Green Horn

rglasscock · #1 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

I am new to sailnet, new to sailing and new to boat owning. I just bought a 1978 Tanzer 7.5 shoal draft sail boat. The boat looks real clean. You can almost eat out of the bilge. I've read several good reviews on this boat before buying it. It came out on top of about 10 different boats I looked at. My question: What kind of advice can be offered to a newby, such as myself, in terms of important preventative maintenance practices? Also, I am concerned that there will be spats with the other half about spending too much time at the boat and not enough time on other domestic maintenance concerns. Is there some advice on how to make this as adventursome for her and the family as well as me? Thanks for you in put in advance.

Rob

TQA · #2 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

Buy Don Casey's Sailboat Maintenance Manual it will give you the info you need.

JimMcGee · #3 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by rglasscock

I am concerned that there will be spats with the other half about spending too much time at the boat and not enough time on other domestic maintenance concerns. Is there some advice on how to make this as adventursome for her and the family as well as me? Thanks for you in put in advance.
Rob

Common sense and a willingness to read up on boat maintenance will get you past the normal maintenance jobs. Just remember it's a boat. Things will break, and it's never the end of the world as long as the water stays on the outside.

The trick for us was taking a weekend sailing class together. We wrapped a bed & breakfast trip to Annapolis around the sailing class, which took some of the pressure off. I'm lucky, my wife loves being on the boat now.

Jim

night0wl · #4 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

Trust me, there will be spats. Boats, like most high end hobbies, just eat up dollars. The trick is to make sure you can get your other half to savor/enjoy the time on the boat when it does go out there...that tends to smooth over some of the big bills that come across.

smackdaddy · #5 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

r - welcome to SN dude. And don't eat out of the bilge. Trust me. No one will ever sail with you again.

Seriously, get your wife down to the boat and ask her to make a list of things she'd like to see on the boat for her. Then help her do them...even if it means pink curtains. If she's vested in the boat and likes it - your life will be butta.

tommays · #6 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

Amazing enough my wife is far more into this money pit which most likely wont see the water again until 2011

Then she ever was in are perfect condition J24 becasue of the comfort level in the 29

JimMcGee · #7 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by smackdaddy

Seriously, get your wife down to the boat and ask her to make a list of things she'd like to see on the boat for her. Then help her do them...even if it means pink curtains. If she's vested in the boat and likes it - your life will be butta.

Smacky has a point. Getting her involved in cleaning and fixing up the boat, and picking out things to make it homey go a long way toward making it feel like the boat belongs to both of you.

And his boat is easy to find. It's the only one with the pink curtains

Jim

smackdaddy · #8 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

Don't forget my pink main with the shitzu insignia. Hey, a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do.

JimMcGee · #9 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

Tell the wife the pink curtains are standard on bigger boats - that's why you really NEED a bigger boat

CalebD · #10 (**permalink**) 01-13-2010

You know your wife better then I do (I hope!) so you already have an idea of what might make her feel at home.
I suggest you start her out with an easy late afternoon sail - no dipping the rail and no excessive heeling. Get back to your dock/mooring before dark and break out the gourmet snack/meal you packed with her in mind. If she likes wine then pop the cork on her favorite bottle. If she likes Mohitos ... you get the picture. Let her invite a friend or another couple you both like.
This works well for us as our boat is on a mooring and the river is pretty scenic. If you are in a slip at a crowded marina with noisy neighbors this might not work so well. You can always try anchoring out somewhere on your lunch hook
There are few things as pleasant as watching the clouds get pink as the sun goes down. The best is when the full moon comes up at almost the same time as the sun is setting. You don't get to experience this scene from land often, if ever.
If it goes smoothly it will be an afternoon/evening she will remember. If it does not go smoothly she will likely remember it too but not for the reasons you would have hoped. Make sure you are comfortable with your boat before bringing her on board for the introductory 'picnic'.
Congrats on the boat & welcome to SN.

What is your 'home' port?