Boats on the brain?

[chinita]

Forgive me, those who have seen this before...

A sailor takes his accountant chum out for a daysail.

At the end, the accountant says " so, you spend X thousands on a boat you can at best use 2 days a week ".

" No, I use her 7 days a week ".

" How so ? "

" 2 days a week I sail her, the rest of the time I dream of her "

And forgive me, because I have said this before.

I was in the pub the night I had bought my first boat. My mate, whose boat I often sailed on said:

'Remember when you used to go to sleep thinking about women?..........not anymore.'

 

[cozzykim]

Where does this obsession come from?

As far back as I can remember I've been obsessed with boats.

As a kid I used to make boats out of tin baths, old car or van roofs, wooden doors and navigated them along canals, across mill ponds and down rivers and streams.

I couldn't swim until someone gave me a serious 'talking to' in my thirties, so how I survived numerous dunkings I don't know.

I don't care what kind of boat, mobo (have a share in a Broads cruiser), raggy sticky (dad has a Centaur, his old Sailfish is my wishful project, and love Ionian sailing), have an irresistible urge to hire every park rowing boat.

I'll happily jump into the deepest water, (as long as it's reasonably warm ), and I couldn't care less that "you never know what might be in there".

If I can't get aboard I have to get by with just sitting looking at the water, even a spot of canal fishing assuages the urge, albeit temporarily.

Is this longing some kind of genetic memory?

I don't know but, my name is Kim and I love boats.

Thanks OP for posting

 

[Victoria Sponge]

I blame my dad. He was in the navy and from an early age I was taken on boats at every opportunity. I learned to swim, again thanks to my dad, and was a county swimmer. My dad was cool.

 

[RichardS]

Long before I owned a boat or even a sailing dinghy or could even sail, if I saw a marina whilst on holiday I would have to take an hour or two to stroll around every pontoon looking at every boat.

Of course, it's exactly the same now - actually having a boat and a dinghy has made no difference at all!

Whenever we fly to visit my brother-in-law in Spain for a few days, my wife always includes a trip down to the marina on her itinerary otherwise I just can't settle!

Richard

 

[Sultans_Kapitein]

What a relief, I honestly did think I was a little 'potty' I have often thought I have spotted a boat on a transporter as I am driving up and down the motorways, and any chance of a boat trip or a walk by the water is never wasted. As long as I can remember I have been like this, I can even remember the first copy of PBO I bought I was 15/16 and would buy the mag when ever I saw a copy. So it is good to know that I am in such good company

Mal

 

[BurnitBlue]

You lucky man: all mine thinks about are horses!

My latest used to think about horses, until she met me.

Edit: Ooops, there are two ways to read that remark. Think think think before I post in future

 

[Paddy_N_Murphy]

You lucky man: all mine thinks about are horses!

+ 1 !!

 

[Seajet]

I think it must be some sort of long term genetic memory; there is no history of sailing in my family ( as a boy I taught my dad to sail which was 'interesting' ) but long before I'd ever touched a real boat I had model pond yachts, the subject of long saved-up pocket money, and just about from when I could walk.

I do, as others describe, have to get a 'fix' by at least seeing boats or can't settle; when I worked on a barge in Burgundy, though it was lovely I found it depressing we never rocked or rolled; the French chef and I grabbed the little dinghy used for painting, used a deck umbrella for a sail, steering with a deck brush.

A hostess took one look and shook her head sadly...

Edit; that makes me think, when I grew up a lot of the toy shops had simple working pond yachts - readers of around my age ( 49 ) will know the ones I mean.

Apart from the radio control jobs which seem a bit soul-less and expensive ( though I'd have given my eye teeth for one ) what is available to kids now ?

 

[Little Five]

Wish my wife would catch it where ever it comes from.


I thought my wife was the same until yesterday. She said," I don't know why you are messing around with that iPad, you know you can't see it at the wheel. I don't know why you don't go out and buy yourself a big chart plotter and be done with it"

Music to my ears. Have I cracked it do you think or is this just a one off?

Sorry mate-no way have you cracked it. Tomorrow the goal posts will have moved and the rules of engagement changed. Get the plotter double quick

 

[Romeo]

Forth Bridge or M9

And forgive me, because I have said this before.

'Remember when you used to go to sleep thinking about women?..........not anymore.'

I am pretty sure that some people go to sleep thinking about golf clubs and golf courses. I wonder if they think we are sad for thinking about boats.

Going back to the OP, you cannot avoid the danger (caused by looking down on Port Edgar) by going up the M9 instead, because it is compulsory to twist round to try to see what boats are in the basin at the end of the Forth and Clyde canal.

 

[Babylon]

I think it must be some sort of long term genetic memory; there is no history of sailing in my family...

Nor mine, although both sides of my family descend from risk-takers, especially my mother's father and uncle who were adventurers in the Belgian Congo.

I do wonder however whether there's not another, more metaphysical, possibility?...

 

[Seajet]

Babylon,

I know exactly what you mean, but thought saying so would sound fanciful / egotistical or something.

Feels like it though, doesn't it ?

Shades of 'J.L. Seagull' meets 'An Old Captivity' ( N.Shute ).

 

[cozzykim]

Babylon,

I know exactly what you mean, but thought saying so would sound fanciful / egotistical or something.

Feels like it though, doesn't it ?

Shades of 'J.L. Seagull' meets 'An Old Captivity' ( N.Shute ).

Available for Kindle, damn you Seajet ( ), that's £7.19 down the drain

 

[Seajet]

Cozzykim,

hope I haven't misled you, but I am sure you'll enjoy it and see what I'm inferring.

Plenty more suggestions, how's the Amazon account ?!

 

[Seajet]

Have you read 'The Master Mariner' by N.Montserrat ? I thought a brilliant idea but could have been handled better to be honest...

Better stop before this becomes the book forum.

 

[cozzykim]

Cozzykim,

hope I haven't misled you, but I am sure you'll enjoy it and see what I'm inferring.

Plenty more suggestions, how's the Amazon account ?!

You haven't misled me, I've read it a few times before, in my youth.

Nevil Shute and Hammond Innes are two authors I've been intending to revisit on Kindle

 

[Plaicemat]

I have salt water in my veins. I was born by the sea and have never left it.

 

[Abestea]

I am pretty sure that some people go to sleep thinking about golf clubs and golf courses. I wonder if they think we are sad for thinking about boats.

Going back to the OP, you cannot avoid the danger (caused by looking down on Port Edgar) by going up the M9 instead, because it is compulsory to twist round to try to see what boats are in the basin at the end of the Forth and Clyde canal.

Oh yes i know that feeling too!! I nearly rode my motorcycle off the Forth Road Bridge as i was too busy looking over the sides rather than the road to see if i could see any sailing boats down below and to see what the wind was doing. Looked about a force 4 and perfect for a sail which made me feel really envious of the boats that i did spot.

I do happen to come out with the phrase.. "Ooooh! A Boat!!" whenever i spot something nice. OK not when i spot a lovely looking motorcycle or girl.

 

[cimota]

I'm forever detouring our little trips towards marinas and quays just, you know, to catch some air. Such as this trip to have some pizza...which then added 90 minutes wandering along the marina (pictures taken by my wife, Bangor marina). I offered to take her to Dun Laoghaire for some shopping....(and yes, there's a big marina there).

At least you guys HAVE boats, ARE sailing. I've still not managed to rack up a single hour this year. And I think that's making the obsession worse!!!!

 

[Sybarite]

Does anyone else have this problem?

I drive down the motorway to work with my head on a swivel, thinking that I've been passed by a boat transporter lorry taking something pretty and expensive to the West Coast or somewhere equally interesting.

Also, I check the sea state, tide and Port Ed marina for anything out of the ordinary as I cross the Forth Road Bridge.

Should I be seeking help, or am I just an interminably sad barsteward?

A few days ago a friend said that he was about to throw out about 100 old yachting magazines and would I like them.......!!!

!!!!