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One of the most important things we need to think about when planning and budgeting a refit is what it will cost us if the keel must be removed for keel bolt inspection and repair, as is likely with many older boats.

If you own and sail boats offshore for long enough, the likelihood is that sooner or later you will be faced with a difficult repair or refit decision. John explores a solution that all others being considered should always be measured against.

The vast majority of used boats out there, which might be bought for a low enough price to make the cost after refit attainable for many of us, have one of two keel types that can cause big-time trouble. So the big question becomes, can we check those bolts without removing the keel? John investigates two options.

There are few things more depressing in cruising than having to live with an unreliable engine. Colin takes a look at the options for rebuild or repower and what all this is going to cost.

The upfront costs of buying and refitting a boat that will have to be paid before the real work gets started.

Now we know that a lot of the rudders out there on older fibreglass boats will need extensive repair or replacement, what’s the best course of action, and what’s it going to cost us?

How to check the rudder and why that’s a vital step of any refit.

Before we start to build a refit budgeting and planning framework, we need to define the boat we will start off with as well as explore how we can correct numbers for other boats: smaller, bigger, and/or more complex.

How to decide if a refit is right for you, including how to avoid the oh-so-common human failings that can turn a refit into a budget-busting rebuild.