I love sailing and I love my boat, and I even enjoy working on it, but I am coming into our third year of ownership and I am starting to realise that there will always be something to fix and spend money on.

This will be fine for a while but I can see a time when it will get wearing, both physically, mentally and financially. Its not like I have'nt done a lot of work already and over capitalised no doubt. Work to this date;

Northshore 27 - 1984

- had new standing rigging installed (wires, turn buckles, new Furlex furler) - had rigger do work
- had new sails made, main and jib - sail maker did that
- repainted mast and boom with International paint
- installed Hella LEDs; anchor light, steaming light, nav lights, internal cabin lights
- re-wired whole boat and installed new circuit breaker
- had fully reconditioned motor installed
- installed good stereo with amp
- removed 20 litre SS fuel tank and had steam cleaned and re-installed
- installed new toilet
- installed temp gauge and bilge pump
- installed new boot around sail drive
- installed new solar panel, regulator, battery monitor
- installed new VHF
- installed new hatch
- installed new diesel stop solenoid
- installed new latch for front hatch
- removed 60 litre SS water tank, cleaned and re-installed with connection to galley sink pump
- installed galley sink pump
- check head bolt tensions, replaced engine oil, fuel filters etc

Now just in the last month a sail slug on new main has broken, the line has pulled out of the Furler and I am trying to sus out some leaks. In addition I have noticed a change in the note of the exhaust due to less cooling water flowing, suspect it might be either the impeller or some scaling.

Please someone give me some inspiration to go on ;-)

Pretty soon you will have done everything that could possibly be done to your boat. Then you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labour without having to do any maintenance for at least 6 months

Keensailer
Your only an amateur (joke)
I brought my boat at easter i knew I needed electronics so i have just spent over $8000 on them.
Owned the boat for a two weeks we had the April storm another boat dragged it's mooring and hooked up to mine yes insurance paid for the damage he did but you can't paint just one side and you can't get 30 year old toe rail so i had to pay for the other side for both.
Pre purchase survey done supposed motor and fridge both working well nothing wrong well i have now replaced compressor on fridge and new motor and sail drive.
The boat is an ex charter so only had head sail halyard so i got a spinnaker halyard and spinnaker pole.

its the old saying "a boat is like a big hole in-the water that that you throw money into "

It is like my good ole mate was saying today. He has had his Adams 31 now for nearly 31 years and now that he has everything just the way he wants it (not......ever. ), he can't sell it and buy another boat because he would have to do it all over again.

LMY said..
Yep, they are expensive toys. For most of us they are also old. What else that is mechanical / electrical do you own that was new in 1984 and still works?

It is all original with 320,000 klm on the clock.

OK, Cosco 1, Me zero.

HG02 said..
Owning a boat to me is transforming a machine to be an physical extension of yourself and your purpose and goals
Be it comforts , Safety and its sailing ability. and more. This also means for what purpose your crafting your vessel for , racing , cruising or a weekenda

Totally agree HG

My list since buying this boat 16 months ago:

- DVD, Radio CD Player
- 3000w Inverter inc 50A Batt Charger
- S/H Chartplotter
- Genset
- VHF/AIS Radio
- 100A Alternator
- Tank Monitoring System
- Lexon windows for Targa
- S/H Anchor & chain
- Pushpit & davits installed
- Solar Panels 2x200w+1x120w + Solar Controller
- Bimini
- BBQ
- Windlass
- S/H Seldon Single line Reefing Boom
- Non Slip to 1/2 decks
- S/H mast with sails
- Octopus auto pilot linear drive
- 140 Depth Instrument

The big thing for me was getting it in the water & home 10 months ago.

It has been good therapy to hear everyones stories, especially your bit ;)

I am feeling better now as we have started to make plans for a sail north to Whitsundays in a years time!

Hopefully all the work will pay off.

theace said..
Check this out cisco,1976 model just ticked over 300,000 three weeks ago.Ive owned it since new.

that is uber cool

Hey Cisco and the Ace, I 'll see your 1984 and raise you a 1971.
First car I ever bought, just cleaned the engine bay up a bit on the weekend.
Still insured and registered.
Doesn't go that fast, or stop that well, but sounds good!
Balanced, blueprinted, extractors, GT cam. All the things you used to do before boats.

DrRog said..
That's a good one, Cisco. 31 years, just the way he likes it. Blimey.

No not Blimey!! He comes from ole Blighty but we call him Blaney.

theace said..
Check this out cisco,1976 model just ticked over 300,000 three weeks ago.Ive owned it since new.

I had a short ride on one of those many moons ago and I thought it was the most comfortable bike I had ever sat on.

I am 10 years into MB and am now starting to have to redo the stuff I did 10 years ago. I am finding it fairly soul destroying. Gee I feel like I just did it and now have to do it again. The rigging needs to be done next year if I am to continue serious offshore sailing. This year might be my last for Lord Howe.

I can raise you all on other toys for time and money. I have owned this since Feb 1976. Took it to the historics at Winton in June. Use it all the time, when I am at home.

Ramona said..
Bought this Fiat 850 coupe new in 1970, only new car I have ever bought. Panels in the fore ground are epoxy/'glass.
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Not sure if you ever saw one Ramona but back in the 60's in elizabeth street Melbourne I saw a Fait Lombardi in a show room only one I ever saw in the flesh fiat 850 running gear

crustysailor said..
Hey Cisco and the Ace, I 'll see your 1984 and raise you a 1971.
First car I ever bought, just cleaned the engine bay up a bit on the weekend.
Still insured and registered.
Doesn't go that fast, or stop that well, but sounds good!
Balanced, blueprinted, extractors, GT cam. All the things you used to do before boats.

We used to put Hillman pistons in those cross flow motors can remember getting low13 second quarter mile out of one of those in a old Angula two door at calder back in the late 60's opps showing my age.
One of my many harleys years ago won best Australian custom back in the late 80's early 90's hand built guards and tank 1970 police special modded with 50s' drop saddle frame Id still say it may be the only Harley in the world with a ratchet gear box running a rear wheel belt drive with a juice back end including the Hydraulic brake
My other favorite was a 1952 Vincent series C rapid which I imported from the UK off the Original Vincent workers Test rider Ted Davies
Unfortunately for me all my old photos of those days are gone .


The first mono shock motor cycle design by and Aussie . Beautiful alloy there were made out of melted down war plane from world war 2 Aluminium these days is not like this was made out they lost the recipe . This one not mine but if you gave it a handful shes do 115 mile an hour smooth as

My passion now would be build a container home on a nice beach bush block some where up north



a self contained solar house you can always dream

crustysailor said..
what a nice collection of bikes and cars, I'd be happy with a Mustang, Fiat 850 or TR.

I won't feel guilty now not posting anything on the 'what did you do on you boat today' when I've been out in the shed because its too cold down on the boat.
HG I don't know how you do it during winter.

Maybe we sneak a garage update shot in the boat thread once in a while.

The only other thing I like that I made was a Ducati Panta 600 there heads were all welded up and ported and polished cams pistons a mono shock frame from italy, white shocks , Die mag wheels from the UK they were not for high way use you could hold them up with one finger they were that like

My Masts will be home here soon so Ill be out there for a few weeks stripping , rubbing and sanding. I do remember saying to my self its not as cold as the west coast of Tassy in winter
Ive cut the fridge bench top bamboo to size . I have to visit the boat to get the fridge door measurements before I can continue .
Plus my anchor winch is in the mail ( freight truck)