The long good bye

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Joined
Jul 27, 2020
Messages
4,189
Location
Plymouth
Vessel Name
Hippocampus
Vessel Make
Nordic Tug 42
Hi folks
Today I get my wire transfer completing the sale of my NT42. I owned her for the briefest time I ever owned a boat. Spent 3 1/2 years putting love and money in her redoing the engine, new floor of Amtico, refinishing interior wood, redoing boat deck, replacing electronics, and generally spiffing her up. We did spend our time with her full time cruising up and down the eastern seaboard so she got more engine hours in the last three than the prior ten.

But the admiral said she’s had enough. The bride gave me a decade before the NT internationally cruising so she’s put in her time. She’s spent way more time on a boat than land for the last twenty years. And before that regional seasonal cruising. Now she wants to enjoy local friends and our families. She wants to fly to the destination not sail when we travel.

So we are downsizing yet again. Blue water international to coastal domestic. Now coastal domestic to local seasonal. I went with a new Edgewater center console. It has 500hp on the back, all the electronics you can think of and a joy stick. Whereas a boat was always occupying my time or was in my mind now it will be defined activity. It comes off a rack on a phone call. I go fishing for a day and it goes back on a rack. Other than flushing the engines and giving it a rinse I’m going to be a credit card captain for the first time in my life.

I’ve very much enjoyed my time here. The support and wisdom some display. Some are argumentative, some arrogant but the vast majority very good souls. I might stop in time to time but just wanted to give a heart felt thank you
 
You've definitely made a positive contribution to TF. Definitely keep in touch, as your wealth of knowledge is still needed on TF by long timers, and newbies alike! Rest on your laurels, you've done your time.
 
It was only yesterday that I was thinking "Gee......haven't heard from Hippocampus for a while. Wonder what he's up to?" And now I know.......

You've been a wonderful addition to TF. I had never heard of Magnus stabilizers or Arksen boats before you introduced me to them on these very pages (and several other nerdy topics).

I wish you the very best in your next phase of life and recreation. Many thanks - TF is a better place because of folks like yourself.

Peter
 
Definitely stick around, you still have plenty of good knowledge to share, and there are certainly others on here that aren't on the boat full time or doing major travel at the moment.
 
Everything is impermanent, and the one constant in life is change. We all get older (if we're lucky) and needs, abilities, and priorities change.

Wishing you all the best in the new segment of your journey. I may be following in your footsteps with my own shortest boat ownership period ever as well, and perhaps also downsizing.
 
Thanks all. Feel it’s a us v them when it’s comes to boating. The stresses on all of us are same.
Harbors turned in condos or T shirt shops. Dirt dwellers not wanting their view disturbed by boats. Marinas disappearing as the land is more valuable for other uses.
The sail v power is nonsense. I will always divert for anyone in trouble. Don’t care what they’re on big or little as long as they are on the water.
That’s my cut off. Being on the water. The crowd here has salt water in their blood. Understands the joy on being on the ocean.
Thanks again for the kind wishes.
 
Greetings,,
Mr. (Dr.) H. Yes. Please stay around. Your wealth of knowledge and experience is needed and appreciated.

As you're aware, our boating change is similar to yours. Trawler to go-fast day boat. I find the change enjoyable and interesting.

1731508508963.jpeg


Calm seas.

Regards...
 
Change is inevitable for all of us as we age out of this wonderful sport. Interests move on to other things. We will all be there one day.
@Hippocampus I echo others and say stay around and benefit others with your experiences and knowledge.
Best wishes.
 
Sorry to hear you are downsizing, but if that is the decision you support then who are we to say you should not do that ? So I wish you many happy days, weeks and months on your new boat as a credit card captain !
That said, you do have a wealth of experience and I always valued your contributions. That experience is not going to disappear soon, so hope you will find the time and the energy to share your knowledge every now and then, when you feel like it.
 
Hi folks
Today I get my wire transfer completing the sale of my NT42. I owned her for the briefest time I ever owned a boat. Spent 3 1/2 years putting love and money in her redoing the engine, new floor of Amtico, refinishing interior wood, redoing boat deck, replacing electronics, and generally spiffing her up. We did spend our time with her full time cruising up and down the eastern seaboard so she got more engine hours in the last three than the prior ten.

But the admiral said she’s had enough. The bride gave me a decade before the NT internationally cruising so she’s put in her time. She’s spent way more time on a boat than land for the last twenty years. And before that regional seasonal cruising. Now she wants to enjoy local friends and our families. She wants to fly to the destination not sail when we travel.

So we are downsizing yet again. Blue water international to coastal domestic. Now coastal domestic to local seasonal. I went with a new Edgewater center console. It has 500hp on the back, all the electronics you can think of and a joy stick. Whereas a boat was always occupying my time or was in my mind now it will be defined activity. It comes off a rack on a phone call. I go fishing for a day and it goes back on a rack. Other than flushing the engines and giving it a rinse I’m going to be a credit card captain for the first time in my life.

I’ve very much enjoyed my time here. The support and wisdom some display. Some are argumentative, some arrogant but the vast majority very good souls. I might stop in time to time but just wanted to give a heart felt thank you

Geez, now that you've only just now begun using separated paragraphs!

:)

Hope you choose to stick around, or at least drop in from time to time.

Cheers, -Chris
 
I think your Post #7 is right on. Sure, our marina just expanded to 400 slips squeezed in, but I'll bet 90% are trailer-able boats that they slip just for convenience, not necessity. I do think it's getting harder run and maintain larger boats, and I'm not just talking about the money, although that's certainly part of it. Takes either a ton of work and knowledge or access to a lot of nearby boat service people, and the latter is more and more rare. My dad ran very large boats for rich people around Stuart FL for a while, generally retired and gradually downsized -- not because he couldn't still run the big ones, it's just a lot of work, in the broadest sense. Runs a relatively small center console now and still has a good time. His life is a lot simpler, more time for people and family, just as you say. Hope you hang around though, not good to lose long-time contributors.
 
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Been on here for quite some time, don't say much but read al lot.
Always read yours for info and viewpoints. Hope you don't leave the forum
you have too much to let it go to waste.
As for changing styles "for happy wife" to one you both can live with, GOOD.
Your wife is the most important thing next to GOD.
 
Enjoy your new Everglades but don’t give away your binoculars just yet. A couple years and you might want to cruise again.
 
I've enjoyed reading your posts H, please do stick around.
Hope you like your new Everglades, they make a really nice boat.
 
Wow, big changes. I too hope you stick around and offer your experiences for us to learn from.

But good for you to be making changes as circumstances change.
 
I’m reconciled to the change in paradigm. Basic boating questions are:
Do you love your wife more than an object?
Are you using the vessel anywhere near its abilities?
Is it more trouble than the joy it gives?

Each type of boating has its positives and negatives. Within each type there’s always something new to learn and a new experience. But there’s something exciting when shifting types.

I now have a garage filled with stuff appropriate for a blue water boat. It was OK to hold on to most of the blue water stuff shifting from voyaging to coastal but ridiculous for a small center console. We left everything we could on the trawler before selling it but still filled half the garage. In some respects worst than getting rid of stuff when you change houses. Has more specific memories.

Charter boats have been an annoyance for much of my cruising life. 1/2 know what they’re doing and are respectful of others. 1/2 not so much. Wife asked about chartering mid winter but after discussing it will defer for now. If we do probably a sail monohull with just us two in the Aegean.

Hope you guys are doing well and figuring out ways to be On The Water. Even if it means a kayak.
 
"...Is it more trouble than the joy it gives?"

Boy, some days the answer to that question is a big giant aggravating discouraging YES, but then on other days...
 
While I respect the folks saying they are sorry to see you downsize, I look at downsizing as a positive because the choice is either downsize or be unhappy with the burden of a bigger vessel not being used for its designed purpose (as I found myself) or swallowing the anchor for good. Thus, I find myself happy for you and hope like me and my current spitkit you just stick around to annoy the big-boat crowd letting them know they are actually in the minority of the water. 😊 Unlike you better half, mine still misses the old tub after nine years.
 
I know quite a few long time boaters that think their biggest boat didn't necessarily bring them the most happiness.

If it was all about how big one gets to..... not sure if it isn't pretty much ego driven.

It usually is a milestone, but just one of many in a lifelong boating lifestyle.

Look at how many boaters actually follow the bell curve of boat size in a lifetime...
 
I'm looking forward to this;

15378648521_48b23f37b1_z.jpg


Of course on the davit on the stern of the whale so's I can go fishing again - :)
 
Hi folks
Today I get my wire transfer completing the sale of my NT42. I owned her for the briefest time I ever owned a boat. Spent 3 1/2 years putting love and money in her redoing the engine, new floor of Amtico, refinishing interior wood, redoing boat deck, replacing electronics, and generally spiffing her up. We did spend our time with her full time cruising up and down the eastern seaboard so she got more engine hours in the last three than the prior ten.

But the admiral said she’s had enough. The bride gave me a decade before the NT internationally cruising so she’s put in her time. She’s spent way more time on a boat than land for the last twenty years. And before that regional seasonal cruising. Now she wants to enjoy local friends and our families. She wants to fly to the destination not sail when we travel.

So we are downsizing yet again. Blue water international to coastal domestic. Now coastal domestic to local seasonal. I went with a new Edgewater center console. It has 500hp on the back, all the electronics you can think of and a joy stick. Whereas a boat was always occupying my time or was in my mind now it will be defined activity. It comes off a rack on a phone call. I go fishing for a day and it goes back on a rack. Other than flushing the engines and giving it a rinse I’m going to be a credit card captain for the first time in my life.

I’ve very much enjoyed my time here. The support and wisdom some display. Some are argumentative, some arrogant but the vast majority very good souls. I might stop in time to time but just wanted to give a heart felt thank you
I read and comment on a number of forums like this. I have years of mechanical repair and install experience over the years professionally and recreationally. Boats are a thing of their own and the kindred spirit of boat owners is literally amazing. Your contributions and others are what helps keep this community so good. I was an aircraft mechanic for several years, auto and vessel mechanic for many more. I have dug into countless manuals etc. but sites like this one have helped me as well as many I have spoken to to navigate the tricky seas of problem tracing for boats. They are their own critter and have very unique issues that can drive future owners and operators crazy without help on making good decisions.
Knowing how to trace problems to their source, while being considered in theory, a necessity can catch you off guard at times. You have helped a lot of people over the years to have a successful foray into boat life and not join the ranks of the insane asylum.
My wife and I are retiring back TO boat life in the spring. We lived on them for about 8 years previously but are now about to upgrade our 37' Hershine Trawler to a larger boat and are moving to Alaska to travel for the rest of our active lives. I will still be looking for your posts to see what goodies you have to share with others making the "boat life" a good one for them too! Our contributions to making others lives better without commercial gain in mind is I'm sure noted with smiles in the heavens.
 
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