Mariner's Guide to Nautical Information
  • Home
    • Purchasing
    • Reviews
  • Updates
  • New Links
  • New Publications
    • Articles
  • Blog
  • More . . .
    • Corrections
    • Contact
    • About the Author

It's not my job.

9/21/2013

0 Comments

 
Are specific jobs on your boat done exclusively by one particular individual? One person always maintains the engine, another always does the varnishing; one person does the provisioning and galley work, another does the navigation planning and execution; one person is always at the helm, another person always does the anchor work. The list could go on. Cross-training is a buzzword in business and industry, and it can be a good idea on a boat, too. Having people aboard who can take over to give each other a break from always having to do the same task contributes to an efficient and safer boat.

If the particular crew member who is the only one who knows how to handle the boat, navigate, or make a minor engine repair becomes incapacitated, safety could be affected. Certainly, each person is better at some things than others, but most people can learn a new task or part of a task, if they’re willing to try. Having a cross-trained crew makes life aboard more interesting and pleasant for all. The chief varnisher may not give up putting on the flawless final coats, but almost anyone can do the surface preparation. The mechanic on the boat doesn’t have to teach the complicated engine repairs, but almost anyone can learn to change the engine fluids, tighten belts, replace an impeller, bleed the fuel system, clean and check the engine, etc.

(See “The Engine Room” at www.womenandcruising.com/admirals-angle/2008/06/22-the-engine-room.)  Probably the skipper is not going to have any luck trying to cross-train someone to disassemble the toilet or work on the holding tank, but there is really nothing that most people cannot learn to do if they’re willing, encouraged and taught. Share the responsibility. Share the fun.

0 Comments

"Life and Death on the Bounty"

3/30/2013

0 Comments

 
Long, well-written, detailed analysis by Thom Patterson on CNN.com about the sinking of the tall ship Bounty.  http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2013/03/us/bounty/?hpt=hp_c1
0 Comments

Do it now: off-season lay-up

12/29/2012

0 Comments

 
Here’s a basic “don’t wait until spring” jobs list. Top off the fuel tank(s) to prevent condensation. Change engine oil and filter (even if they don’t have many hours on them), change the transmission fluid, maintain the cooling system as per the engine manual, lubricate anything that needs it above and below decks, wipe down all surfaces below decks with a fresh water and mild bleach solution to get rid of salt atmosphere deposits and prevent mildew. Maintain the outboard engine. That’s the bare minimum; then tackle the rest of your much longer lay-up list
0 Comments

Pickle your submerged engine

10/31/2012

0 Comments

 
The Boat/US website has a good article about how to deal with a submerged engine. The process is called "pickling," and the article describes 12 steps to follow to try and save an expensive piece of equipment. See www.boatus.com/hurricanes/pickle.asp.
0 Comments

With a little help from my friends

5/15/2012

0 Comments

 
If you’re lucky, family and friends may be willing or even volunteer to help you with boat work. If they have skills, they’re welcome, but what do you do with willing hands who don’t have particular skills? Make a list of what you can delegate to these people and have things for dry days and rainy days. Some tasks may require a little explanation and/or supervision, but the extra help makes things go faster. Have a supply of dust masks and work gloves/rubber gloves for your volunteers. Food and beverages are appreciated, either while they’re working or afterwards. Almost anyone can hand sand and roll antifouling paint on the bottom of a boat; scrubbing the deck and cleaning, waxing or polishing the hull isn’t a skilled job once the person knows the basics, but these jobs require some care and stamina. Carrying things to and from the car to the boat is a snap with a group of people. Filling a water tank is easy (just make sure the person puts the water into the correct deck fill). Most people are capable of cleaning and vacuuming below decks or stowing things, if they’re told where to put items. Running errands can be a big help and time-saver. Slightly more complicated tasks may take a little explaining, but those can be added to the list. Get someone started on a job and check back occasionally to see how it’s going. People feel good when they accomplish a task on their own and someone says “thanks, that really helped.” It’s a waste of talent when a willing friend turns up and asks “What can I do to help?” and you don’t have anything for him or her to do. There’s never nothing to do on a boat.
0 Comments

Was the job done right?

4/26/2012

1 Comment

 
When you have someone work on your boat, either a paid technician or a friend or relative, always check when the job is completed that it was done right and to your expectations. You don’t have to know how to do the task yourself, but you should have at least a basic understanding of what needs to be done. It’s important to discuss in detail what you want before the work begins; write it down or have a technician write it on a work order. Ask questions so you will understand what work will and will not be performed. Don’t assume that something will be done if it isn’t written down. When the job is done, ask the person who did the work to show you and explain what he or she did. Before you operate the boat check that whatever was worked on operates properly and any problems were corrected. Check the level of the engine oil and other engine fluids, if those were changed. Sometimes the person forgets to replace the fluid after draining it or puts in too little or too much. Even professional marine technicians or skilled friends or relatives can forget something. Take the time to check before you take the boat out on the water.
1 Comment

What’s on your boat’s “to-do list”?

4/2/2012

0 Comments

 
All of us tend to go down the work list and choose the things that are the most interesting or easiest, leaving the boring, difficult or nasty stuff until later (or never, in some cases). Prioritize the list, putting safety first. Safety-related items include many things that are not on a safety gear checklist: clean fuel filters, replace old or damaged ropes and rigging, check the navigation lights, check the operation of the bilge pumps, update electronic or paper charts, make sure the cockpit drains are clear, replace rusty anchor chain, check the accuracy of the compass – the list could go on and on, and it does.
0 Comments

Does your bilge pump suck?

3/30/2012

0 Comments

 
If your boat has a regular leak you probably know if the bilge pump works; however, if the bilge is normally fairly dry you may not really know how efficient the bilge pumping system is. Most pumps are pretty good at removing small amounts of water, but what about a flooding situation? How much water can your electric or manual pumps move individually or together in an actual test? Test the pumps by putting a known quantity of fresh water in the bilge (perhaps five gallons/20liters) and timing how long it takes to empty the bilge using each pump and both at the same time. Add this to your “to-do” list before the start of the boating season. Read about bilge pumps, Mariner’s Guide pp. 42-44, flooding, p.172, and collision mat, p.103, for ideas.
0 Comments

    Author

    Priscilla Travis spends more than 110 days each year on the water, takes photos, and writes about nautical topics.

    Archives

    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    November 2014
    May 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

    Categories

    All
    Compass
    Crew & Health
    Education And Training
    Electronics
    Lines & Knots
    Maintenance
    Miscellaneous
    Navigation
    Navigation Rules
    Navigation Rules
    Radio
    Safety
    Seamanship
    Spoken Language

    RSS Feed

DISCLAIMER: The information and advice on this website constitutes personal opinion, and must be understood as such. It’s offered to enhance public knowledge and promote a better understanding of nautical topics. It must never be considered a substitute for professional legal, medical, safety, or other advice.