Ken Wolkens
Active Member
I was 51 years old when I sold my 390 EC and was glad to see it go. Here in Florida because of the heat and humidity I've learned that maintaining a boat can be a real challenge physically. Keeping up on the exterior and constantly fighting mold in the cockpit was not the issue for me as I'm in excellent (lean) physical condition except for an old shoulder injury. Doing the topside work was not the problem.
My number one nightmare was the engine room. Even when the engines had not heated up the bilge it was almost always 80 degrees down there even first thing in the morning...nearly every single day. During the day it's the last place you want to be with ambient temps in the mid 90's let alone the humidity making it feel like 100. Add the required contortions to get into the space required when sweat is pouring down into your eyes and soon one understands where the term "Hot Head" comes from.
I realize the answer to maintenance is finding someone to do it but that is easier said than done. No-shows, arrive whenever, lack of cleanliness/care, and outright theft from "Mechanics" here in the land of pirates is common place. The previous owner had a mechanic doing his maintenance that was billing for work that was not done I suspect because the owner was not going down and verifying the work. As a result I'm inclined to do my own maintenance.
The previous owners words "Do it while you are young" still resonate in my head as he was 72 and in good lean condition when he finally threw in the towel. So my question to the group is more of a poll of how old are you and are you still doing all of your own maintenance?
My number one nightmare was the engine room. Even when the engines had not heated up the bilge it was almost always 80 degrees down there even first thing in the morning...nearly every single day. During the day it's the last place you want to be with ambient temps in the mid 90's let alone the humidity making it feel like 100. Add the required contortions to get into the space required when sweat is pouring down into your eyes and soon one understands where the term "Hot Head" comes from.
I realize the answer to maintenance is finding someone to do it but that is easier said than done. No-shows, arrive whenever, lack of cleanliness/care, and outright theft from "Mechanics" here in the land of pirates is common place. The previous owner had a mechanic doing his maintenance that was billing for work that was not done I suspect because the owner was not going down and verifying the work. As a result I'm inclined to do my own maintenance.
The previous owners words "Do it while you are young" still resonate in my head as he was 72 and in good lean condition when he finally threw in the towel. So my question to the group is more of a poll of how old are you and are you still doing all of your own maintenance?