Why not just hire someone?
1) We have a lot of a little jobs, where it isn't always convenient or cost efficient to bring in a machine. (eg pulling stumps, burying cables, improving road access to firewood and timber, etc)
2) We have two very large jobs that would be prohibitively expensive to hire at going rates:
3) It's more fun and satisfying to do it yourself,for some reason, must be the West Coast mentality. And the challenge of learning about hydraulics and operating and maintaining such a great machine is just a bonus
4) It gives my kids a chance to learn how to operate and maintain a piece of heavy machinery, another skill which may help them be gainfully employed or just useful some day. One less mystery.
5) Because of the large amount of work to do on the property, like as much as 1000 hrs, this would normally cost 100 to 120 per hour (Can$), you're looking at a lot of money, like a hundred G's. Now these machines are not cheap to operate either, with filters and oil changes every 200 hrs and grease every day and bucket teeth and ongoing parts. And parts/repairs can kill you. But if I am lucky and don't get into anything too major, this could do a lot of work for us cost effectively and and with careful maintainence, still have a darn decent machine to sell to some othe lucky soul in 3 or 4 years when our work is completed and the machine is still in great condition. (Fingers crossed)
