Harlen David wrote in
:

What is the best way to do this? I am willing to pay for someone's
time. I live in Port Ludlow in NW Washington State.


Payment is not necessary. As a matter of fact YOU may be the one being
paid, if they insist.

Boaters with money always buy too much boat for them to handle...alone.
This is true in 2/3rds of the boats at any marina. So....there you are, a
free dock hand just hanging around on a Saturday morning asking questions
about which boat you should buy....with nothing else to do....

You strike up a conversation with the guy who you can tell is NOT a
professional captain, by any stretch of the imagination, and get to know
Doctor Captain a little. You admire his boat, his pride and joy, so tell
him so! Now, you've REALLY impressed him. You're nice, HELPFUL (offering
to do little odd jobs as you wheedle aboard his nice yacht, especially if
he seems reluctant to do it. I'm an electronics technician....No further
skills are necessary to bring up...(c; If you know how to fix anything
like engines, plumbing, electrical, radios, mechanical gadgets, or can
operate a mop, YOU'RE VERY WELCOME aboard! Don't rush it. He may be quite
distrustful until he gets to know you better. In his world, everyone wants
MONEY from him....something I always refuse if offered. I don't want his
money...I want to go out on his boat and play with those toys in his
toybox!

The harder you work on this friendly relationship, the greater the rewards.
On my keyring are the keys to some really nice boats I'm always welcome to
go check the air conditioner seawater strainers on when the captain is away
making those thousands for us to spend on the next toy buying spree at
Waste Marine...(c; RRRRING...."Hello?" "Hello, Larry? I was wondering if
you could go down to the boat and see if you can see why the forward AC
unit has low water flow coming out of it." "No problem. I'll go down this
afternoon after work and check it out." (I have his boat key and the gate
card that lets me park for free in the marina's rented parking spaces.) I
clean the crap and creatures out of the seawater strainer, again, and we're
back in business. Guess who gets called FIRST next weekend to go sailing
offshore all day Saturday....(c;

I don't need a boat. I have FOUR with none of the expenses...and all of
the fun.....like cleaning crap and creatures out of the seawater strainers!
My last Florida yacht vacation cost me nearly $50!

--
Larry
3rd Mate, Deck and Engineering
S/V Lionheart
Call us on any marine Channel. We have them all...(c;