Bleedin Weather

[tinkicker0]

Boat due to dip its toes in the water at Goole in 2 weeks. Still needs a full polish, needs a smaller pitch prop now I'm no longer puttering up and down a 6 knot river and needs to be ordered or the original 19p dings repaired and the antifoul needs doing on the drive.

Can't be arsed to go outside and am way behind on boaty jobs this year. Is it just me or has it been a "difficult" winter? I have no go in me at all.


Just had the invoice through the post from my old marina. Not returning this year as they hiked up the fees yet again by about £150 - £200 for my little 20 footer and as far as I am concerned, priced themselves out of the market.

When I phoned them up to inform them of my intention of not returning the girl on the phone immediately asked "is it to do with the berthing fees"?


I guess a lot of peeps feel the same and have cancelled this year. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot. The bigger boats will likely still be there as it's an hassle to move, but I bet most of the trailer boats have gone.

 

[beejay190]

I am beginning to wonder whether it is worth keeping a boat in the UK. We don't seem to get any long term settled sunny weather anymore (no
yellow grass) . People tell me that what with the Gulf Stream shifting south and global warming summers are going to become wetter

Don't know whether I will ever do it but moving my boat to Spain seems to have a lot of attractions, especially as I don't work any more.
It would offer warm sunny boating and I could use it as a floating holiday home to escape winter and as a base to explore Spain.

 

[oGaryo]

Countries with wetter / colder climates than ours still go boating and presumably enjoy doing so. We just need to get over this hang up that boating is only enjoyable when the sun shines. That mindset change opens up year round boating. We've thoroughly enjoyed being on the boat this winter and I am sure the same will be said for this spring, summer and autumn

 

[wipe_out]

Countries with wetter / colder climates than ours still go boating and presumably enjoy doing so. We just need to get over this hang up that boating is only enjoyable when the sun shines. That mindset change opens up year round boating. We've thoroughly enjoyed being on the boat this winter and I am sure the same will be said for this spring, summer and autumn

I agree.. Our boat we have just bought has a pretty scrappy canopy so its up there on the priority list to get sorted so we can get out in all weather if we want to.. Just need to find someone to sort it out.. Probably won't go out in high winds and waves but rain and cold aren't an issue if the canopy works..

 

[beejay190]

Countries with wetter / colder climates than ours still go boating and presumably enjoy doing so. We just need to get over this hang up that boating is only enjoyable when the sun shines. That mindset change opens up year round boating. We've thoroughly enjoyed being on the boat this winter and I am sure the same will be said for this spring, summer and autumn

Fair point OGO and I did take a few friends to the I O W on New Years Day two years ago. Bottom line at least for me is that boating is so much more enjoyable when
the weather if fine and sunny. I cannot persuade guests to join me when it is cold/wet.
I am lucky to have lots of time on my hands and many hobbies to fill that time . When weather is fine lets go boating when weather is carp music/theatre/car/golf etc etc.
I can remember when I started boating in 2004 we had fab summers and were out every weekend; Swanage/Studland/Yarmouth/Cowes/Weymouth -at times we felt
overboated and gave it a miss even if it was sunny. hasn't been like that for the past two years.
The thought of guaranteed sunshine and using my boat in Spain as a bolthole escape from winter appeals mucho.
BTW have a great trip to Weymouth.I always enjoy going there . If you get the opportunity stop off at Lulworh Cove and / or Chapmans Poole

 

[STEVEDUNSTABLE]

Countries with wetter / colder climates than ours still go boating and presumably enjoy doing so. We just need to get over this hang up that boating is only enjoyable when the sun shines. That mindset change opens up year round boating. We've thoroughly enjoyed being on the boat this winter and I am sure the same will be said for this spring, summer and autumn

Have to agree,ish with you Gary. When i first got this boating "disease" in the early 80s we would tow our Nab17 dory from Bedfordshire on boxing day every year for 10+yrs and "blap about" on the solent and then tow home all in a day !!!!!!!!!!!!!!....... alass now various internal joints and other organs say "not in this temperature your not !!!!!!.......... im suposed to be towing T.M. to mercury next weekend and have yet to swing the starter button since last september !!!!!........as Tinkicker says "BLEEDIN WEATHER" !!!!!!!!!!

 

[Firefly625]

it is still early in the season.... but was planning a run down to Mercury today if weather had been better... decided to go the the office instead...

 

[blueglass]

. Bottom line at least for me is that boating is so much more enjoyable when
the weather if fine and sunny.

Of course it is. I'm not saying you can't enjoy winter boating, but the enjoyment factor magnifies exponentially when the clouds roll back.
That happens all so rarely in the UK it eventually sent me to the Greek islands. Absolute bliss!

 

[oGaryo]

it is still early in the season.... but was planning a run down to Mercury today if weather had been better... decided to go the the office instead...

I'm about to jump in the car to go to the boat, more to complete a few bit of above waterline maintenance but will no doubt enjoy being there all the same. Another reason is I've been stuck in the house with this man flu for over a week now so starting to climb the walls, gotta get outta here!

 

[Alchemy2665]

Of course it is. I'm not saying you can't enjoy winter boating, but the enjoyment factor magnifies exponentially when the clouds roll back.
That happens all so rarely in the UK it eventually sent me to the Greek islands. Absolute bliss!

I'm interested to hear of your experience of moving your boat to Greece. How easy/difficult was it? How do overall costs compare taking into account travel backwards and forwards, berthing fees etc etc etc? Do you miss not having a boat here you can just pop down to? Would you say you use the boat more or less? Do you stay on the boat when you go to Greece?

I love the thought of moving boat to med but it does concern me that the grass may not be a green as we think, hence my questions.

 

[tinkicker0]

Well managed a couple of hours cutting back and polishing the oxidised blue gel stripe on me transom, then the rain came down, so fitted the muffs and started her up.
Inside the boat is filthy after sitting for six months but could not force meself to stay out in the cold any longer. My fingers had gone numb after 3 hours.

This winter has been absolutely pants.