I have had to put two boats together in relitative short time (installing systems, including gensets, water makers electronics etc).  As soon as the elements are in place--take a sea trial.  In Southern Calif.  I took my boats and suggested that others take their boats off Point Conception for several days and just sail there--bound to get heavy weather and anything which is subject to failure will most likely fail.  On the East Coast, I would recommend a trip to the Bahamas when the Gulf Stream was up--wind against the current.  In the PNW--I would go out thru the Straits of San Juan de Fuca when it was blowing at least 30 knots and up the West Side of Vancouver Island.

We met a Defever 44 in the Caribbean who had purchased the used boat in San Diego--took a 36 hour "sea trial" off the coast and headed for Mexico and the Canal--no problems.

There is a "burn in" time for any system unit.  If it does not fail in that time--usuall a week, it most likely will not fail for some time.  Take enough spares and have redundancy in systems and go--no need to wait several years!

You are gaining the knowlege in your current boat.  The handling will not be that much different and you will learn on your way down the coast.

There are also those who suggest a survey on a new boat to helpt to detect problems.  I have probably had as many problems on new boats as on used ones I have purchased.

Bob Austin

Bob's email reminded me of two things about solid state electronics. First, defective units and components usually fail within the first 90 days after installation and use. Units warranted for 90 days usually fail on the 91st day. {;^)) In the old days of computing, some manufacturers advertised that they "burned-in" their units prior to shipment.

Second, if you purchase electronics relatively new to the marketplace, the manufacturer will probably offer ROM upgrades in the first and second years of ownership. I have two Furuno radar/chartplotters. Recently, Furuno told me not to use the 10.4 inch unit until its ROM's were updated. I think that there is a problem with my 7 inch chartplotter (purchased this past June) when attempting to examine the edges of the chart's coverage.

I think that major coastal cruising on either coast should precede a true passage. In this way, systems can be tweeked and upgraded in major population centers.

Ron Rogers