Andy G
Hospitality Officer
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2010
- Messages
- 1,898
- Location
- Australia
- Vessel Name
- Sarawana
- Vessel Make
- IG 36 Quad Cabin
This post owes its existence to my old hot water heater rusting out. The replacement unit I wanted was a little too big, so I had to downsize, which I really didn't want to do, more hot water is better right.
Well after a couple of months it has dawned on me that I was probably mistaken in my more is better mindset.In the case of the hot water heater the new smaller unit heats up very quickly, it does everything in the time frame that we require of it.
This got me thinking about all those questions that new/prospective boat owners post here about what to look for in boats.Assuming an annual running time of the boat underway of 150 hours a year I submit the following for consideration.
Big things that can be smaller
*Fuel tanks, you don't need 500 gallons fuel capacity, fuel needs to be used not stored
*Big generators running at 50% capacity are not good, small generators running at 80 % capacity are good
*Hot water, efficiency is more important than capacity
*Don't buy the biggest boat you can afford, it may turn out you can't.
*One engine will usually suffice(I have two)
*One bathroom is usually enough(again, I have two)
* You don't need a house size fridge on a week end boat.
*Ice makers, truly how much ice do you need.
*Anchors, one main and one standby is enough(Eric excluded)
*Batteries are an exception, usually the more the better.
* Less wood = less maintenance(I have lots of wood)
* If you plan to travel at 7-8 knots big engines are a no no.
Like all generalisations this list will probably be shot down in flames, I blame it on my old hot water system.
Well after a couple of months it has dawned on me that I was probably mistaken in my more is better mindset.In the case of the hot water heater the new smaller unit heats up very quickly, it does everything in the time frame that we require of it.
This got me thinking about all those questions that new/prospective boat owners post here about what to look for in boats.Assuming an annual running time of the boat underway of 150 hours a year I submit the following for consideration.
Big things that can be smaller
*Fuel tanks, you don't need 500 gallons fuel capacity, fuel needs to be used not stored
*Big generators running at 50% capacity are not good, small generators running at 80 % capacity are good
*Hot water, efficiency is more important than capacity
*Don't buy the biggest boat you can afford, it may turn out you can't.
*One engine will usually suffice(I have two)
*One bathroom is usually enough(again, I have two)
* You don't need a house size fridge on a week end boat.
*Ice makers, truly how much ice do you need.
*Anchors, one main and one standby is enough(Eric excluded)
*Batteries are an exception, usually the more the better.
* Less wood = less maintenance(I have lots of wood)
* If you plan to travel at 7-8 knots big engines are a no no.
Like all generalisations this list will probably be shot down in flames, I blame it on my old hot water system.