As boat owners we are all aware of the comic saying “Break out another Thousand”

That phrase, stands for B…O…A…T.

I often talk in boat units one boat unit is $1,000.00 and believe me, when you add up slip fees, maintenance fees, insurance fee, documentation fees, yada…yada…yada, we all have spent our share of boat units.

As a young Marine (USMC) my first MOS was a diesel engine mechanic working on M51A-Tanks, Amtrak’s, and a small artillery vehicle called an ONTOSE. I won’t bore you with the military nomenclature of the weapons of the past. But I can say that I thank “Chesty” today for the knowledge the US Marine Corps gave me covering Diesel Engine Repair and Maintenance. I perform most if not all of the services on my Yanmar Diesel Engine. This week I am changing the Oil and filter as well as the Fuel Filter. I run through a check list with V-belts, pulleys and a host of other lube fittings through-out my vessel.

Prior to the start of each boating season, I start to run down my Popeye-List. This list is almost the same as my home Honey-Do-List, but this one I am the author of so it can never be to long. Being handy and willing to get a little grease on you will help. Oh, did I mention being able to fit into small tight places, that last one I won’t go into but to say “I’m not the smallest of person’s ” I just don’t fit into some of the cubby hole areas on WindChime. In a nut shell I’m advocating the do-it-your-self if you can method, or at least try. For those of us who will be cruising in the near future; this hobby/skill will be priceless. I can’t count the dollars I’ve saved but I can count the times I’ve walked away satisfied with a job well done.

So in closing for this month, put that list together; start checking off completed tasks. As you near the end look back and take a good look at you accomplishments.

See you on the water in May...