(Part 2) Top products from r/boating

Would-be naval architect here (turned aerospace engineer, they're surprisingly similar fields). Our dreams are not so different.

You absolutely need to read - and understand - Heavy Weather Sailing by Adlard Coles. This is regarded as the Bible of ocean-crossing small craft design and has been in print for about 40 years. It's quite heavy text, but you don't need to be a scientist to understand it, just remember not giving up on this book and reading as much as you can will keep you safe.

It starts off talking about the meteorology of storms, the physics of wind & wave formation, and once you understand how these things work it explains how competing designs and different charecteristics of the rig and hull cope with extreme weather, e.g. breaking waves pitchpoling a yacht, as well as fair-weather performance. I read it purely for interest, but I was 15 at the time, so it's really not too hard to follow.

I was going to put key points here, but it is absolutely impossible to tl;dr summarise everything your situation needs. If you can't do it yourself, do the smart thing and hire a designer with a good reputation to help you realise your dream - if going it alone, this book is mandatory required reading.

Overengineer things. Rigging wire a size or two larger than manufacturers' recommendation is more likely to come out of extreme situations unscathed, it's not unusual for blue-water sailors to carry an anchor a size or three over to be certain it will grip in a storm, etc. Read up on safety gear - EPIRBs and satellite radios are, imo, a must these days but it's not all flashy electronics - several spare 600-yard warps are useful in everything from drag in a storm to jury-rigging a rudder to towing someone else to safety. Consider different scenarios and how you'd cope - "the mast falls down and you're asleep", for instance, or "the fresh water tanks leak and there's none left in the middle of the Atlantic". Can you fix it alone? Tools - and the knowledge to use them to repair everything you own - will keep you safe.

Finally, I recommend an xpost to /r/sailing, they're a bit more active. Also find some forums dedicated for sailors (I like Scuttlebutt on yachtingmonthly.com, but there must be communities dedicated to blue-water sailing and self-builds) - you'll get much more detailed advice there. Good luck and don't give up!

If you're serious about that, first off I applaud your dream. :) All of the other comments are showing excellent advice, I would add some study as you begin this planning process. The first step in something like this, is education.

You'll want a few things.

The single most important thing for you on any boat is get the absolute best life jacket you can afford. Personally I use this https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B019YDWO0M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Like you, I can't swim, but I spend my summers on the water. This is the type of lifejacket used by professionals. Get one, it's not optional.

Read this https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0071808280/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
You're going to come upon a thousand words you don't yet know. Every time you do, google it, wikipedia it, and study it. Vocabulary is the pathway to new knowledge, and the depths of what you don't yet know, will drown you. Take your time, don't get discouraged, and realise that the most important tools for your survival at sea are your wits and your confidence. Don't Panic.

Get this, it's your new bible. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0688148921/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Memorise it, really. If you have to pick any single book to have as a new boater (especially a sailboat), this is it.

This is also one you'll need. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0071829326/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

And to begin your engineering education (you'll need it), get this. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0071446443/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I own all of these books, and as we begin the winter this is an excellent opportunity to study and learn and wait for warmer weather.

Keep dreaming. :) You're on the right path. You'll find that most boaters are happy to talk and answer questions. Ask LOTS of questions, listen to everyone, and in time you'll have enough of a collection of knowledge to sort out the good ideas from the bad ones. The more you can learn from other people's mistakes, the easier your boating life will be. The problem with wisdom is that you don't get it until about 5 seconds after you really needed it.

Stay safe, but live dangerously. :)

you're right - it wouldn't be worth it cost wise if you didn't have the parts. what are you planning on doing about the shift shaft? did he include that too? did he rig some sort of extension when he converted it that you can easily undo? if you have that figured out, something to keep in mind: you'll need to pull your bearing carrier to get the pinion nut off. depending on age, type of water it has been used in, etc you might end up breaking the bearing carrier and needing to purchase a new one. i do this professionally and on motors this old i'd give it a decent chance you'll need to use a torch to get it out. IF you break the bearing carrier (which happens if you don't have the proper special tools, or sometimes even if you do) you'll need to decide if you want to save money and just get a bearing carrier and press the prop shaft roller bearings/reverse gear out yourself and try to reuse them or if you want to get the whole assembly. when you start messing around with gears, you'll need to figure out whether or not you need to check gear backlash and change shims (mercury you may or may not have to, i'm not sure). assuming this all goes well (which is possible by the way) you'll need to make sure you replace all the seals. prop shaft seals, bearing carrier oring, drive shaft seals, shift shaft seal(s) and oring.

overall, this is not an impossible job (and personally i think it's fun...but it's what i do for a living) there are just a few variables with additional costs. it doesn't matter if you take it to a shop, they will still most likely charge you for any parts that break due to corrosion AND will charge you a fair amount in labor. the difference is they have the tools to do it right.

i usually recommend just buying a fixed jack plate like this https://www.amazon.com/Marine-JP-4FA-DP-Hi-Jacker-Fixed-Plate/dp/B0000AXP0L/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519818992&sr=8-1&keywords=fixed+jack+plate

This may be a bad idea, but off the top of my head, maybe you could use a small inverter plus a battery tender to recreate a setup similar to your old one.

Edit: Also these are not cheap but there is a company called All In Charge that makes setups for charging your boat or RV battery while you tow.

Edit2: If these guys are still in business, they offer a solution that some people really like. Their website really needs some work though, I would bet its best to just email them.

Edit 3: Found one more solution for you from PowerStream.

Get a copy of this:

http://www.amazon.com/Marine-Diesel-Engines-Maintenance-Troubleshooting/dp/0071475354/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415398133&sr=1-1&keywords=marine+diesel+engines

My own boat is gasoline-powered, but I do enough reading about powerboats in general to be aware that this book is the Bible where caring for marine diesel engines is concerned. The author is the technical editor at PassageMaker magazine.

West Marine carries it, but you could get it cheaper by ordering a used copy from Amazon.

EDIT: You're welcome. Appreciate the upvote. /sarcasm

Please buy and read this. Too many people on the water with zero knowledge. This is the bible of boating. In addition, a Coast Guard Power Rangers course is a great idea.

https://www.amazon.com/Chapman-Piloting-Seamanship-68th/dp/1618372432/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

https://www.amazon.com/Get-Your-Captains-License-5th/dp/0071848371

this one is pretty good. Comes with a program that pulls from the entire USCG question pool randomly ,and gives you tests.

A great book that includes sets of plans, 'Boatbuilding for Beginners (and beyond)' by Jim Michalak.

Chapman Piloting Seamanship & Boat Handling - My grandfather made my father read this book front to back before he let him operate a boat and my father did the same for me and my brother. It's a great book to teach you the basics of boat handling, navigation, weather, etc.

I suggest you find a wiring schematic. Sounds like someone has made a mess of things. You can order the rebuild manual for the motor on Amazon. Mine had already been winterized and covered up otherwise I would take a peak and see what I have for wiring.


Evinrude/Johnson 85-300 HP... https://www.amazon.com/dp/0892878576?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

https://www.amazon.com/Intex-Explorer-2-Person-Inflatable-French/dp/B000051ZHS/ref=sr_1_7?s=boating-water-sports&ie=UTF8&qid=1465784581&sr=1-7&keywords=inflatable+boat

I use a small box anchor in sand and mud I'll never go back to a mushroom anchor. This thing holds all night http://www.amazon.com/Dani-K-SBA-Small-Box-Anchor/dp/B0000AXND7

I have dealt with this on a lake with a private dock.. Come back in after a day out on the lake and some random boat is tied up in our dock.

I've just called Tow boats and then reported the boat the DNR and the local police, it gets towed the owner gets fined. Where I had to draw the line was random Jet skis tying up.

I popped these (http://www.amazon.com/Sealed-Unit-Parts-BTG-RWM-Thermostat/dp/B0002YTJLU) on all of our cleats, painted them to match. It's a bit cumbersome but it has really worked..

This one?

you probably want a cruising guide for the 'thorny path'. I would try crusingforum.com

there are many varieties , just get a current one. https://www.amazon.com/Gentlemans-Guide-Passages-South/dp/0944428797