Hint: If you are not a woman reading this and don't have a wife of your own, ask your mother or sister, or see if a friend will loan you his for a few minutes. For some reason women can smell things that a man would never notice. You may think that men buy boats but in my experience they buy the boats their women like. Along this same line, pay particular attention to the cabin and heads.
3. Prioritize the Job
With your list you are in good shape to decide what needs to be done and whether or not you want to do the work yourself or have it done by a professional.
Most of the professional yacht maintenance companies we are familiar with, would be happy to take a look and give you an estimate of what it will cost to have the work done right. We can do part of the job, for example the compounding/polishing and will gladly help you choose the best wax to finish the job yourself.
What about those little chips and dings in the gelcoat?
Many books have been written on fiberglass repair and it isn't the intent of this article to cover the subject in any depth but many small repairs are well within the reach of a fairly skilled do-it-yourselfer. Like anything else though, if you have never done it before, "consult an expert."
I've been building and repairing in fiberglass since I was 14 and while the first wooden boat I glassed was water tight and lasted a good many years, it was far from pretty. The small investment you lay out for expert repair now will pay big dividends when your boat sells at the price you want.
In the Emerald Coast region the standard fees for compound/waxing run between $15.00/ft. and $18.00/ft. for the topside (rub-rail up) which includes a thorough cleaning and treatment of the vinyl, windows, isenglass, and metal. In other words, for the price of doing the "hard" part we'll detail the entire topsides and leave it in "ready-to-show" condition. Hulls (rub-rail down) run about $8.00/ft. but, of course, the boat must be out of the water in order to do it. (This walking on water with a hi-speed electric buffer in hand is still beyond me, but I'll let you know;-)
Fiberglass repair runs from $45.00 to $65.00 per hour and in general as with most everything else, one gets what one pays for. The up side to this is that when approached in a professional manner the dents and dings of ten years hard use can be repaired and made to look like new in an amazingly short time.
All too often we have seen people save $300.00 or $400.00 on a detail only to loose $Thousands$ on what their boat could have sold for. Then too, our local marinas are clogged with many examples of boats with "For Sale" signs which were never given the least bit of attention to make the passer by want to stop and think, "Hey, I wonder what it would be like to call that boat mine." Some of these boats have sat for years when all they ever really needed was a little T.L.C.
I remember, years ago, someone saying something about being penny wise and pound foolish? Let's not let them be saying that about us.
About The Author
James "Doc" Lewis has been "messin about in boats" for as long as he can remember. He is owner/operator of BoatDocs1, a full-service boat detailing-yacht maintenance business serving the Emerald Coast region of Florida. To learn more about boats and keeping them looking their best visit his website at: http://www.boatdocs1.com/
Caring for Your Inflatable Boat - Common Sense & Consistency Are the Keys
Thousands of years ago, the first inflatable boats, made from animal skins, were used for transportation. People used them to cross rivers, ferry goods to other locations, and move military troops. Over time, inflatable boats were adapted for recreational use as well, and for rescue operations. Today there are many types of inflatable boats and over a dozen ways they are used around the world.
Tips To Getting Sponsored For Fishing Tournaments
One of the most important steps in getting sponsored to fish tournaments (whether you fish for bass, walleye, crappie, musky, redfish, marlin, etc.) is to focus on what YOU CAN DO for your sponsor not what your sponsor can do for you. When trying to obtain sponsorship from a company, first make a list of the things you could provide for your sponsor.
Challenges of Nymph Fly Fishing
When nymph fly fishing, the angler is imitating the juvenile stage of aquatic insects. As such, all fly fishing is done underwater, not on top of it. Thus, unlike when dry fly fishing, an angler will not see a rise or the fish itself pop through the surface when gulping in a fly.
Fly Casting - the Overhead Cast
The overhead cast is the most basic fly cast. Learn to execute it well and you will be able to easily adapt the skill to the side cast and backhand casting.
Fort Lauderdale Sport Fishing Charters - The Perfect Way To Get Away
Whether it's the peaceful and serene beauty of being on the ocean, the excitement of a Sailfish or Dolphin erupting from the water, the brute strength of a Tuna or the drag-searing run of a Wahoo or Kingfish, the local waters off of Fort Lauderdale are the best place to go. During an offshore sportfishing excursion you can encounter any of the species listed above.
How to Fish Spring Trout Streams
Fishing spring creeks isn't easy. Don't expect large quantities of catches, but do expect a challenging experience which has a certain mystique about it. Catching just a few trout, will give you a feeling of accomplishment.
Trout Fishing Techniques
One of the most popular trout fishing techniques is called trolling. Trolling is popular as far as trout fishing techniques go because on still bodies of fresh water like lakes and ponds, the act of fishing for trout is meant to be as relaxing and enjoyable as the act of catching trout is exhilarating.
Do you Know How to Take the Perfect Picture of Your Fish?
Nothing is better than to snap a photo of your big fish that you just caught.
We Can Put A Fish On The Moon
This aint exactly rocket scientry boys...
Choosing the Right Fly Fishing Rod
Choosing a good rod is a major decision for the fly fishing angler. Shopping for that new rod can also be allot of fun. But how do we know what the right rod is? Here are some tips to help you make your purchasing decisions.
Night Fishing Preparation
I have to admit this subject bores me to tears. Amazingly, the simple fact is that every time I interviewed a fisherman about night fishing tips he mentioned preparation at the top of the list.
Join The Vespa Fishing Team
High fuel prices got you down?
Three Main Trout Senses
An angler should therefore become familiar with the three main senses a trout uses. These are:
Fly Fishing Rods ? Getting The Bends
Picking a fly fishing rod is a tricky endeavor. Do you go with your ego, expected fishing environment or something else? While length is a factor, the bend or action of the rod is a key factor.
Fishing The Henrys Fork.... First Test
All the books written on fly fishing all mention the Henry's Fork.
Just What Is the Stream Trout?
The term stream trout is actually a term used to encompass any of the stream trout. Brown trout, rainbow trout, and brook trout are all called stream trout because they like the running waters. But, stream trout do not have to be found in streams. This sounds strange but it's quite simple. By putting stream trout species into lakes, the fish can grow larger and offer more to the fisherman. And, in many cases, that is just what fisheries do.
Trout Species ? Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout
Rainbow Trout: Few freshwater fish can match the fighting spirit and beauty of a Rainbow Trout.
Stories From the Heartland (Pt.1)
Every River Tells a Story
The Value of Observation
The beginner must learn to look with eyes that see. Occurrences of apparently little importance at the moment may, after consideration, assume proportions of great value. The taking of an insect, for instance, may mean nothing more than a rising trout; but the position occupied by this fish may indicate the position taken by others in similar water.
Fly Fishing the Tide Rips for Coho Salmon off the Northwest Tip of Washington State
Tide rips are one of the most common areas to fly fish for salmon at Neah Bay. I'm addicted to fly fishing tide rips for coho salmon in the saltwater. The stronger the current and the rougher the water, the more I love it.