I sit here writing this as another storm batters much of the British isles and prevents boaters, whether they be fisher people or not, from getting out and enjoying their weekend out on the water. I am in the same boat (pun intended) but for different reasons. After a long first season of boat ownership, mine was in need of some much over due TLC, so she is sat on the hard in Dover in a shipyard about to undergo minor surgery. 

I have worked on boats of various forms and sizes for almost 10 years now, and hence I thought I knew what I was getting myself in for when it comes to the cost of ownership. Alas, I was quite wrong, and for a multitude of reasons the initial costs and first year repairs and maintenance bills have been significantly higher than I had anticipated. There are a number of reasons for this, one being the regulatory bodies that control the commercial licensing. The know it alls at the MCA deemed my vessel unsatisfactory on a number of grounds (despite having been a registered commercial rod and line fishing vessel for 15 years in Guernsey of all places, not exactly known for its placid seas!) A number of costly changes had to be made to appease them before I was even allowed to attempt to fish for a living. 

Secondly, on approximately my 5th day of trying, I made an unforgivable mistake in a heavily flowing tide when trying to come off of my mooring, the end result being an altercation with the pontoon onto which I was moored, and with a vessel moored next to me. Being lifted out of the water quickly showed that the boat had suffered a more grievous injury than the concrete of the pontoon, and a few thousand more pounds was spent spent to remedy this. Time was taken at this point for me to do what my limited mechanical skills allow, and thankfully the boat ran without issue for the remainder of the season. 

Thirdly, I didn’t fully appreciate the extent to which a boat yard can turn the screw once you have been lifted or driven into a position of their choosing. You have no way out once you are in, and they really can let you know this if they wish! This has been an issue on more than one occasion, and does point to doing more for yourself than I have found the time to, but it isn’t always easy to do things yourself when you haven’t got the correct tools or the expertise required. 

Now, 2 years on from the initial purchase, and a full season under her belt, it is time for First priority to enter into another period of expenditure and tinkering. I sailed her from her home port of Rye on Tuesday just gone, and all went without a hitch. I fear that this time may be just as costly as the last, however it is very much necessary to ensure safe and reliable operation for the remainder of the year, and to make some desirable improvements that should better aid a more successful season on the fish!

On the list of works are a refurbishment of the stern drive, a lift out of the engine and a full health check, and a plethora of little odd jobs that I didn’t seem to find time for during the course of my year. The end result of all of this should hopefully be an improved and safer vessel, with upgraded fish finding ability and an engine/propulsion system that can be depended on time and again. The only thing that remains unchanged are the captains ability to catch those fish! Perhaps someone sells a course for this….