On May 30, 7:55 pm, Wayne.B wrote:
On 30 May 2007 05:48:28 -0700, b393capt
wrote:

Also ... how about the math. A 50 foot boat has got to cost you,
including depreciation, insurance, yard services, wear and tear
(corrosion) of boat and electronics even when not moving, of upward of
$50,000 a year. If you have 20 opportunities to go boating each year
(due to weather, hurricane season, wife needs you to do work around
the house, kids have soccer, etc.), each weekend you loose is worth
$2,500. Why not cut your losses and get it taken care of by a pro?

Your overall number of $50K/yr is in the ball park but my situation is
different. Being retired I have a lot of time for both boating, and
working on the boat. It's docked at the house so access is quick and
easy. In order to keep costs under control I try to do as much of the
boat maintenance as I'm capable of. Diesel engines, generators and
hydraulic systems are totally beyond my expertise but electrical
systems and electronics are areas where I have some experience, not
necessarily boat experience, but well grounded in the fundamentals.
Past projects have turned out well and I'm sure this one will also.

If I called in an "expert" at $85/hr for everything that needed to be
done on the boat, my annual maintenance budget would be at least
double. That's why people come to these internet forums, to expand
their knowledge, and help others do the same.

I can appreciate that, but if seems like A/C systems should be in that
list too just before or after diesel's.

Unlike shore based systems, in marine you have issues of D/C, A/C,
lightening protection, and corrosion all intertwined and various trade-
off decisions made on a case by case basis with each model boat. Short
of a written description from the boat designer about his decisions,
an accurate schematic, and a list of changes made since production ...
it's going to be pretty difficult to give us the information we need
to assist you.

At least with a diesel or generator, you have thousands of people with
the same engine who can give you sound advice. And, in general, when
it's working correct it's pretty easy to realize that (even for people
without a gift for it). With A/C power, it can appear to work, while
silently corroding metal surfaces under your boat, boats nearby, or
electrically shock occupants or people underwater without tripping
breakers or fuses at all.

Recently I took to looking at my own boat's electrical system, after
having a zinc disinegrate, and having a real hard time finding useful
information about the decisions and tradeoff's beneteau made in my
boats design, and then determining if I have a problem or is the cause
another boat in the marina. There might just not be an answer that
dosn't involve taking measurements of other boats as well. I just
cannot see, in isolation, how your going to know when your "done" with
your project, unlike a diesel engine where you can be pretty sure the
mechanic did the job well.