Marnie wrote: I continue to lurk and hopefully learn in the hope of future NB ownership but is a degree in electrical and mechanical engineering a neccecity are there owners amongst you who feels that its ok to to 'get a man who can' to carry out maintainance. I can manage to boil a kettle and change a plug, check oil & water and the like but wouldn't dream of servicing my car .Does this not apply to NBs.? > I will be taking a course in the basics but am i the only person here who waves to some of the posts as they fly merrily over my head?
In my opinion it is very useful, bordering on vital, to be able to do significant work on your own boat. I have often marvelled at how people who have no practical knowledge, and ability, at all can go boating. There are always small things that need attention and then things like routine engine/gearbox servicing. To have to employ someone to do these things at all times must be very costly and time consuming. I also have severe doubts, after watching the results on other peoples' boats, about the abilities of some of the, so called, boatyard technicians. I've seen some appalling standards of workmanship. That said, like finding a good garage to service your car, there will be some good people somewhere. The problem, in my opinion, with boatyards is that they don't have much competition. If you don't like the work of a garage it is easy to find a competitor almost next door. The same cannot be said of boatyards where it may take you days to get your boat to the next one, that's assuming it will move at all. Possibly that's why the general standard of 'customer care' is so abysmally low in the UK canal boatyards.....they don't have to work at retaining customers. I freely admit that I am in a fortunate position having been, amongst other things in my career, a garage owner/technician so mechanical and electrical repairs don't really faze me but for those not in this position then a Gold membership of RCR (River and Canal Rescue) is a good investment. I'm even a Bronze member because, with a 1946 Gardner in the engine room, the chances of me picking up, say, a starter motor for it from the local motor factor when I break down in the middle of nowhere are zilch. The Bronze membership means that they do the searching and bring it to me where ever I may be broken down (and that may be in the middle of bandit country where you wouldn't want to leave your boat and wife alone while you hunted out a spare part). I've never had to use their services yet, I treat it like an insurance, but I know some that have and speak very highly of their service. They will even do routine engine/gearbox services for you if you pre-book. Hope this helps and doesn't put you off boat ownership. With proper preparation and planning any non-technical people can boat, but it is more costly and needs more forethought than for someone who is technically capable. Roger ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Check out the new improvements in Yahoo! Groups email. http://us.click.yahoo.com/6pRQfA/fOaOAA/yQLSAA/ygtolB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canals-list/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
