T&T: Digging a hole in the water

[bob Austin]

I wonder how many of todays boat buyers really know what they are doing?  We
see more and more folks who are nearing retirement and have the "fantisy" of
buying a boat and either "going cruising" or "Doing the Loop" etc.  But they
don't have years of experience.  Their reference is a car, where it runs gets
you there.

We have also become a society where there is no premium put on people who
honestly can fix things which are broken.  The norm in this society is to
throw away the cell phone in two years, because the new technology is better
and cheaper.  This does not work for boats.

We have dropped the vocational programs, where young men and women learned to
diagnose and repair engines, and other mechanical items.
Mike is correct that a good engine survey should have caught problems, but how
many people buying boats know what a good survey is?  (Either hull and
condition, or engine?).  A good engine survey for twins will take the better
part of a day (esp if turboed)--and most likely cost more than the hull
survey.

Certainly one of the goals of a list server like Trawlers and Trawlering
should be to educate people as to what is a good hull, condition, suitability
and mechanical survey--and where to have one done.

Take care,

Bob Austin