Why do you work on your own boat??

[finga]

I have always been amazed at the skills, and tenacity shown by a lot of Ausfish members when it comes to doing their own repairs and modifications to their own boats. A lot of these people had no skills before they started working on their boat and in the end they end up with a humdinger of a boat.
I have always been in awe of Blaze's and Grand Marlin's (to name just a couple) knowledge and craftsmanship. I have much respect for poor old Smelly for his tenacity in trying something new and different and eventually getting the better of any problem. I read with great respect the numerous builds/rebuilds of glass or plate boats and the modification of boats of all descriptions.
So. Why do you do any work on your boat whether it be just maintenance, services, completely build or modify your boat??

Or, what skills or equipment would you love to have so you can do some work on your boat?? What would you like to do to your boat??

Personally I work on my boats for many reasons.
(a) gratification in doing something I can use reliably and with ease so I can enjoy my pastime with no bad thoughts or hesitations in the back on my mind.
(b) monitory reasons (I'm broke )
(c) I don't trust any other bugger to touch my boats from unpleasant past experiences
(d) I don't really know what I need in or from my boats until I try something new. If it's good it stays...if it's bad it gets tossed into the scrap heap.
(e) I get really, really, really bored since I knocked off working so it's either tinker or go nutso to name a few reasons.

So start explaining all

Cheers Scott

[murf]

Personally I work on my boats for many reasons.
(a) gratification in doing something I can use reliably and with ease so I can enjoy my pastime with no bad thoughts or hesitations in the back on my mind.
(b) monitory reasons (I'm broke )
(c) I don't trust any other bugger to touch my boats from unpleasant past experiences
(d) I don't really know what I need in or from my boats until I try something new. If it's good it stays...if it's bad it gets tossed into the scrap heap.
(e) I get really, really, really bored since I knocked off working so it's either tinker or go nutso to name a few reasons.

So start explaining all

Cheers Scott

You got me in one go Scott thats a ditto

Always loved pulling things to pieces to see how they work. 18 years of repairing underground coalmine machinery (electrical fitter mechanic) so its in the blood to do my own repairs/mods

Cheers Murf

[finga]

Always loved pulling things to pieces to see how they work. 18 years of repairing underground coalmine machinery (electrical fitter mechanic) so its in the blood to do my own repairs/mods
Cheers Murf

Must be something about that trade. I'm also an electrical fitter/mechanic

[Angla]

If you want it done right, do it yourself.

Electrical fitter mechanic

Chris

[PinHead]

I don't do anything to my boats myself..I have a shortage of time to even get out on them let alone spend time working on them.

[kingtin]

I've never been a handy man having joined the mob at 15 and no old man to show me how to do things prior to that.

I seem to learn as I tackle things but mechanical stuff has me stuffed. I've got the tinny just how I wanted it and putting a floor in it was a major task for me but I enjoyed figuring out how to do it.

It takes me ages to pluck up the courage to tackle things, but once I get stuck in, I love every minute of it. Just finished installing 3 x 1000l water tanks today, and plumbing 'em together was a learning experience.............learned a few new words too whilst I was trying to saw the downpipe off

I love the Aussie "shed mentality" and how blokes tackle jobs themselves here..........in the UK most blokes call in tradesmen for the most mediocre of jobs.

I have the utmost respect for Ross (Colac Girl's) hubby, who is dyslexic yet can turn his hand to most anything, like rebuilding Play Pen and his outboard....how he manages doing that kind of stuff without being able to read manuals has me gobsmacked He's taught me heaps and encouraged me to tackle jobs I otherwise wouldn't have dreamed of doing. .........couldn't even wire a dual battery system or change the bearings till I met him.

Yes, I love tinkering about now..........I think the more you try to do your own jobs and succeed, the more you want to try modifying your rig in other ways............it's not called "messing about in boats" for nothing

kev

[Fat Chilli]

Finga; As you stated, gratification, monetary savings, along with the old fashioned Aussie ideal of "Just having a crack at it myself".

My boat is a 05 model and since purchase (second hand) I have re-wired components, installed the in-dash sounder, several rod holders, re-glassed and then re-drilled the dash for better guage layout, modified and re-trimmed a side panel, installed several lights, modified the bait board (tap, drain etc. and tomorrow I will be applying some gel-coat for the first time to fix the holes from an incorrectly located transducer.
My neighbour has helped out heaps with guidance throughout most of the work and will be again tomorrow, helps that he's a Shipwright. :-).

Plus it's fun.

[Kleyny]

its hard to trust some-else to work on your pride and joy.
most of the time you can do the work better and as you want it.
mechanic by trade always helps

neil

[23-sharkcat]

Kingtin,
What is you trade/job?

[bdm56]

Similar reasons to above, but mainly even though it soaks up valuable fishing time I know it has "been done right". That and particularly with the motor I know everything inside out and therefore what to expect.

Just finished 5 days of complete strip and reassemble 4 year old motor for complete maintenance. Only thing untouched was power head and gearbox internals.

Chunk of my holidays gone but saved a load of $ and will need only normal maintaining for at least rest of year or two.

[kingtin]

Kingtin,
What is you trade/job?

Home duties (Autistic boy and foster carer).

Had lots of jobs but no "trades". Pub manager, security, milko, Film processor (printing trade), Photographer, bus driver, Adventure training Instructor, Deckie (charters)......and on and on.........never really settled after the mob.

kev

[Barnacle Billy]

you put the finga right on it Finga!

Trust no-one, learn and have fun!

Smelly has been thru the ringer (now banned from this forum forever because of one innocent mistake) but has probably got a very reliable donk now and he would be a great deal more confidence when out at sea - thanks to all you guys...

[rick k]

a bit hard for me to put into words, but here goes.

For the $$ I have spent, my fishing does not make sense. We could eat fish out somewhere flash and still be ahead.

Working on the boat and tackle myself is part of the fun, and adds 'merit' to the occasional success.

While it is fun at my level of project, looking at some of the projects written about here, I'm in awe :-0

[aussiefool]

The reason I work on my boat my self is easy.... No money ......

Ever since I was a boy I enjoyed pulling things apart just to see how they worked, I still remember being 9 and being over the moon when someone would give me a broken alam clock and I would pull it apart and get it working again.

[Roughasguts]

Why do I work on anything, cause they break.
If nothing broke I wouldn't work on it.

But growing up in the sticks, if something broke down well that's where it stayed, until rusted in to the ground. No ones going to come out and fix it. So you get off your arse and have a go your self. Otherwise there be no seeding no Harvest, = No money.

Trouble is I enjoyed it, but now nothing of mine breaks.

Might buy a briggs and stratton rotary hoe. They always break down.