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Show By Ted Resting In an article entitled "Big Boats Tlie Joys and Sorrows" appearing in the February issue of Sjxirls Afield Boats Editor Zack Taylor points out that "to cruise a big boat on the sea or even a big river or lake requires scores of special skills. So many, in fact, that if you applied the time necessary to learn them to making money you'd probably prob-ably be a millionaire." Here are some of the things he says you need to know: You need to know bow to read a chart, steer by a compass, operate a radio, anchor a boat, tie knots and back into a slip. Will you take another boat in tow? Special techniques are required. Know what to do if you run aground? On and on it goes. The amount of knowledge required re-quired to sail a big boat in safety is apalling. Of course you learn it a little at a time, and if you love it you kind ol absorb skills by osmosis. osmo-sis. But true seamanship is an absolute necessity where big boats are concerned. Little boats forgive. Make a mistake in a big boat and it costs money in large quantities and can cause injnrk'S or even death. Learning the boat skills is pleasant. pleas-ant. Magazines and books dish them out in enticing bites. But the care and feeding of a bii boat will require other skills that are not so much fun. Own any big boat oxer a period of time and it will turn you into a painter, motor mechanic, seamstress ( if a sailboat), sail-boat), cook, upholsterer, electrician, electri-cian, plumber, rigger, charlady and dishwasher. Don't think for one minute ou can hire people to do these chores. Not only do such services come at usurious rates; many times they do not come at all. Money cannot buy them. "For example," says Boats Editor Edi-tor Taylor, "on my home waters there is no one to put out or raise a mooring. It is a thoroughly distasteful dis-tasteful task, I might add. But you do it yourself or not at all." Then there is the question of where you will keep your boat. A recent survey confirmed what every big-boat owner knows. Slips, even winter storage space, are in scarce supply around every metropolitan area and both are fast disappearing. Here are some of Taylor's suggestions sug-gestions if you are not afraid of the sorrows he mentions and plan to buy. Don't buy a wooden boat. It is getting harder all the time to find a new one, and and that speaks for itself. You are better of! to huv a used fiberglass boat, say three or four years old. Any premium spent will return via maintenance charges. By all means have the boat surveyed sur-veyed bv a competent marine surveyor. sur-veyor. Make sure vou have a slip and yard before you buy. Don't buy a boat with stem drive if vou plan to use it in salt water. If you're stuck with one, immediately install a cathode protection pro-tection unit (about $60). Don't buy a steel houseboat fur use on salt water. Insure through a marine insurance insur-ance agent, not a home or auto expert. "And, lastly," the Boat Editor savs, "Good luck. You'll need it." |