Troubleshooter
Expert Tips on Managing a Successful Refit
Pulling off a successful refit can be a gratifying experience. A refit project gives you the opportunity to select the equipment you want and to become acquainted with the installations. You have the chance put your personal stamp on the boat’s aesthetics, from hull color to interior dŽcor. And, for most of us, bringing a tired boat back to life can be rewarding. To pull it off, however, you need a clear understanding of the challenges and a solid game plan.
6JG 4GƂV 6TKCPING
It might sound like the Bermuda Triangle—and a boat entering a refit faces similar unknowns—but the “refit triangle” references a different set of issues. A successful refit must balance three components: time, quality and cost.
The tighter your financial constraints, the more flexible you need to be with time and/or quality. If time is short and you want high quality, then cost will go up. On the other hand, if quality and cost are paramount, flexibility on time will help. Allowing a boatyard, for example, to flex the schedule so that they can fill in slower times might result in a lower hourly rate and a better discount on materials. Keep in mind that when you push hard on one dimension of the triangle, something else will shift.
2WV VJG 4QEMU KP (KTUV
Imagine you have a few large rocks, a number of stones and a pile of sand. If you put the sand in a bucket first, then the stones, and then the rocks, you might find that they won’t all fit. If you put the rocks in first, then fill around them with stones, and finish by pouring the sand into the openings, you will have room to spare. The same principle applies to your refit. In this case the large rocks represent structural and safety issues. If you recently purchased the boat, the survey will have a list of findings and recommendations. That moisture in the cockpit sole might not seem like an important item, but left neglected it could spell big trouble in a few years. Your wish list for improvements should fall in place around the items that will deteriorate if left alone or impact reliability.
If you have owned the boat for a while, I highly recommend