Fun factor V's £ factor..........

[Nautical]

Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

Well we are busy looking at lots of flash expensive stuff at LIBS and shortly Dusseldorf and it got me thinking about my early days mucking about in boats and the huge amount of fun we used to have and all on a shoe string (no money in the late 70's :-( ) .

We had an Irish built Darragh 196 with ickle 12hp kubota inboard. We must have racked up 100's and 100's of hours in her in all weather, hail, rain or shine. We went quite some distances too and used to have a camper cover that we slept under. Food was the nearest fish and chip shop, and showers and washing was what every you could blag from a local guest house or pub.

We did most of the Shannon and lakes, Dublin bay, malahide, Wicklow, Lambay, Skerries, anywhere really we had enough fuel to get us there and back. One chart, a hand held compass and some pot luck.

I can not ever remember laughing so much and having just good old fashioned fun on any other boat we have had since.

The other thing I remember, it was just so simple and reliable, turn key and go, it got bashed about, towed lots of saily boats, went fishing, hauled pots (er, illegally), was used as a ferry boat in Malahide and then me and my brother used to just take off at weekends on it.

All in all it cost buttons to run and I think we sold it for much the same as we bought it for.

So what was you best fun factor boat V's cost and do you really enjoy you current boat as much or hanker after those care free days, little putt putt but big grin and happy days all round .

I think sometimes I am going in the wrong direction /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[gjgm]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

I m reluctant to say this, but I think its a question of moving from fun to enjoyment;something to do with the years slipping by /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
But thats why we havent moved from a sportsboat, I guess.
Dont want to grow up.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

I'm always a bit sceptical when people say that the best fun they've had in boating was with their first small boat. If so, why haven't they still got it? Anyway nostalgia is a dangerous thing. It was always sunnier in the old days, the sea was always flatter, we always had more fun and nothing ever went wrong. Except it wasn't like that really

 

[Argonautical]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

The Avon 280 with the Yam 15 two stroke is loadsa fun!

Que, Roger Rat????

 

[oceanfroggie]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

Hi Trevor, I suppose it's a bit like memories of ones first winter skiing holiday, and the sense of adventure doing something so new and free. Many of us students staying in budget accomodation, yet now we get touchey if our 4/5 star hotels aren't up to scratch, the skiing is still great but will never be as amazing as those early years.

Mucking around with oar locks in an oppie as a nipper around the coves and secret bays of Dunmore East seemed magic at the time - once tasted, never forgotten, but that first taste can never be recreated. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

In the mobo we tend to cruise and avoid day boating, and focus on enjoying being out there on the water relaxed and soaking up chill out time, rather than just getting to a destination (ie the bit between A and B is more enjoyeable than just getting to B at speed). We love overnighting on the hook and avoid marina's like the plague - trying to enjoy the simple existance in a quiet spot, and get away from hustle and bustle. Some pals are the same, others seem happier rushing form A to B at full throttle, but missing the scenery rush past.

I think great "enjoyment" can still be extracted from moboing and even a little fun without spending mega bucks if we take the time to truely "chill out" rather than treat 50ft cruisers like speed boats and rush around so much - mea culpa too btw! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Nautical]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

Your probably right Mike, just I am sitting here looking at some valet and maintenance bills for a 45 we have down in the SoF, yeesh ! :-( kinda takes the shine off it a bit.

Sea was never that flat though and we went off in stuff the local coasties would have a heart attack in these days and give you a right bollocking for.

I guess rose tinted glasses and all that but still, I think some times we still deep down hanker after that more simple enjoyment of having fun without the stress of having to pay walloping lumps of dosh for it . I really do think I would probably have just as much fun in a little round a round just for bobbing around the Solent as blatting about in £1/2m quids worth.

 

[epervier]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

I'm sure you're right, in that, memories are more precious than gold, also when the cost of our chosen pastime out ways the pleasure of it, maybe it's time to rethink our pastime.

for me my little boat is cost manageable and it still give me a smile even when just looking at it,(is that because my glasses are reactalight and change to rose tint when the sun shines?)

I would guess that for some with a marina place to pay for, this time of year is the blue period cold,wet,miserable weather, on top of £140 a week parking fees.

Happy 2009 All /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[MapisM]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

[ QUOTE ]
I think sometimes I am going in the wrong direction

[/ QUOTE ]Of course. We all are, 'cause we're getting older, not younger. As Woody Allen said:

In my next life I want to live my life backwards.
You start out dead and get that out of the way.
Then you wake up in an old people's home feeling better every day.
You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day.
You work for 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement.
You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school.
You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play.
You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born.
And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm!

 

[KCook]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

[ QUOTE ]
reliable, turn key and go

[/ QUOTE ] I think that is essential. Our first mobo had an outboard from Hell. It's a miracle we stuck with boating.

Kelly Cook

 

[Take5]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think sometimes I am going in the wrong direction

[/ QUOTE ]Of course. We all are, 'cause we're getting older, not younger. As Woody Allen said:

In my next life I want to live my life backwards.
You start out dead and get that out of the way.
Then you wake up in an old people's home feeling better every day.
You get kicked out for being too healthy, go collect your pension, and then when you start work, you get a gold watch and a party on your first day.
You work for 40 years until you're young enough to enjoy your retirement.
You party, drink alcohol, and are generally promiscuous, then you are ready for high school.
You then go to primary school, you become a kid, you play.
You have no responsibilities, you become a baby until you are born.
And then you spend your last 9 months floating in luxurious spa like conditions with central heating and room service on tap, larger quarters every day and then Voila! You finish off as an orgasm!

[/ QUOTE ]

Off Topic (But relevant to Mapism` post)

I watched the film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" a couple of nights ago. Basically it is as per the above.

Well worth a watch.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Re: Fun factor V\'s £ factor..........

The Avon 280 with the Yam 15 two stroke is loadsa fun

Hey Argo, I've got one of those with that very same engine. What am I missing?

My best fun boat was definitely my good old CI22, rufty tufty old boat, go anywhere at any time, cost peanuts to run, regularly carried 4 divers + equipment for 2 dives each and then dozens and dozens of scallops on the way home. Great days, happy memories.

Fortunately a good mate has just bought an identical model (in fact he was very close to buying my old CI22 Stalwart!) so similar days may again be enjoyed.