What keeps you off the water?

[Paul Akers]

Oooo!, I forgot one thing.

BOAT YARD WORK...I've been preparing the boat for the last three weekends getting ready for the season. The boat gets splashed tomorrow. Hopefully, the final in-water boat chores will be done and we'll head out in about two weeks.

 

[Joe Passanisi]

I decided life is to short. Good weather Adios.

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! Its off to work I go. At least October to mid May. I decided last year after a very bad summer (weather wise). That i would work my tail off all Fall and winter and take all five weeks of my vacation from mid May to September. Now counting my normal days off and an ocasional sick day. I prety much am going to be sailing. I have coached baseball for my kids, Taught archery at the local rec center. Did the Cub scout thing all the way to Boyscouts. Noiw my sons are 18 and 15 years old. They can either join me or stay home. My wife has the same option but I use a more friendly aproach. Well thats it. I did my time for work and family.Now it's time for me.

 

[Larry]

Stu , decide on new course of action....

The delay Stu is experiencing probably happens to a lot of boaters.Delay, delay, delay... One recent boat yard put us through a delay, and when I finally put more pressure on them,--I found they were just stalling to see if my check had cleared the bank.I'll use cash or something better next time.  Movers and shakers usually can get things done. If you can't "move and shake up" things, take someone along who can. One such individual used to help me...he'd say: "It's easier to ask forgiveness than permission.""Christmas presents" usually help me get better service, too. I pick up a big hand full of $5 gift certificates to several restaurants every year around Dec. 1. Some employees get less from their boss than the $5 gift cert. they get from me. (See the leverage that helps get the work order done?)

 

[Gerard]

we're all lucky...

...that we're into sailing and not golf! You can't easily take your little ones (and sometimes not your wife before noon) on a golf outing. Pete's first response said it best. Our kids only have one childhood. I'm glad mine love sailing as much as I do. They start asking in Feb. "when is the boat in the water?"!

 

[L-Seelig]

So far this year... procrastination.

In years past, I've always had great plans to do all those little things that will make the difference between "nice boat" to "Wow! How old did you say this boat was?" But I would always, subconsciously I guess, pick a quick, easy task and when it was complete say to the wife "this is a great day for sailing... let's go" and we would. Hence, many jobs are still undone. It's nothing major but as I'm sure many of you know a bunch of little things can become a big thing. Well this year I'm doing it. I have removed all teak that can be removed and it is in my garage clean and ready for sanding and oil. (All exterior teak was done several years ago and is now in the maintenance stage.) Next are the windows, tinting, fixing leaks and curtains. Then tracking down the rest of the little leaks from stanchions railing etc... Then we're off. I'm very lucky in that I live about 15 min from the slip and during daylight savings time we can get several hours in after work during the week plus the weekends. During the week I try not to stay much after sunset because I have a tendency loose track of time when sailing at night and have found it hard to get to work after only 2 or 3 hours sleep from a night of late sailing. I seem to forget it's a work night sometimes. That and the usual household/yard chores and of course golf are all that keep me away. Sailing has been winning out over golf the past few years... since we've had the boat and my current handicap shows it. Regards,Lysle

 

[Paul Akers]

Winter!

nm

 

[Dave]

scuba diving

I am often torn between scuba diving and sailing. Also fishing. Then there is windsurfing. Spring skiing. Business Travel.I guess if given the opportunity to go for a day sail or go shark diving I would choose the latter.

 

[Dennis & Linda Kelley]

Kids Activities

Our three sons are in Cub scouts, Boy scouts, Choir and Sports. We voted as a family to skip baseball this Spring and that has been a big help. I think we would all rather be sailing

 

[Dave LaPere of Nature's Cradle]

HIgh Pressure Week-end job !!!

How well I know that phrase, plus having to drive to either the lake or ocean. Either way it's at least 2hours from the water.Dave

 

[Allen Glasson]

Things work out

My wife and I both grew up on the water, having parents with house boats on Lake Cumberland in Ky. When we got married , we bought our first old wooden day sailer. Wooden mast, Boom and cloth sails. We would camp and sail. Then we bought a 19 foot Ensanada, used. I fixed it up an was able to spend weekends on it. Then it happened - KIDS. We continued to go and take junior along. Then number two came along. We continued to sail until they were old enough to get involved in sports.Then number 3 . We made a decision early on- sports or sailing. Sports won. I have just retired from SPOTRS after coaching soccer and basket ball 14 years. Sports has treated us well. It has taught our kids respect, disipline, teamwork, and dedication. We have got to know many wonderful people. Sports has kept our kids away from the negative aspects in our current society. They have learned to schedule there time well to achieve and maintain all their activities. Honor Role status and star atheletes. It also provided scolarships for college. Well now it's Dads turn. We decided before college starts we(I) better get another boat. We are going to be broke for the college years. We bought a 1987 23 foot Hunter last spring. I spent several months fixing her up. We spent every other week end on her last summer. We have friends with a Deck boat and kids the same age as ours. Many week ends all these kids would join us. We had a ball. I also think the kids as myself found out that on the water you forget all the things and activities at home. It's the only place you can really un-wind and relax. No pagers or cell phones. I get all the "House Stuff" done during the week, and by Friday we are headed for the lake. There are always going to be projects at home. Hell I'm college poor for a few years I can't do them any way. We have been blessed to have been able to return to the water, and share these experiences with our kids. I hope they will continue to share these experiences with their families. Now I need to get them through school and get that "Bigger" Boat!!!!!

 

[SailboatOwners.com]

Final results

Final results for the Quick Quiz ending 5/6/2001:What keeps you off the water?51% Job23% Family14% Chores12% Nothing