It's completely a personal preference. It's perhaps based on age, stage of life, time available, financial situation, personality, where one has come from, and then factors none of us understand. Some is pace of life and just the way the individual ticks.
Interestingly, forget boats altogether, just think pace of living. Others sometimes think we're living so fast, so much going on so quickly, how can you go at that pace, and the two of us think we're at a relaxed pace, don't feel rushed or hurried at all. We perhaps make decisions and take actions quicker than others might be comfortable. One can't explain an internal clock or the way people are wired differently. As we age we might or might not change. We know others who are so happy and comfortable in their lives doing much less in an average day, week or month than we do. We admire them, we applaud they've found what works for them. They require so little outside stimulation.
I have a hard time doing one thing at a time. That's a strength and a weakness and I fully understand both sides of it. I've had someone comment that my brain never seems to slow down. Well, that's a real problem when it comes to sleep. If I didn't take sleep meds, I'd get nearly no sleep. Before I first started them I was down to 1 1/2 hours per night before I'd wake. Last time I tried without, in three nights combined I slept 1 hour.
We're all different in millions of ways and yet sometimes seem to struggle accepting those differences and even more in truly respecting them. I so admire those different from me. I am in awe of artists as my 6th grade art teacher (her daughters were my swim teachers and I used her pool so it was fine) said I was the worst she'd ever seen. She wasn't exaggerating. I admire those of you who are mechanically inclined and skilled, those who can build things. I'm a danger to myself with just a hammer. Don't dare give me power tools.
The beauty of mankind is the uniqueness of each person.
So, why is it any surprise to any of us that we choose to go different speeds in our boats? Why do some feel it's ok to criticize those who choose differently? We like to occasionally go very slow and take some beautiful scene in, but not for long. Some of it is ever where you came from. On the lake our boat would go 55 knots and we cruised from 35-40. So, even 30 knots is slow by comparison. We chartered an incredible boat once for a week, beautiful in every way, a 113' Burger with WOT of 14 knots and a cruise of 12 knots. We wanted to test ourselves, see if we could be comfortable at those speeds. Surely anyone would love a boat like that. While we could fully appreciate while others did, one week was out limit. We had a great time but we were so tired of going that speed. I know to most of you that seems absurd. We certainly admire those who enjoy 6 knots very much. We can appreciate the beauty and serenity of it. We can appreciate the slow pace. Maybe we'll change over time but for us 15-20 knots is slow. We cruised a couple of days ago at an average 15 knots as we were largely in and out of ports. The following day we had to get in our RIB and open it up. There are times we wish we could enjoy 6 or 8 to 10 knots as many of you do. Another place we aren't understood is that we typically will spend two to three days at a location and then move on and return there again the next trip. Outside of a few major cities we don't stay 5 or 7 days. We feel the need to get to the next place. I know many who will average 7-10 or even 14 days at a location. Even when we're home, after 3 weeks, maximum of 4, we're ready to hit the water again.
We accept ourselves as we are and accept all others as they are. We can intellectually understand fully those who go at different speeds. We just can't feel what they do inside. We all see things in life so differently. We like art, but are not experts in any way. We see something we like or don't. Now we've been to a gallery with a friend as she talked about brush strokes and methods and types of paint they used and all the intricacies that distinguish various artists. We wanted to ask, "Don't you ever just see a painting and just like or dislike it?" I'm sure she couldn't grasp us seeing something at a distance and quickly saying we loved it or we didn't like it. How could we when we hadn't analyzed it?
So, too slow or too fast. Simple. It's when you enjoy it less. Doesn't matter why. If fast is less enjoyable because you're thinking of the money going out or because the wind messes up your hair. If slow is less enjoyable because you feel the need to get somewhere or simply you'd like to feel more wind against your face. None of it matters.
While this forum tends toward the slower group with 85% at least part of the time cruising below 10 knots, still 10% at least part of the time cruise above 20 knots. Is there a closet Fountain owner or fan here somewhere? I don't know. But slow is a predominant leaning here. The only full commonality though is a love of the water and of boating, an appreciation for that special feeling it gives us, for the beauty we see.
Now, I want to hear someone explain all that to a land lover who thinks all boating is silly, a waste of time and money, and doesn't understand anyone who wouldn't prefer to jump in a car or hop a plane. Explain to them why you'd rather take a month or months going from Miami to New York when you can fly it in 3 hours. In reality even those of us who are on the faster side of this group are still moving in the slow lane. If my wife and I want to go from Fort Lauderdale to Miami or West Palm, why is it we'd rather jump in the boat to do it, than drive it? Why have we been to Key West many times but never by car? Why do we frequently go to the Bahamas but the thought of flying there is something that has zero appeal to us?
When you figure human nature out, let us all know.
