Does owning a boat make you feel vulnerable?

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ChasB

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Either you know what i mean... or else you don't.

I ask because i got myself into a financial dispute with a nasty boatyard. I'm on top of that now and am about to give them a hefty and well deserved boot up the bum. But for a while I felt very exposed.

And there's also the weather...

And when I first bought the thing it took months before I stopped wondering if it had sunk while my back was turned. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif



Stop laughing you at the back! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
 
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when I first bought the thing it took months before I stopped wondering if it had sunk while my back was turned.

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Still worry during every big storm!
 
I have a theory.
You buy a boat in the price bracket that you feel comfortable with.
If mine sank tommorrow I would be annoyed, but not inconsolable.
 
Until last year mine was only 3rd party. You would find at the lower end of the scale that insurers requiring surveys are asking for an out of proportion expenditure.
I am now insure fully comp, but still wouldn't be too upset at a total loss.

Just my opinion, but I reckon loads of boat owners are paying too much for their hobby.
 
Yes I feel very vulnerable every time I have to deal with a tradesman. Often my fears are fully justified. The answer is DIY you have only yourself to blame then.
As for concern about the boat particularly in my case about it coming adrift from swing mooring (which in 22 years it has done severral times) I guess that is just the price fo owning a boat. Have it insured and reassure yourself that if the worst happens you can recove yourself if not the boat. olewill
 
I feel that my boat is very vulnerable every hurricane season, but I don't really care as it is fully insured. On the other hand, our house and most of our possessions are also fully insured but it's only 11ft above sea level, 1/4 mile from the Gulf of Mexico and 50yd from Sarasota Bay and I care a lot. It's all a matter of perspective.
 
Yes.
I worry it goes adrift when it's on its mooring (which it did - but heroicly rescued), or that it sinks somehow.
Now it's in dry dock I worry that either it falls over, or the neighbour falls on it.

As lakesailor says, our boat is in a price bracket we feel comfortable with, but I would still be pretty miffed if we lost her.
 
I fully understand what you mean.
Our first boat was destroyed in a fire in 2004.
Ever since I am slightly worried.
I don't agree with people saying they don't worry as the boat is fully insured.
Our first boat was also fully insured, but let me assure you, the sight of the burnt boat in the middle of the night at the pontoon is one I will never forget.
 
I can see your point of view, but I have had my boat since 1985, and have she is not just a possession now, simply an integral part of my life. I would be devastated if she sank or caught fire. It's a bit like keeping a cat (moggy). Sure, I can always go out and buy another one, if it gets run over, but I'd still feel awful if it happened.
 
Horrifying

Due to the reasons depicted below, the answer is yes...

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I agree with the sentiment. I've put a lot of effort into my little boat and rather like it, but I don't feel anxious about it.
I wouldn't just say Hey Ho if it sank or was fatally damaged, but it doesn't keep me awake nights.

However if I had a large yacht in that harbour I would be very concerned.
 
I know what you mean, you work hard for your boat, put a lot of time and money into it and after the euphoria you start to think what if.

It's like when you sell a boat it's like a member of the family, I've bought boats from chaps who've been close to/in tears when I leave with the boat. I've been the same when I've sold one and watch it disappear into the sunset. It's a strange emotional investment we have as skippers.

I used to worry all the time about whether someone decided to hit my boat in the marina etc.

When I was on a swinging mooring in my previous boat if there were any serious storms I'd be out and looking at the boat on the mooring to see if it's ok. The boat would sit nodding happily on it's mooring quite ok and I always got the impression the boat was sitting there as if to say "what are you doing here?... muppet"

I remember the boatyard once moved it from it's mooring to another mooring and didn't tell me.

When I rowed out to my pride and joy I had a feeling in my guts like the feeling you get when you hit extreme turbulance in a plane when I saw it was gone.

I rowed for England to the boatyard to tell them of my boat was missing and that I was about to phone the Police. Then they told me what they did, I was not impressed however, the relief I felt negated my anger.

Come to think of it what would the Police do if you did report a nicked boat?

Moral: Always ensure your boat is insured it's the only real peace of mind that you have that come what may at least you'll get the money back... mind you not if you are insured by Admiral /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
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However if I had a large yacht in that harbour I would be very concerned.

[/ QUOTE ]

No, you wouldn't. People who own those yachts don't love their boat. They're just property, and a very well insured one. Their lawyers will manage to get well and very fast payed and their skipper will arrange the delivery of that very nice one they saw in the last boat show!
 
I am surprised the number who wouldnt be upset if their boat was lost. To me my boat is something quite personal that I have spent a lot of time and money on, and yes I was quite upset the 2 occasions I have lost them. First time, arriving at the waterside to see the mast sticking out of the water was akin to going over the top of a roller coaster.

Second time was not quite so bad - watching it happily riding out a f10, turned to speak to someone, looked round.... gone. Soon spotted heading for the saltings at around 3 - 4 kts. No damage done, but the same roller coaster feeling.

Insurance or no - IMHO its a bad feeling.

I don't like roller coasters either! /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
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