that to the "ToDo" list, which is often best kept on paper index cards that can be sorted into "easy jobs" "drydock jobs" "solo jobs" "must order parts" etc.
Have you ever tried to access the actual
steering mechanism? Checked that the
fuel tank is secured? Tightened the shaft log on the prop? Gone into the
water to change the prop?
As you do it from bow to stern, you'll probably find a whole batch of "but we never needed to know..." things. Conquer those now, and there will be that much less the boat can surprise you with.
I'm a firm believer that the Gods have no cable television, so they need to find other amusement. If you know how to deal with the problems they can send you...they often pick someone else to play with.<G>
Then there's the
rigging and everything above
deck, you may want to call out a professional rigger, have him go over everything and show you how to inspect it all. The bits that hold it all together are, in the end, so small and fragile. And often way up there--out of sight and reach.