There’s no better feeling then when you finally close the deal on your new boat and she arrives at the marina. You take pictures of her in her cradle. You step back, you admire her from every angle thinking of what project you will start with. Of course, you want to show pride of ownership on your new-to-you sailboat. You want it to shine, have the latest electronics, enjoy hot water and the latest creature comforts. Those are all great goals and who wouldn’t want the best. After all, you’ve been through a lot to find your boat. You spent hours online searching, driving hours to look at potentials and finally getting a pre-purchase survey. You deserved the best. However, it’s crucial that you stop and think about the priorities.
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Another lesson, driven home by every boat I have learned, is to wait until after the first season of sailing to dig into modifications, even seemingly obvious things like storage space. It takes time to learn how the boat “works.” Even if you are correct about the need for change, the best path forward takes time to fully understand. Wait a season. Try to get inside how the designer intended for it to work and how the prior owner made it work. Ask questions. Then dig in.
Excellent advice Drew. I agree 100%. Thanks for your comment.