From the Author
I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the boating family. Many of us have been around boats all of ours lives. Still many are new to the pleasures of boat ownership and the joy it can bring to all involved. I will, over the course of this book, endeavor to help all of you, regardless of your talents or experience.
The premise of this book is to give you the knowledge you will need to select, install and maintain all the various systems aboard any boat. It contains the all information required to turn a boat, used mainly for weekend trips, into a long range cruiser. Even if you never plan to cruise for more than a weekend the material in this book will help you better understand any boat on the water. All the information can be readily adjusted to fit your needs and the needs of your boat.
The systems and their respective components are discussed in a manner which will allow you to make an informed decision as to the best system for your boat and boating lifestyle. Although this book is written to transform a boat into a cruising vessel, you can use this information to improve the usefulness of any boat used for any purpose.
The installation steps cover wiring, distribution panels, water, waste, charging methods, batteries, refrigeration, heating and air conditioning can be used for repairs or upgrades to your existing systems. The same information is invaluable when you find the need to replace one or more of the boat's systems. Many of the systems on a boat rely, at least in part, on another system's proficiency to operate properly. Within these pages this interaction between systems is discussed. You will not find this in the manufacturer's installation literature, but you must have a working knowledge of the interactions to have a successful installation.
As an example of the above, you can purchase and install the best refrigeration unit on the market today. If you don't have sufficient battery power to run the unit or an ample charging system to supply the batteries, the refrigeration will not work properly.
The projects herein can be accomplished by most novice handy persons. If you are more experienced in your craftsmanship skills you will find this book will reinforce what you have learned and possibly show you a new method of doing an old job.
All the information will help you save labor cost, and most of the information will help you save material cost. Apart from these direct savings, you will be assured of making an informed decision for the improvements on your boat. If I recommend a product, I have had great success using the product and excellent service from the companies involved. This may also save you money, by helping you pick a good long lasting component.
I hope your life on the water will be as enjoyable as mine has been, for you will soon find there is no better way to spend a day, a week, or a lifetime than simply "Messing About On Boats".
About the Author
John Kaufman lives the life of which he writes. He has been on and around boats and the water since childhood. As the years passed, his love of the lifestyle grew and with that growth came the knowledge he passes onto his readers.
Although most of us find it difficult to enjoy boat work, John has no greater pleasure. The only exception may be cruising, providing he can find a boat to repair along the way.
His enjoyment of the work is readily apparent as he covers each project. As you read these pages, you will discover John can make the seemingly hard tasks easy to understand and accomplish. John currently lives aboard and cruises on his 1963 Matthews Vintage Motoryacht "Ship Happens". She is an elegant woman and a fine vessel. During his course of ownership he has completely restored her to her original condition. Not better than new, as John will be the first to say, "A Matthews, could never have been built any better." When the restoration was complete, he proceeded with the upgrades to the systems. This provides ease of maintenance and comfort for his cruising lifestyle. After thirty years of boating John claims to have found the vessel he could not sell.
John states his view of life in one simple phrase. "Life is too short to miss out on even one two hour cruise."
