> From: "Scott Bulger" > Subject: [PUP] Time required to debug a new boat > To: "Passagemaking Under Power List" > > > I've been putting my timetable together for boat purchase and departure on a > circumnavigation. I've been advised by some people that I have great > respect for, to budget one to two years to wring out a boat before > departing. I have to admit I was a bit surprised that so many owners take > possession of a new boat, and then to have to fix problems, mostly with > navigation and electronics, for several months. It is interesting my comment is so different from everyone elses. I am not sure what this means... I find the seamanship required to be pretty easy and more importantly training is avialable for this. I did the USPS piloting, adv piloting and jr nav (Sextent), not to mention I am an instrumented rated pilot. However the skill and confidence I found hardest to learn was the ability to fix anything. If cruising far from home, this is a really important skill. In the Med I have visited several European boats in the 80-100 ft range. Our Nordhavn is more complex. They have simple electronics about what I would find in a 30 ft US boat, no washer/dryer, no water maker, often times NO INVERTER (underway must run the generator for fans for engine room). I was helping an englishman with an 84 ft Azmith and found his boat simpler then the 40 ft Nordhan I helper the next week. This means when you hire electrical help they are overwelmed and can not help or cause more damage then help! Average navigation electronics in a the 4-6 million dollar boats I have been on in the MED. One VHF, not normally on. a Chart ploter 7 inch (usually on), one 24 mile radar (not on), one fathometer, one wind, one NavText. No Autopilot, no backup anything, no depth sounder display.