What an interesting thread... And as for Sheworthy news? Well, it certainly got your attention, didn't it? And reading it proved the marketers correct. People of both genders are interested.
Boat sellers used to be male-centric. When shopping for Seaweed MANY brokers would not answer queries from Janice. When I would resend the note (exact same!) signing Janice (and Frank) I'd get a response.
Meet Frank:
I "played the game" and got what I wanted, i.e. information about various boats I might buy. By the same token, let a male walk into a quilting shop and he'll be ignored just as rapidly as I am at a marine hardware store. At past fifty with grey hair and a dog in my purse I certainly don't fit the preconceived notions of a boater.
BandB prefer to go fast. There was a time I didn't understand. No, I didn't criticize ('to each their own') however I wondered that they might be missing the experience I enjoy. Then I rode in Little Manatee and gosh, it was wonderful. To fly across the river versus putting along with my trolling motor? Well, I'm sold.
No, I'm not replacing my trolling motor except with another, however I can well appreciate the fun of pure speed. Do the go-fast folks look at life differently? Perhaps to a small extent however they are having fun out here, just as I am. Otherwise their resources would go elsewhere.
Now my boatcard used to say Admiral. That's because of Daddy. One day he was at a yardsale and found a brass sign that said Captain. He bought it, brought it home and screwed it to his chair in the saloon.
Mother said nothing. She did go hunting however and found one that said Admiral. She too said nothing and bolted hers to the same spot on her chair as Daddy had on his.
If you think about it the Admiral decides where to go. It's up to the bridge crew to make sure they arrive safely at the destination. I decide where to go, thus I am the Admiral. I'm also in the bilges fixing stuff, but somehow Fixer-Of-What's-Broken on my boat card didn't fit.
I'd rather be the Admiral. As Captain I am always concerned with the engine, sounds, course steered, and more. It's not nearly as relaxing as being a passenger. Oh it's fun too and the satisfaction of a day underway cannot be underrated however it is Work.
There is a much higher level of stress when it's all your baby and your decisions. I second guess often. Each choice has seemed logical and correct at the time however the benefit of retrospect has led me to a few conclusions where I wish I'd opted differently. Such is life, eh?
And I do refer to wives as the Better Half. There is no offense intended though I suppose some might be put off by my old-fashioned terminology. Tone online is on occasion misconstrued and I would hope that my words do not offend. There is certainly no malice involved.
I assume the best in folks and the joking around? Well, no one is guaranteed not to be offended. All are promised free reign to speak though having an audience is another matter entirely.
When discussing earlier trash compactors versus dishwashers, I did have a thought: Whenever I open a container I do not just toss the empty container in the trash bag. Instead I fill it -- stuffed to the gills so to speak. You'd be surprised how much trash can be put into an empty box or jar.
Garbage rots and smells bad, whereas trash doesn't stink. Thus, garbage is tossed over the side and fish will eat it. Egg shells and pan scrapings, leftovers and stale crackers are fish or crab food and don't make it to shore.
As for comforts of home? Well, Seaweed is my home and I do expect a level of decadence. What I would tolerate and even enjoy at thirty is out of the question now. I want a bunk that is squishy, a refrigerator I can run 24/7 off the grid and more.
This is home and I've been aboard her for seven years. She's improving.
The passagemakers are a different breed. The owners need and expect more. A boat with full access to the Holy Space components for repairs underway is a given. That the galley is able to put out decent food to keep the captain and crew happy is also not up for compromise. And the owner's cabin WILL be comfortable.
Crew aboard such a boat if there is any, will too wish for a higher standard of living than on a day sailer.
But I have to tell you, some of those little weekender boats are pretty spiffy. What they lack for the most part is storage space and engine access. Of course too, the quality of components isn't top of the line.
That said, I've been using a totally inadequate (but paid for) $70 Haier cube refrigerator on and off since 2008. It still works. Would an Engel be better? You betcha. And at $600 or more dollars, it SHOULD be better. What I have though is Good Enough.
I'm not crossing oceans. There's no reason to have a displacement hulled trawler to poke along a coast. Just as my boat isn't made for crossing oceans, those deep draft blue water sailboats wouldn't be able to enjoy the nooks and rivers I can get into.
Different boats. Different styles.
And all of them are right for Someone.
My Seaweed is not the correct choice for most. That doesn't matter in the least to me. She's perfect for me, and that's what counts.
I'll quit now and give your eyes a rest.
