What do THEY think of us?

woodster · Mar 15, 2012

Bad Obsession said:
My wife and I had a discussion tonight. She was talking about the expense of boat ownership. She is dead convinced that sailing is an upper class activity and that is why boats and a lot of the marine stores are set up the way that they are (overpriced and such). She was also talking about clothing and she said that a lot of the clothing is very conservative because most sailors are that way.

I have been sailing since I was very young. I owned my first boat, a sunfish, at age 12. I would not describe myself or my upbringing as upper class at all.

In the years that I have been around the sailing community I find that there is a huge range in the community. Sure, you have upper class people sailing around in Oysters. There is also the exact opposite end of the spectrum when you see the derelict boats with people living on them.

Because of this my argument is that people who own sail boats are like a bell curve. There are people on both ends of the group for income but the majority of us fall near the middle. Of course, my wife, who is new to sailing, doesn't buy this.

This brings up the question what do people who don't sail think of us?

i have run in to some power boaters that think we are Whistle-Pissers....the say all we ever do when going to a strange marina is get out and ask what the fuel prices and when told just..... whistle.... then we ask where is the head...... and that makes me feel like asking them if they have a "dry pocket"....i am sure that there are different points of view out there but that is what sticks in my mind about non sailing mariners....

regards

woody

Kermit · Mar 15, 2012

I don't know if sailing makes me seem upper-class, but I know my friends either *really* want to sail with me or have no desire at all. My bestest friend says sailing is an outdated mode of transportation that should have gone the way of the horse and buggy.

No one at our club seems particularly upper class. Everyone seems to be normal people who work just like everyone else.

BobM · Mar 15, 2012

I like the old saying...

Sailboats don't need a destination...they are a destination.

Seems like everyone I talk to just can't wait to jump in and tell me a boat is a hole in the water you throw money in...or that the best days of a boat owners life are the day he buys his boat and the day he sells it...like of course I haven't heard these gems a million times...

The only one I worry about is my Wife...she isn't a big fan of sailing...I usually tell her that there are worse ways I could spend the money and at least the other woman weights 10,000 lbs!

Stu Jackson · Mar 15, 2012

Bad Obsession said:
This brings up the question what do people who don't sail think of us?

Who cares?

Matt, get your wife a new pair of boat shoes and go sailing.

I don't spend even a nanosecond "thinking about" what people with other hobbies do with their time. I'm too happy enjoying mine.

KMm · Mar 15, 2012

You are correct about the bell curve, in my case I make less that $1500 a month and had a wife and a boat. I decided that I could only afford one. The O'Day stayed, the wife your guess is as good as mine. Fair winds

Ralph Johnstone · Mar 15, 2012

Yipes .......................

Kaymar676 said:
You are correct about the bell curve, in my case I make less that $1500 a month and had a wife and a boat. I decided that I could only afford one. The O'Day stayed, the wife your guess is as good as mine. Fair winds

....................... tough decision

, but I guess a man's got to have his priorities in order.

Joe · Mar 15, 2012

I really like this topic...... the non-sailing world only see's the upper end of the spectrum. They see racing yachts that cost millions, they think of snooty yacht clubs, they videos of beautiful models cruising in exotic locales on tricked out vessels, they think of sailors as rich people who don't need to work........ because that's the image projected by the media.

What they don't see are kids competing in dinghy's... just like their counterparts play little league baseball or pop warner football.... I'd say it's more regional or cultural as to whether a kid gets involved in sailing.

They aren't aware that you don't need a boat to be a sailor, that there are many, many opportunities for crewing on other people's boats.

It is always a big surprise to people when I tell them how affordable it is to own and maintain by boat in a marina. When compared to what a bass fisherman may spend yearly on his passion, sailing is very affordable. Avid golfers spend way more on their sport than I do on sailing. I used to play golf once or twice a week and hit balls 3 or 4 times during that period..... that adds up fast.. and it is comparable.

My brother in law races cars........ tell me that's not an elite pastime... but you see blue collar guys involved in it all over the place.

LuzSD · Mar 16, 2012

Kermit said:
my friends either *really* want to sail with me or have no desire at all.

Kermit, you are so right..... we find the exact same thing. I always thought that anyone would be excited to go sailing but that is NOT what we find. Turns out for the most part they either are worried about what is expected of them, or they are afraid of it, or they are bored by the idea of enjoying the trip vs getting to a destination.

Regarding how others see us....hmmm, as you say, we run the gambit so its probably some of everything........the huge shiny boat makes their jaw drop just like the fast shiny car or the big beautiful home.........Racing brings out the classes, and someYachts clubs find a way to perpetuate the Yachti 'tude.

Rick486 · Mar 16, 2012

Why does everything today have to come down to what frigging class this one is in, or that one is in? Who cares? I'm too busy enjoying my life to worry about what class I am in or what class anyone else is in. I'm just fed up with that whole line of thinking. This thread should me moved over to the War Room instead of polluting this sailing forum.

seadaddler · Mar 16, 2012

Don't Listen

I really don't listen to my friends who think a boat is too much work and $$$$,the main thing is my wife likes that i have the boat which keeps me from getting bored and most time will go sailing with me because she wants me to be happy and busy doing boating and many other things so she can do many of her interest which don't seem to cost much,she is not a shopper like most woman and is very low spender,she is the saver and I am the spender but she always says to me you want or need for the boat than get it.
No she does not have a sister and every day some guy does ask me that,yes I am a very lucky guy for sure.
But every one has there likes and some times it's very low budget and some not but be happy for all of them and enjoy your boat small or big old or new just go boating and have fun.
Nick

med2463 · Mar 16, 2012

Does it matter what others think? It's a good thing I enjoy sailing, because I know if I didn't there are plenty of women who would jump at the chance of filling my boat shoes.

RECESS · Mar 16, 2012

Most of the sailors I have meet are middle to working class. You can make it seriously expensive, or you can make it very affordable. I am not into keeping up with the Jones', but I like to make my boat as nice as possible within my budget.

Bill Roosa · Mar 16, 2012

There are very few things in life that do not happen on a bell curve.
I suspect there is a bell curve for "what they think of us" also.
I'm not sure why I would care about what anybody (First Mate excluded) thought of my boat unless they wanted to fund my activities. Not sure I would care then either.

As others have said, sailing is the destination and an end unto itself, a very personal experience to share with those closest to you (on the bell curve?).

Clearly some of you have/had first mates that where more than one standard deviation away from you on "the bell curve of sailing attitudes". I do not find it hard to believe that there are challenges with those relationship concerning sailing.
I consider myself blessed to have a First Mate who is close to me on that bell curve.

Kermit · Mar 16, 2012

seadaddler said:
...she is not a shopper like most woman and is very low spender... No she does not have a sister and every day some guy does ask me that,yes I am a very lucky guy for sure.
Nick

The heck with the sister! I think you have the only one in the world.

Bill1565 · Mar 16, 2012

Bad Obsession said:
My wife and I had a discussion tonight. She was talking about the expense of boat ownership. She is dead convinced that sailing is an upper class activity and that is why boats and a lot of the marine stores are set up the way that they are (overpriced and such). She was also talking about clothing and she said that a lot of the clothing is very conservative because most sailors are that way.

I have been sailing since I was very young. I owned my first boat, a sunfish, at age 12. I would not describe myself or my upbringing as upper class at all.

In the years that I have been around the sailing community I find that there is a huge range in the community. Sure, you have upper class people sailing around in Oysters. There is also the exact opposite end of the spectrum when you see the derelict boats with people living on them.

Because of this my argument is that people who own sail boats are like a bell curve. There are people on both ends of the group for income but the majority of us fall near the middle. Of course, my wife, who is new to sailing, doesn't buy this.

This brings up the question what do people who don't sail think of us?

There seems to be a lot of them

cb32863 · Mar 16, 2012

As a few others have said, I really don't care what "they" think. I am not upper class, far from it. I live in a modest house and found a way to buy my own boat and will sail the heck out of it this season and enjoy myself. If that makes me a snob, so be it.....

What do THEY think of us?

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