Boating is No passing Phase

[Prophammer]

I can't help but think that to some, boating is just a passing phase, it gets old and they burn out and sell the boat, because the " 2 happiest days" joke about boats, is so widely repeated, it proves to me it was just a phase to them. Could it be a phase for me too? I regret every boat I ever sold or traded (even the one with a busted transom in the 70's) to me it can't be a passing phase,
God please help me if I'm Wrong!

 

[ahicks]

I started with my first boats in my teens, and now, pushing 70 and having lived on an inland lake for most of my life (since my early 20's), here's what I've noticed. I don't believe that the desire for/to be boating passes, but I do believe it matures.

One example of such, is after many progressive purchases over a number of years (MANY happiest days!), you don't see the new purchases with more power or size than the last. They stay similar, or even get smaller. The desire for a fire breathing monster that will scare the hell out of me easily just isn't there any more (been there, done that, and SURVIVED somehow)! Nor is there a desire for a boat any bigger than the one I have.

I do STILL enjoy lowering the lift to float the boat and go for a ride, even if it's by myself, just like I did nearly 50 years ago. -Al

 

[Bondo]

Could it be a phase for me too?

Ayuh,..... If it's a passin' phase for Me,.....

It'll pass, when I expire,........

 

[Scott Danforth]

Grew up building motors with dad, boating with the family, fixing things that were broke from wear and tear as well as mishaps......... I still play with old trucks, hot rods, and boats.

Although I may give up fiberglass work and upholstery work.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Being empty nesters and have the kids graduated from college and married we have much more time available. I have had a boat since I was a teen, but the wife will hook the boat up and go at the drop of a hat these days.

 

[JimS123]

I can't help but think that to some, boating is just a passing phase, it gets old and they burn out and sell the boat, because the " 2 happiest days" joke about boats, is so widely repeated, it proves to me it was just a phase to them. Could it be a phase for me too? I regret every boat I ever sold or traded (even the one with a busted transom in the 70's) to me it can't be a passing phase,
God please help me if I'm Wrong!

OMG what profound statements.

When I was a widdle kid, alls I wanted to do was go out with Grandpa is his little boat. When his times got bad and he HAD To sell the boat I thought life was over.

When I got to be a teenager and had a coupleabucks I still couldn't afford a boat. But I found a wooden kit boat for $165. and Grandpa helped me build her.

A few years later I met a young girlie that liked boats too. Her Summers were spent with HER Grandpa fishing in his little boat. Our first date was in my little woodie.

Forty nine years later we still go boating. Both our sons learned seamanship while they were still in their diapers. My only complaint is that they both now have boats bigger than mine.

Give your kids a cellphone and let them freakin facebook to their lovely hearts content. Or,,,,take them boating and they will surely grow up to be responsible adults.

 

[Toyelectroman]

Boating experience matures is probably the best statement i have heard yet. My first boat was a 20 foot cuddy that i enjoyed for 12 years, sold it for a pocket cruiser, but only kept that for 3 years as i didn't really enjoy the hassle of dealing with the chore of trailering it everywhere along with the additional maintenance. Now we have a pontoon which has been the boating experience yet. Which i find it kind of funny because if you would have asked me 5 years ago if i would own a pontoon i probably would have told you hell no i ain't owning a grandpa boat

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Yeah well pontoons have changed a little, pretty deluxe now.

 

[JimS123]

Yeah well pontoons have changed a little, pretty deluxe now.

We saw a tri-toon at the Ft. lauderdale that had 3 engines and cost a quarter million. Yeah, changed a little.

 

[achris]

My father built his first 3 boats. 2 of them on our front verandah. My first boat ride (as 'me') was while I was still in a bassinet. I haven't known a day in my life without a boat.

In my family home, most of the pictures on the walls were of seascapes, or sailing boats. A friend once remarked that this house would either float away, or sink.

When I was 16, still too young to (legally) drive a car, my brother and I when 12 miles out to sea, to an island off our coast called Rottnest, and fished for the day, in our father's 14' open 'tinnie'. (Actually, we went there in that boat quite a few times.)



My first boat was a 15' fibreglass runabout, with a 150hp Mercury 'tower of power'. I eventually replaced the 150hp with a brand new 70hp, which I installed myself (in a small town 1260kms north of home!). This photo was taken about 3 days after that new engine when on.



I bought that boat's replacement before I sold it, and despite having only had it for 2 years and its big sister (yes, they are both Bertrams) already in the driveway, I still had a tear in my eye when it was towed away.



I have owned the current boat since 12 July 1986. I already dread the day someone else calls this boat 'theirs'... :Cry:



I have worked offshore (on boats) the last 29 years, at one stage I owned a boat shop. Some say that seawater is in my blood. I say, there is some blood in my seawater.

Chris.....

 

[Newbie@boats]

I’ve seen pictures of me and my father on a little jon boat when I was probably 6 or 7 years old. I’ve loved water ever since. My dad has always went from boat to campers back to boats etc. he’s finally ended up with a canker me being much older and grown up I now have a boat and he’s dying to get out on the lake with me to do some fishing. I’ve had tons of boats sold tons of boats but I’ll always have a boat. I love it

 

[dingbat]

For me, boating is simply a means to an end.

Had I not gotten into offshore fishing and competitive angling, I probably wouldn't own a boat, or at least not sunk as much money into boating as I have.

I still love leaving the dock at 0-dark-30 for the long run to the fishing grounds. Still enjoy having a couple of adult beverages with dock mates while we wash down the boats at the end of the day, but.....those days are getting longer and harder every year.

I'm still pretty good shape but my days of fishing #50 standup tackle is past it's prime. Find myself more and more at the helm rather than the angler on the rod. ;(

Sooner or later will come the day of reckoning that I don't use the boat enough to justify the cost. Probably do like a lot of my friends and colleagues have done and move to something that's a little less work and a lot more fuel efficient.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Give your kids a cellphone and let them freakin facebook to their lovely hearts content. Or,,,,take them boating and they will surely grow up to be responsible adults.

You're showing your age... most kids these days don't use Facebook... it's all Snapchat, Instagram and TikTok. Only old farts like us use Facebook.

Seriously, though, I always thought that 'best two days in a boater's life" thing was bunk. I enjoy my boat, I like working on it, I love taking family and friends out on it, and I'll be very sad when it is time to say goodbye... even if it's only to upgrade to something bigger/newer.

 

[Texasmark]

Well I got my driver's license at 14 and my first boat at 15......borrowed mamas car when I needed wheels. Had one ever since except for a few years about 8 years ago when I thought that my age had it's say and I was through with boating. That lasted about 3-4 years.

What I didn't realize at the time was that I wasn't through boating................I was through with THAT boat! One I have now is the finest fishing machine I ever owned and bought it for $5k last summer. 2002 Crestliner, 1750 Fish Hawk, 115 Merc 2 stroke, 75# MG ™, Custom Trailer. I put about $500 in it doing things the way I wanted them (excluding props) and I am through improving. Happy camper. Try to get out about once a week, during the week when the crowds are working their regular jobs and we "old pfarts" have the lake to ourselves.

 

[crazy charlie]

Boating is a way of life !!! My wife and i are drawn to the shore.... Kayak,zodiac,paddle board , oh and yes our 2 boats!!! Charlie

 

[UP HOOKER]

I grew up around Boats, owned my first when I was still a teenager and have owned a lot of them since. But these days the Pontoon gets used more than the others.

 

[Prophammer]

out on the water, white caps with the sun sparkling off them, no small craft advisory, slight chop, slight breeze, not a cloud in the sky, all equipment working properly, wife by my side, a perfect day

 

[Prophammer]

I am lucky I married the right woman, we went out in the Okefenokee swamp in a jon boat on our honeymoon, this ridiculous boating activity has been going on over 30 years now [h=1][/h]

 

[JimS123]

My wife and I had our first date in my boat. Our boys were boaters while still in diapers, the oldest not yet able to walk. It has been a family dream since the beginning.

The only thing that pi***es me off is that my younest son has a boat bigger than mine. It uses a ton of gas. Every time he takes me out I feel bad if i don't fill up the tank for him.

 

[Prophammer]

lol .... My dad tried filling my tank only once, he stopped trying when the pump was still ringing it up after $100 worth