landlubbertoseadog
Member
Thanks you for all the wonderful responses. I swear you should all write a book. Reading these responses has kept me busy for the past few hours. Thanks again 
If you had to do it all over again...
- Thread starter landlubbertoseadog
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone who enjoys boating.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
skipperguy
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re-thought
would have not kept the trawler we loved for 26 years - would have moved up and maybe had one we loved even more !
moral: boats, balls and bank accounts can never be TOO big !
As I start to look at boats to purchase and daydream during these troubling pandemic times: If you had to buy a boat all over again, what would you tell your younger, boat buying self? Any regrets? Any tips? I know this has been addressed before and I have read through the threads. Just climbing the walls while my family is entering the 7th week of being stuck at home and need more to read. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Thanks all!
would have not kept the trawler we loved for 26 years - would have moved up and maybe had one we loved even more !
moral: boats, balls and bank accounts can never be TOO big !
Captain Glenn
Member
Why? You obviously had problems with your Volvo engine. Would you say that about all Volvo engines? Just curious.
Irish Rambler
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I tried 3 Volvo heavy articulated trucks, an outboard and 2 Volvo cars at various times in my business and none of them were a success, and each had to be traded at a loss to get rid of them. Would I buy a Volvo engine ? Others may like them but not me.
OldDan1943
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Hmmm, if I had to do it all over again, I would have married wife#1,Wife#2 and most definitely Wife #3. The vote is still out on my 'heart of gold', beautiful Vietnamese 'house mouse'. I now only have to spank her 2 or 3 times a year.(tease)
ancora
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Volvo engines are great...Volvo product support, the worst in the industry. Volvo parts, if you can find them, cost triple those of Cummins or Cats. There is not one dedicated Volvo dealer in North America.
Comodave
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We had Volvos in one boat, never again. At the time you couldn’t get parts and then when they finally cane, you couldn’t afford to pay for them. It doesn’t appear that things have gotten any better...
dirtdoc1
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As I start to look at boats to purchase and daydream during these troubling pandemic times: If you had to buy a boat all over again, what would you tell your younger, boat buying self? Any regrets? Any tips? I know this has been addressed before and I have read through the threads. Just climbing the walls while my family is entering the 7th week of being stuck at home and need more to read. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Thanks all!
Great Question!
I enjoyed running from Redwood City to the Delta and up to Sacramento in my 25' Skipjack cabin cruiser. But it wasn't big enough or set up to spend anymore than a few days in. So I bought a Carver C34. I loved and hated that boat. It just didn't work for what I was trying to do. I didn't know anything about trawlers and didn't realize that, that is exactly what I needed until I had already spent $400k on the Carver. But buying a new boat puts you in touch with a lot of different boating people and I learned a lot from them, I learned that a trawler is what I needed. So I sold the Carver and bought a NP45 and in doing so have learned a lot more about trawlers. Different hull configurations, systems and capacities. I love my NP45 but if I had to do it all over again with the same budget I would get a full displacement hull with a standup engine room and either two engines or a get home engine. I would make sure that it was stabilized, had a huge water maker, a huge fuel capacity, two heads and as many electronics as I could find. I would try to get in to a Nordhavn 47, a Selene 45 or a KK44 or 48.
After saying all of the above, I have almost got my NP45 set up with all of that stuff minus the Get Home Engine, Standup ER and 2nd Head. The only thing that I haven't done with it is cruised any distance in open ocean. I just had stabilizers installed so it might do everything that I want. In which case I would stay with what I have. I can live without the Get Home Engine, Stand Up ER and 2nd Head.
The grass is always greener and there are always bigger boats.
mvweebles
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If I could take a mulligan, I wouldn't buy a house with furniture and all the doo dads that goes with it. Has been the biggest barrier to just leaving.
Frankly, the boat matters less than the ability to go. Cruising style is different on a Camano 28 footer than a 45-footer, but in the end, being gone is the goal.
Id spend less time on the boat and more time figuring out how to make the boat I have or can afford work. It's the journey, not the destination.
Frankly, the boat matters less than the ability to go. Cruising style is different on a Camano 28 footer than a 45-footer, but in the end, being gone is the goal.
Id spend less time on the boat and more time figuring out how to make the boat I have or can afford work. It's the journey, not the destination.
ranger58sb
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ancora
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Are they dedicated Volvo dealers...meaning do they only deal with Volvo, or is Volvo just one of their concerns? The Volvo home page does not identify one dedicated Volvo dealer in North America.
ranger58sb
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Ah. I see your distinction. Dunno. OTOH, my local Cummins guys aren't strictly Cummins, either.
Why would it matter?
-Chris
Why would it matter?
-Chris
I think that what matters most is how dedicated your dealer is to solving whatever
problem it is you are having.
swampyankee
Veteran Member
Of all the boats I've owned not one was not a project at some level and our current boat is no exception. It was somewhat of an impulse purchase, but with good bones, serviceable, and was bought for "shoht money" as our marina-owner friend said.
Although the boat had a long history with it's previous owner, we are finding out that it has had alot of deferred maintenance and "budget" repairs. We have a long way to go to get our boat up to the level we'd like it, but in the meantime it can be enjoyed as is.
I do regret not spending more time looking at other examples of the boat we bought as well as other types. Do I constantly look at "the next boat"? Of course, but being my nature, I would do that regardless.
The biggest factor in the equation is that my wife loves some of the feature I don't, AND she is willing to put the time, labor and money into improving and maintaining it. That in itself negates any regret I had in buying our old boat.
Although the boat had a long history with it's previous owner, we are finding out that it has had alot of deferred maintenance and "budget" repairs. We have a long way to go to get our boat up to the level we'd like it, but in the meantime it can be enjoyed as is.
I do regret not spending more time looking at other examples of the boat we bought as well as other types. Do I constantly look at "the next boat"? Of course, but being my nature, I would do that regardless.
The biggest factor in the equation is that my wife loves some of the feature I don't, AND she is willing to put the time, labor and money into improving and maintaining it. That in itself negates any regret I had in buying our old boat.
skipperguy
Veteran Member
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thinking backwards
I would suggest to myself that going forward, it may very well be as satisfying to "improve" "repair" and "upgrade" that vessel as the actual usage for less-productive recreational purposes. AND IT WAS !
As I start to look at boats to purchase and daydream during these troubling pandemic times: If you had to buy a boat all over again, what would you tell your younger, boat buying self? Any regrets? Any tips? I know this has been addressed before and I have read through the threads. Just climbing the walls while my family is entering the 7th week of being stuck at home and need more to read. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. Thanks all!
I would suggest to myself that going forward, it may very well be as satisfying to "improve" "repair" and "upgrade" that vessel as the actual usage for less-productive recreational purposes. AND IT WAS !
OldDan1943
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- American Tug 34 #116 2008
Two surveys. One boat and systems, 2nd one factory trained engine specialist.
2 staterooms, 2 heads.
Just as soon as your friends discover you bought a boat, they will want to go for a ride.... If you are fortunate, they wont want to over night on the boat.
Or you could impose a curfew of everyone off the boat by 5pm
Boats, swimming pool and fancy cars seem to attract way too many NEW and bestest "friends."
You can discourage them by saying, "Alcohol, included beer, until the boat is back at the dock and tied up or safely anchored for the night.
They will want to sit there as you untie the boat, drive the boat, prepare and serve a meal and when you get back to your slip, you might discover they will get off and go home when the first line is on the dock.
If they want to spend the night, assign them a task.... teach them not to do anything (remain on the boat) until YOU tell them to do something and how to cleat off properly at the very least. IF YOU ARE VERY FORTUNATE, they will remain with you until the boat is safely tied up, shore power onboard, boat straightened up too. Good luck on the last part. LOL
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