Owning a boat can be one of the highlights of your life. Ask any boat owner and they’ll tell you you haven’t lived until you’ve gone to a Mets game by boat, or spent a whole afternoon laying out in the sun out on the bay, or partied in one of the Jersey Shore’s many hidden party coves, and so on.
Yes indeed, boat ownership can be a joy. No wonder people are willing to work long, hard hours for the privilege!
But with boat ownership comes a lot of responsibility. They can be costly to keep and maintain. The need to do maintenance and repairs is ever present. No boat runs flawlessly, and no boat runs forever. That’s just the nature of the beast. Whether it’s a new custom marine fuel tank or simply changing the battery, there is always work that needs to be done.
For a select few, boat maintenance is something they will be able to handle on their own. Others know their limitations and have a favored expert who takes care of things for them. And then there is you. You’ve changed the oil in your car a few times, maybe done a brake job or two. You’re ready to take care of your boat, too, right?
Think again. Boat maintenance and repair is a big job that is often better left to the experts. Here are some key reasons why.
You Don’t Have The Time
You might think you have the time. After all, you’ve changed some oil in your day. You’ve done a few brake jobs. Maybe even did a transmission job. But boat work is different. It’s difficult, time-consuming, and costly. If you want to actually use your boat some time soon, you’ll pass the work on to an expert. Otherwise, it’s likely you’ll be neck deep in the work for the next two seasons.
You Don’t Have The Tools or Parts
Marine repairs is specialized work not only requiring parts that may need to be special ordered, but tools that most people just aren’t going to have laying around in their garage. Chances are, the money you think you’ll save by doing repairs on your own will end up getting chewed up buying new tool and other specialty items. Better to leave it to the experts.
The Work Can Be Dangerous
If you’re dealing with a leaking marine fuel tank, working with fiberglass, doing a marine fuel tank cleaning, or many other boat-specific jobs, you’re putting yourself in jeopardy if you do not have the appropriate equipment and necessary experience to do the work. The fact is, the chemicals and materials used to make and repair boats can be dangerous, and working with their specialized fuel systems can be even more dangerous. Steer clear.
A Faulty Repair Can Be Catastrophic
If you mess up repairing your car, chances are you simply break down somewhere and have to call a tow truck. No big deal. Faulty boat repairs are another matter. You could end up stranded on the water far from home. You may have to face harsh weather while out on the open water. You may even have a problem that causes you to start taking on water, which, needless to say, can be deadly. For your own safety, it’s best to leave major repairs to experts.