Why we boat.

healhustler said:

Hmmm. OK, maybe "Wheelhouse" would be more suitable. Yes, I'll refer to it as Wheelhouse.

Click to expand...

Actually, I meant the deck. I see no issue with referring to your "helm compartment" as a pilothouse or wheelhouse.

"Hmmm. OK, maybe "Wheelhouse" would be more suitable. Yes, I'll refer to it as Wheelhouse."

It's your boat. You're the captain. You can call it anything you want.

And that is yet another great thing about being on your boat.

Yes, I enjoy working on my boat, almost, not quite, as much as going out on it.

My wife and I boat because we enjoy it. The travelling by water, the new places we visit, the sights and wildlife we see along the way, the freedom from everyday duties, and even the socializing at our marina.

It's something we both enjoy doing together and at our point in life, it's time to reap the rewards of two lifetimes of hard work and stress.

skipperdude said:

Is it the voyage or the vessel that we love so much. Sometimes I think I like working on my boat as much as I like using it.
Sd

Click to expand...

SD, I work construction so to me the old wooden girl is like restoring a master or something for me. As soon as I step onto her deck all the deadlines and problems of everyday stay at the dock. I think your mind sees the finished product or a version of it and you really don't get the scope of how daunting some of the projects are. Good thread. Paul

Makes a great waterfront cottage that I can move if I get tired of the neighborhood. It would have been sold years ago if it was a configuration other than a sundeck...the only way to go for what is primarily a dock condo. Except for the massive depreciation when the economy tanked, the cost of ownership is arguably lower than a summer home.

ADDICTION!!

Pure and simple, it's addiction to pleasure boating and all its dimensions.

skipperdude said:

Is it the voyage or the vessel that we love so much.

Click to expand...

For me it's the vessel. I've never seen an ugly boat in my life. They're all designed for a specific mission. Now, I'll admit to not wanting to go on a number of those missions.

This song, "Cool Change" by Little River Band pretty much says it for me....

"If there's one thing in my life that's missing
It's the time that I spend alone
Sailing on the cool and bright clear water
There's lots of those friendly people
They're showing me ways to go
But I never want to lose their inspiration

Time for a cool change
I know that it's time for a cool change
And I know that my life is so pre-arranged
I know that it's time for a cool change

Well I was born in the sign of water
And it's there that I feel my best
The albatross and the whales they are my brothers
And it's kind of a special feeling
When you're out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon like a lover

I've never been romantic
And sometimes I don't care
I know it may sound selfish
But let me breathe the air

If there's one thing in my life that's missing
It's the time that I spend alone
Sailing on the cool and bright clear water
It's kind of a special feeling
When you're out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon like a lover

SeaHorse II said:

...I've never seen an ugly boat in my life. They're all designed for a specific mission. Now, I'll admit to not wanting to go on a number of those missions.

Click to expand...

Now that subject deserves its own thread!!

Here's an ugly boat - mine.



In fact a fellow with a sistership was going to name his Phugly.

jeffnick said:

Here's an ugly boat - mine.

In fact a fellow with a sistership was going to name his Phugly.

Click to expand...

Heck, Jeff - Yours is not an ugly boat... but rather a really cool and affordable camper/mtr-home/tow-dwn-da-road/house boat/dwelling!

jeffnick said:

Here's an ugly boat - mine.

In fact a fellow with a sistership was going to name his Phugly.

Click to expand...

Nope. The boat was built with a mission, and fulfills it very well. Reread Seahorse II's post.

GFC said:

This song, "Cool Change" by Little River Band pretty much says it for me....

"If there's one thing in my life that's missing
It's the time that I spend alone
Sailing on the cool and bright clear water
There's lots of those friendly people
They're showing me ways to go
But I never want to lose their inspiration

Time for a cool change
I know that it's time for a cool change
And I know that my life is so pre-arranged
I know that it's time for a cool change

Well I was born in the sign of water
And it's there that I feel my best
The albatross and the whales they are my brothers
And it's kind of a special feeling
When you're out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon like a lover

I've never been romantic
And sometimes I don't care
I know it may sound selfish
But let me breathe the air

If there's one thing in my life that's missing
It's the time that I spend alone
Sailing on the cool and bright clear water
It's kind of a special feeling
When you're out on the sea alone
Staring at the full moon like a lover

Click to expand...

*** hijack on ***

Saw LRB last year at Snoqualmie Casino- most excellent!!!


*** hijack off ***

Walt that was hilarious. Nicely put. Your boat is BEAUTIFUL by the way.

We just love to be on the boat, whether we are working on projects, spending a weekend at the dock or going on a journey, whether for a few hours or several days. Some day we want to do some extended cruising. But for now just being on the boat is great. We have only been on the boat one night so far this month and are not really happy about that as we miss getting away to the boat. Too much going on this month... We've got quite the list of projects for the near future, and lots of cruises planned this year. Can't wait to get going on both!

This post reminded me of a poem that I once had framed in my office for a reminder of what is really important.

[FONT=verdana, arial, sans-serif]
[/FONT] TUCKED AWAY in our subconscious minds is an idyllic vision in which we see ourselves
on a long journey that spans an entire continent. We're traveling by train and, from the
windows, we drink in the passing scenes of cars on nearby highways, of children waving at
crossings, of cattle grazing in distant pastures, of smoke pouring from power plants, of row
upon row upon row of cotton and corn and wheat, of flatlands and valleys, of city skylines and
village halls.

But uppermost in our conscious minds is our final destination--for at a certain hour and on a
given day, our train will finally pull into the station with bells ringing, flags waving, and bands
playing. And once that day comes, so many wonderful dreams will come true. So restlessly, we
pace the aisles and count the miles, peering ahead, waiting, waiting, waiting for the station.

"Yes, when we reach the station, that will be it!" we promise ourselves. "When we're
eighteen. . . win that promotion. . . put the last kid through college. . . buy that 450SL
Mercedes-Benz. . . have a nest egg for retirement!"

From that day on we will all live happily ever after.

Sooner or later, however, we must realize there is no station in this life, no one earthly
place to arrive at once and for all. The journey is the joy. The station is an illusion--it
constantly outdistances us. Yesterday's a memory, tomorrow's a dream. Yesterday belongs to a
history, tomorrow belongs to God. Yesterday's a fading sunset, tomorrow's a faint sunrise. Only
today is there light enough to love and live.

So, gently close the door on yesterday and throw the key away. It isn't the burdens of today
that drive men mad, but rather regret over yesterday and the fear of tomorrow. Regret and
fear are twin thieves who would rob us of today.

"Relish the moment" is a good motto, especially when coupled with Psalm 118:24, "This is
the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

So stop pacing the aisles and counting the miles. Instead, swim more rivers, climb more
mountains, kiss more babies, count more stars. Laugh more and cry less. Go barefoot oftener.
Eat more ice cream. Ride more merry-go-rounds. Watch more sunsets. Life must be lived as we
go along. The station will come soon enough.

Pretty cool one.

Train, plane, buss, automobile, however you travel thru life.

It's all good

Better on a boat.

SD

jeffnick said:

Here's an ugly boat - mine.

In fact a fellow with a sistership was going to name his Phugly.

Click to expand...

Well heck, this isn't a self-help group, so I'll agree with you. Checks all my boxes; hull shape, sheer, cabin design and color.

Sure seems like you use her and have a great time with her, so no harm no foul.

I'm really enjoying this old project!! I spent all day working on my boat replacing backerboard, painting the bilge, and installing a medicine cabinet and shelves. I was OFF from the real job, but what a great sense of accomplishment. Might have to change my mind and keep her when I'm done!! Jolly Time

skipperdude said:

Is it the voyage or the vessel that we love so much.

Sometimes I think I like working on my boat as much as I like using it.

Anyone else feel the same way?

Sd

Click to expand...

Yes....sounds a bit funny when you say it, but yes.
I guess in my case becasue as a medico I'm basically in damage control most of my working time, and there is certainly not much chance to be creative, (unless maybe one was a plastic surgeon), so that's what I find 'restorative' if I can use the word, in what I feel when doing stuff on the boat. To some extent, and because of that, I sometimes think if money suddenly came my way, and I could buy a newer, better, possibly bit bigger boat - would I...? Then I'd have to do all that personallisation stuff all over again...or if it was really new...there'd be nothing for me to do...except use it...and I'm not sure how that would feel. But I still wouldn't mind being faced with that dilemma, all the same...some days you do get a bit sick of having to 'fix' things. But only some days...

When you step aboard a boat in the water you become part of it. That's reason enough for me. Of course if you step incorrectly aboard a little boat you could be part of the bay!

It doesn't matter what kind of boat you have. Just get out on the water, use it, and enjoy it.

healhustler said:

After literally days of hot, suffering work in my genie room, and one frustrating system glitch after another, I awaken before a cool dawn to a delight of noises, textures and sensations of Bucky's pilothouse. The way the doors open, the windows slide, and the controls feel. A subtle twist of the key brings the soft, friendly murmur of my diesel as if to say "I'm with you, let's go". A throw the lines and she's away from dock....carrying us down the canal toward the place where both of us want to be. We clear the inlet, then the channel marker and steer 180 degrees into the crystal waters of Biscayne Bay. She reaches her sweet spot and takes her full keel stance upon the course we've chosen. In the distance, the Charter boats are heading out through Stiltsville Cut in anticipation of the morning's catch while the midnight waves grow blue-green from the sun's early grace. Running straight and true in open water, I step from the pilothouse and walk freely around the deck, stopping to sip coffee toasts to my favorite morning views, and standing confidently upon the platform that has inspired my awakening to the wonder of water. The cool air, the warming sun, man and machine all in one congruent, fluid moment. Does life get better?

Click to expand...

Well written, a bit of a poet are you. Eh? At least a romantic.
I like it.

Rusty said:

It doesn't matter what kind of boat you have. Just get out on the water, use it, and enjoy it.

Click to expand...

There are limitations...

Ray, the amount of freeboard on that boat is now a function of the tides. On high tides, the deck is awash. Also, the back half of the superstructure is now demolished.

The "house" was an old motor home. It appears that it was stripped for its aluminum value. Very sad. The hull was once a WW-II AVR rescue boat.

We just love being on the water. I love anchoring out and watching the stars or swimming in the afternoon with the kids or waking up and having a quiet coffee in the cockpit or in the salon looking out on the water.

jeffnick said:

Here's an ugly boat - mine.

In fact a fellow with a sistership was going to name his Phugly.

Click to expand...

I find your boat one of the more interesting boats on the forum Jeff.

I found this photo in an old book called "Dawdling on the Delta". A local marina had a rental fleet of them.

jeffnick said:

Here's an ugly boat - mine.

In fact a fellow with a sistership was going to name his Phugly.

Click to expand...

Sorry Jeff the iSore has already been taken.. I wouldn't even give you second runner up.. maybe the most unique would be the award.

We do two kinds of boating, "big boat" (something you can eat and sleep on and take long distances) and "small boat" (whatever the dinghy is).

We big boat to go to places you can only go to by boat, and anchor out. Such as the last few days. Sometimes we see the big boat merely as the delivery vehicle for the small boat, kind of like the 747 used to transport the space shuttle. Anyway, if we couldn't do all that, we wouldn't own a big boat or rent one either.

A few times, we've been anchored out in some great spot, near some near-derelict Sea Ray or sailboat, where the captain of same has made some comment like "man, I hardly feel worthy compared to your boat". I always say, "I'd rather be on your boat right now than 99% of all the boats ... you got the same view we do... you're boating, they're tied to the dock!"

I only work on the boat so we can go boating. Working on your boat for the pleasure of restoring or just the satisfaction of the work is a perfectly legitimate hobby, like some folks restore cars they don't drive, or old tractors or furniture or you name it. Just not my bag. I take satisfaction in doing what work I do, especially to the degree it familiarizes me with the boat's systems, and when I can remedy something that happens "out there". What's that old definition of cruising? "Working on your boat in exotic places.." Fortunately preparation and attention to seaworthiness can keep that to a minimum. But it's getting to and enjoying those out of the way places that is the great pleasure.