svcharm: Make a Plan

We are both engineers and tend to analyze and evaluate everything. Some people find this irritating. We tend to irritate each other on occasion as well, but in the end, it has been a tool used that has made our lifestyle possible. We have kept complete records of all money spent since 2000 on a software program called Microsoft Money. Before computers were an everyday item (yes, we are that old), we kept records on those old timely green accounting sheets, hand written and tallied, with of all things, a battery operated calculator.

Imagine the horror.

Our hand tallied records from 1991 to 2000, were tossed when we went on our first boat trip (more about that later).

We also do a lot with lists and then hopefully cross off all the items on the lists as completed. Buying a boat was no different. We made lists of boats, boat features, costs, etc. So after making the list and comparing boat brands and finalizing on Manta we evaluated those that were on the market and which one seemed to make the most sense financially to purchase.

We ended up picking a neglected stinky boat, with several projects, but like we said – financially it was the winner. We know there would be several days/weeks/months or our labor put into getting her into the cruising shape we wanted, but we have done it before with boats and houses, and knew in the end, we would by happy we did the work ourselves, as this is the best way to know your boat inside and out.

Bit of dry rot in the floor and panels to remove. Not structural just cosmetic

Need bottom sanded and painted

Bit of clutter to organize and sort through

Since our boat is currently stored on the hard until our retire date in March 2021 our current activity while confined at home during the Covid19 crisis, is making a list or projects and purchases. Over 100 items to date, of what needs to be done and ones that we want to complete. The list is broken into sections on when the work needs to be accomplished. Prior to boat in the water; while the boat is at dock and then long term improvements. Since we still have 1 year prior to living full time on the boat we have time to think of new projects and the list grows. We spent 2 weeks working on the boat in March of 2020 and were able to get a few projects completed but we seem to add more than we removed as time goes by.