Michael wrote:

Nope I'm much better at making money than being a boat builder or craftsman

heh heh if I decided to quit work and take up boatbuilding, the IRS would shed a
river of tears! But all the same, I like to do my own work for a number of
reasons.... I know it's done right... I get more familiar with odd corners of
the boat and what's tucked into them... I'll stand a better chance of being able
to fix what I've installed or modified myself, plus the added familiarity with
the boat & equipment helps the chances of fixing anything else... the tools &
parts are more likely to be on board....

Good example of that last, during haulout I wanted to repack the stern gland but
was pressed for time... called a boatyard worker and made a deal with him to
pull out all the old packing (usually the time consuming part), and I would just
put in the new. He used some tools I did not have anyway, but the former owner
had hung a packing gland wrench next to the stern gland but this wrench did not
fit! If I had let the boatyard do the whole job I would not have found this out
until too late.



and I sure can't get anywhere near the level of these people up in Port
Townsend.

That may be true, but in the cases where we bring in the professionals (such as
the current job which involves welding up a hi temp stainless exhaust system) I
work right alongside to learn as much as I can about their skills & tools. Most
of the time the really good pros are glad to teach.


And the cost is lessened as they buy at dealers prices. For
example the power vang (the solid rod looking kind with a control line that
provides support as well as down pressure) boom, fittings and more will run
1/3 to 1/2 the cost of buying it myself.

You should learn to shop around more. For example, the heating system I'm
installing plugs into the diesel fuel system... here's a chance to renew &
upgrade the boat's fuel system... including installing Racor parallel filters &
gauges... expensive but after some web searching and calling around I found one
at about half list price.

One of the biggest problems for capitalism is that the internet has introduced a
constant state of price war for all goods & services. But let's not get diverted
into politics...




Where I got carried away a la' racing style was in the main sail. With the
new boom I added all the sail shaping lines you can think of (full batten
loose foot). I don't race per se but I've learned a hell of a lot on making
my sails more efficient by watching and helping out on their boats.

It's all good. I happen to think that a full batten main & solid vang are make
for very easy sail handling.

The things to learn from racing IMHO are boat handling & sailing skills, rig
improvements for sail handling, and in some cases weather prediction & routing.
Constantly adjusting fine tune of rig is not for cruising, and it's not what
makes racers go faster than cruisers, either. Racing is like a drill for many of
the things you'll do handling a boat when cruising. For example I know many
cruisers who are dubious about gybing and either approach it trepidation or
avoid it altogether. A racer just skips the worry and gybes over. But then many
things will be done with a bigger crew and other things will not be done at all.
It's all good, but then I am the old fashioned sort who thinks that any
knowledge or skill is a good thing for itself.

Fresh Breezes- Doug King