Hidden Treasures Exposed
There are dozens and dozens of considerations when buying a used sailboat. Age. Condition. Electronics package (Or none…anyone need weather fax? We have one.). Build quality. Reputation. Running Rigging. Standing Rigging. Sails. Upkeep/maintenance history. Engine hours. Hull/keel/rudder design. Deck/keel stepped mast…the list goes on and on. Learn more about why we purchased our boat here.
But one thing that isn’t often considered when evaluating which boat to purchase is available spares. “Spares” in cruising verbiage is an all-encompassing term for extra parts, materials, supplies, hardware, fittings, fasteners, etc. that a skipper will keep onboard should an in-service part fail, get lost/stolen, wear out, corrode, etc.
Skippers will keep spares of some of the more critical items that are subject to failure. An example of one common spare aboard diesel-powered vessels is a spare starter motor for the engine. A starter motor is a battery-powered motor that when the time to start the engine takes power from the battery to turn the engine. It’s a big job with a high demand for a small devices. Starters commonly fail and without one it is nearly impossible to start a large, modern diesel engine. And when the starter on the engine fails, the spare can be put on and a new one ordered (or attempt a rebuild of the old) to cycle back into stock as the spare.
Having spares for those critical items to keep the boat afloat, moving forward, or securely anchored has many benefits. Having spares aboard:
Saves time. A spare on hand means not having to wait for a shipment in a remote location.
Saves money. If the spare can be purchased ahead of time in a location such as the USA where parts are generally available and usually less expensive then the spare doesn’t need to be purchased in a location with fewer resources.
It’s safer. What if the starter motor on the engine goes bad when trying to move the boat to a different anchorage around the backside of an island to be better protected from a storm? That’s a safety issue. With a spare onboard we can more quickly replace the bad with new and hopefully make it to the other anchorage quicker. Without a spare, we’re potentially weathering the storm in place. Or what if the primary anchor is fouled on a rock and won’t budge? The anchor rode may need to be cut and the spare anchor can be deployed.
A starter motor is an easy example of why we keep spares aboard. It’s small, easily stored, and a common failure point. But not everything can be spare. Can we keep a spare mast? No. A spare rudder? Not easily. A spare diesel engine? No. But for those items that have a reputation to fail, that we know we will need, and that is logical to store aboard, it’s a wise investment to keep spares.
This takes us to our original point. When shopping for a boat one of the considerations a person may want to make is what spares come with the boat? Having extra items aboard a boat can be expensive. After all, buying one for what we need and another for a backup is twice the cost! So when boat shopping, yes, make sure the engine starts. But consider asking about the spares as that starter motor will not last forever. And having an extra aboard is like money in your pocket, time on your side, and an extra layer of safety. Now that’s A Yacht of Love.
Link to Project Farm playlist discussing fuel additives:
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjT3B9r2z3fXp7cXGYJQ8CuSA10sj4XhM
YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/3m79OuHWfRw