Considerations before sailing rough waters

A boating lifestyle is great fun but it also means you must be prepared to spend time and money on repairing systems, safety equipment, running gear, electronics, food, water, and many other expenses that are part of the deal.

There are a few important recommendations you might consider before sailing away, including  The type of boat, the owner’s personal skills for navigation, and the way the boat will serve the  captain and passengers ( family and friends).

The Type Of Boat 

One of the main purposes for repairing and making adjustments on “motor yachts, sport fishing yachts and other vessels” is to make sure boat is in optimum condition before you sail away and therefore reducing the risk of getting stranded in the middle of the ocean.  A vessel survey or inspection will almost always result in a list of “findings”—parts of the boat or its systems that are less than stellar and in need of attention. It is common to hear, that part of your boat does not comply with the guidelines. In many cases, the cost to correct all the problems exceeds the budget and might reduce the time or distance planned for a cruise.

Such information can be confusing and alarming to many boat owners. But “Do we have to fix everything on the list?” Any answer other than “you should fix it” might be seen as taking on exposure to a lawsuit or an unwanted risk on the sea. In many respects, this is a question that only the boat owner can answer. after all, the goal is to enjoy your vessel and go cruising ( keeping in mind that cruising the deep seas always involves some risk.)

If you have six months to enjoy your yacht, losing a week fixing repairs may not be a big deal. But if you have two or four weeks, losing a week can be crushing. As you work your way through a self-assessment, remember to describe yourself as you are, not as you think you should be. At this stage, you are meeting the facts about the problems found on your boat, assessing the risks, and having an honest talk with yourself about your personality tendencies and your plans. 

As with any personality tool, when you are cruising you should make smart decisions and that start when you are prepared to be self-awareness.

The owner’s personal skills for navigation 

In order to make smart decisions about boat maintenance, we have to be skilled at risk assessment. Unfortunately, numerous studies have shown that people are not very good at it. We have a tendency to respond to the dramatic, and to overlook the more mundane. Chicago economist and author of Freakonomics, Stephen Levitt, gives some examples of this tendency. “most people are pretty terrible at risk assessment”. They tend to overstate the risk of dramatic and unlikely events at the expense of more common and boring events.

With regard to risk assessment on our boats, we can temper our tendency to overreact and imagine the dramatic by asking ourselves a specific question:

If it fails, can it kill or injure us? The answer might include fire, electrocution, carbon monoxide poisoning, or sinking. This one gives you the chance to imagine the dramatic. But you should also take the position that anything that can stop the boat is potentially life-threatening. Even along the coast, bad weather or bad inlets can become a life or death situation if the boat stops. While less dramatic than a fire, a quiet engine can be a serious problem.

The way the boat will serve the navigator

Getting to know your boat electronic navigation system is as important as having your boat repaired and adjusted when needed, but the way the boat will serve the navigator depends more on the number of times you are cruising and how you adapt your boat to a different situation while on water.

Cruising inherently involves taking some risks. By identifying and eliminating flaws on your boat, you can reduce the risks, but not eradicate them. But there is another risk at play here—the risk that by feeling the need to correct every problem found, you will spend your way out of cruising, or limit your cruising time.

|At the end you do not have to be an expert to make smart decisions, but you should understand and know your boat as well as be prepared to take right decisions when addressing difficulties.

In the 1800s, William Shedd wrote, “A ship is safe in harbor, but that is not what ships are for.” 

If you have any questions regarding your boat, we recommend Whiticar Boat Works! We are a leader in the marine industry. We are a well-known company in Florida founded in 1949 by Curtis ´Curt´ Whiticar. Whiticar Boat Works is a family owned & operated company. we have various division in the state! For more information about us check out the website  http://www.whiticar.com/ or call us (772) 287-2883

References

Zimmerman, S. (2013, May 06). How To Make Smart Decisions About Repairs To Your Boat. Retrieved from Passage Maker: http://www.passagemaker.com/articles/lifestyle/how-to-make-smart-decisions-about-repairs-to-your-boat/