how much does your boat mean to you?

[wotayottie]

Prompted by the thread about boats touching at anchor, I got to wondering how much people's boats meant to them. Seemed to me that if you cannot go to a restaurant and leave your boat anchored without fretting then either you were extending yourself financially a bit too far or were too much of a worrier to go boating.

In our family accounts I have written off my boat - it simply doesnt appear there at all. Which is not to say that I dont try and take care of it because I do. But I bought a second hand boat rather than a new one simply because I knew I would fret about odd scratches and dings whereas if I bought one pre-dinged I would not.

So do you worry about your boat if left at anchor?

 

[Wansworth]

In a tidal area I would be quite happy to be ashore in settled weather,but be aboard when the tite turned.The problem may not be your boat and anchour but a newcomer so not so much worry as concern about leaving a boat unmaned whilst ashore.As ex merchant navy we always had an anchour watch.

 

[webcraft]

.
The important thing is to know whether or not you need to worry. That really only comes with experience, and should IMO be nothing to do with the value you place on the boat.

- W

 

[mocruising]

Our boat means a great deal to us, its our home for four months of the year, it also represents a large financial capital outlay about as much as your average detached house in the south of England. It took me a while to earn it. I like to look after it, its a matter of pride more than anything else. I also know how much damage can be caused by other idiots who either don't take care or don't know how to take care. We have had four incidents in twelve years all caused by others either dragging down on to us or sailing into us while we were moored or at anchor. Repairs are always troublesome and expensive when you are away from your home port as we have been for ten years now. The boat is ours but I would still expect to get something back to put into the retirement pot or motor home when we have had enough. We anchor all the time if I am going ashore and suspect the weather (Up to a limit) I will put out a second anchor. I would never leave the boat as I see some do in an anchorage unattended for more than a day, my insurance would not allow it anyway.

 

[bigwow]

Unfortunately having built my boat from scratch it has become my third child! And I am as protective about it as my other two children, or so they tell me.

 

[Searush]

If there is any real risk of another boat touching mine at anchor & the recent arrival who has strayed too close doesn't respond to a polite request or a strong suggestion, then I would have to move. As Webby says, it has nothing to do with the value of the boat (I've had mine 25 years-ish) it is just basic seamanship.

Dinks & scrapes happen all the time - most often when you are not around to prevent them altho I have bonked the odd rock, bouy & quayside etc myself. You just have to get over it. And that is easier with older boats in average rather than concours condition.

But yes, I like my cars, home & boats to be places where I am comfortable to use them rather than frightened of breaking them or worrying about reducing their value.

Philliz has requested permission to plant spuds on my deck, but wasn't prepared to dig it over first to work the guano in properly.

 

[Jamesuk]

Another 5-10 metres should do it at anchor,

 

[Conachair]

So do you worry about your boat if left at anchor?

The boat and whats in it are the few things I possess in the world, if it's a worry at anchor then it's in the wrong place, time to move. Longest time so far spent hanging off the hook without moving was 5 months.
Awfully cost effective

 

[Robin]

An unusual occurrence

Because I find myself agreeing with Webby and Searush in the same thread

Our boat is our only home now, we have no dirt base and much of our funds are sunk (oops) into our floating asset. The question of leaving a boat for more than a tide at anchor say has more to do with confidence in gear and anchoring techniques IMO, because if you anchor securely with good gear AND in the most sensible places (defensively, as in sheltered locations and not downwind of French boats...) then that should be OK. Long term anchoring for me if not on board would need two anchors set, by which it effectively becomes a mooring.

However it is easy to say because we are marina based, albeit in a hurricane area in hurricane season. We are insured for 'named storms' but when the 'deductibles' are taken into account the insurers have covered themselves pretty well from paying out too much! Then again I think the dirt based local dwellers here have the same problems and at least flooding is less of a problem for us.

 

[Koeketiene]

Prompted by the thread about boats touching at anchor, I got to wondering how much people's boats meant to them. Seemed to me that if you cannot go to a restaurant and leave your boat anchored without fretting then either you were extending yourself financially a bit too far or were too much of a worrier to go boating.

In our family accounts I have written off my boat - it simply doesnt appear there at all. Which is not to say that I dont try and take care of it because I do. But I bought a second hand boat rather than a new one simply because I knew I would fret about odd scratches and dings whereas if I bought one pre-dinged I would not.

So do you worry about your boat if left at anchor?

The boat means a lot to me, though I do not think of her in monetary terms. If I did I would not have done what I did and would most likely go bonkers.

The boat means a lot in terms of enjoyment, satisfaction and a feeling of freedom that is IMO priceless.

 

[Resolution]

Philliz has requested permission to plant spuds on my deck, but wasn't prepared to dig it over first to work the guano in properly.

Don't let the Mobo forum (who have just been admiring each other's expensive new teak decks) see this. They won't understand your allotment sailing.

 

[TQA]

When I sold/gave away almost everything I owned it was hard to part with a couple of items that I had invested significant time and effort in restoring but in the end of the day it was all just stuff.

Finding a home for my two cats and leaving them there was MUCH harder.

Stuff can be replaced/repaired/renewed or just forgotten.

 

[maby]

Our anchor holds about as well as a paper-clip, so yes, I do worry!

 

[ribrage]

The boat and whats in it are the few things I possess in the world, if it's a worry at anchor then it's in the wrong place, time to move. Longest time so far spent hanging off the hook without moving was 5 months.
Awfully cost effective

5 months at anchor sounds idyllic , where was that ??

 

[Ludd]

Our anchor holds about as well as a paper-clip, so yes, I do worry!

Ooooooh,got a R---a then?

 

[flaming]

Slightly different perspective since I don't own a boat but borrow other people's...

When I'm cruising I take every scratch personally. It hurts my pride if I don't return a boat in the same state I got it - that applies regardless if I've chartered or borrowed the boat.

But when I'm racing the owner of the boat I drive has made it clear that the odd bit of gelcoat damage is part and parcel of the game. Which is sad, but true.

At the end of the day, if your boat is made of fibreglass it takes a MASSIVE collision to take it out of comission, and insane damage before it's not repairable. Another boat dragging into it is unlikely to do that unless there is a hurricane blowing. I've seen a 40.7 get fully T-boned to the extent that one of crew in the aft cabin was able to exit the boat through the hole on his way to the pub that evening because going up the companionway was too much trouble. 2 days later it was on the start line again. Fabulous stuff Fibreglass!

 

[Conachair]

5 months at anchor sounds idyllic , where was that ??

That was off a little village up a muddy river in Brazil. Though thinking back I did tie it off to a pontoon for a couple of weeks away. Being fairly fiercly tidal the anchor reset 4 times a day with the transits staying bang on. Can't see why anyone would ever have an anchor that needed human input to set itself

If you want to relax on the hook then get a decent new gen anchor, a load of chain and a electric windlass. If you haul it up by hand then the temptation not to move at 3am when the wind shifts or not to let out another 20m can be exceptionally strong.

 

[Stemar]

Going back to the original question, Jissel cost me the price of a half-decent second hand car, but is, after the house, my most expensive asset. She gets as much care and attention as she needs, but on a shoestring budget.

However, while not in the class of my family, she's far more to me than an asset, she's part of what keeps me sane and allows me to unwind from a demanding job. As such she's priceless.

 

[Blueboatman]

Interesting thoughts re ownership and responsibility to those we share the seas with.
Where there is a choice I would usually try to anchor closer to smart liveaboards than dinged up weekend warriors, charter boats and abandoned 'moored' boats, in that order. Probably. But exceptions abound, thank goodness.

I do regard it as part of ones own common sense duty to make a personal assessment of incomers anchoring techniques vis a vis ones own 'exposure' and to shift accordingly ( sigh). Too many boats too few undiscovered anchorages in places perhaps.

 

[wotayottie]

When I first posted the question, I wasnt thinking about the emotional capital involved nor indeed the technical issues of anchoring. What I was wondering was how many people pushed themselves so far financially to buy the boat that it had in a way become a source of worry as well as pleasure.

Leaving houses aside because they are just places to live, if you have 5% of your other free assets in your boat then the loss of it doesnt really matter annoying though it would be. On the other hand if 70% of your free assets are in the boat, or even worse if you have a large mortgage on the boat, then it must be a real worry every time you do something like anchor and leave it. In a way, the possession possesses you.

Or at least thats my way of looking at it but what is yours?