Life after boating......

Many people think sailing is boring and also think indoor bowls is boring. I love my sailing, but I have recently been persuaded by my wife to take up bowls. I am still a beginner, but today I was playing against my father in law ( he has been playing for about 30 years) and he struggled to beat me. He was more accurate, but I had plenty of lucky shots to compensate. It is far more technical than I imagined, but bowling at the correct angle to allow for the bias as it slows is relatively easy, but getting within a few feet of the jack is the difficult part. I doubt if I will play during the sailing season (I cannot stand sailing in the cold any more).
 
xyachtdave said:
Narrowboating doesn't actually look that appealing, most of the canal network looks like crime scene and appear to be a magnet for the great unwashed.

'Look we're going under another bridge covered in graffiti!'

Towpath = dog poo.
Click to expand...

There's nice bits between urban areas. But yes. Best thing I found on my prop while urban boating was a suitcase full of hypodermic needles.
 
Having done bits of the Thames & French canals I can see the atraction. When I was 15, my father dumped me & my mate on the Broads for 10 days in a Silhouette. Launched at Wroxham & explored ( & fished) the Northern half. That was the best.
So I can understand people enjoying canal boating. Although if I did it, I would buy an ex French charter boat & start in the French canals & then extend towards the Netherlands. Buy a small car (with moped trailer) & a moped (or electric bike). Park the car. Move the boat, go back for the car with the moped. Then use the car to drive home or travel about. One could get lost in the canals & need never come out.
 
Wansworth said:
Nearby neighbour has a perfect garden it even looks like those pictures in gardening books all laid out ,everything in its place,and I notice yesterday he was even doing the work in the garden as per the book,one day I must meet him it all seems so bloody neat!.........is gardening a substitute for boating?
Click to expand...
Only when it comes to weather and shopping. But garden centers do have better tea rooms.
 
Wansworth said:
projects I could take on............taming the garden,building a granny flat in basement(damp a problem),train the dog,or at least find out why he seems stressed out,go Shopping more,keep the car clean.
Click to expand...
Your previous thought was a better one - build a model railway. In some ways it's just like owning a boat as you will always be fixing something.
 
Daydream believer said:
Having done bits of the Thames & French canals I can see the atraction. When I was 15, my father dumped me & my mate on the Broads for 10 days in a Silhouette. Launched at Wroxham & explored ( & fished) the Northern half. That was the best.
So I can understand people enjoying canal boating. Although if I did it, I would buy an ex French charter boat & start in the French canals & then extend towards the Netherlands. Buy a small car (with moped trailer) & a moped (or electric bike). Park the car. Move the boat, go back for the car with the moped. Then use the car to drive home or travel about. One could get lost in the canals & need never come out.
Click to expand...
Sounds idilic, but after Brexit we will only be allowed to be in the EU for a maximum of 90 days out of 180 on a shifting scale. If you exceed the 90 days, you will be banned for 2 years. So not viable for long term living. Ah, one of the joys of Brexit.
 
I've often asked myself what happens after boat and don't yet know. I hate gardening, wife likes it. We've downsized from 4 bed house with fairly large garden to bungalow with very small virtually maintenance free garden. Because we're away for much of the year have put membrane and slate chippings on all flower beds and just have shrubs. Guy comes and cuts grass front and back (20 min job) when we're away.

Still enjoy being on the boat, weather is great but, we only sail if we're going somewhere. Annual maintenance has become a necessary chore and harder work due to old age creeping on. Plenty of social life and we also have an apartment near Lisbon, close to wife's family and friends, used for a few weeks each year. If boat goes, not sure what I will do, motor home or canal boat don't appeal, nor does just sitting at home or in the apartment. Fortunately, I have a garage workshop and play at making sawdust much of the time but, will need something else. Maybe back to gliding.
 
Concerto said:
Sounds idilic, but after Brexit we will only be allowed to be in the EU for a maximum of 90 days out of 180 on a shifting scale. If you exceed the 90 days, you will be banned for 2 years. So not viable for long term living. Ah, one of the joys of Brexit.
Click to expand...
Presumably, one could get residency if one had the money to spend in the local economy. If it really is only 90 days out of 180, that could stymie a good few Brits who want to take their time going down the canal to the Med. ISTM than 90 days from Rouen or Calais to the Med would be unseemly haste.
 
Poignard said:
Even worse than gardening would be, horror of horrors, the motor caravan!

Giving up the peace and freedom of the sea to spend your leisure time on the roads; where's the appeal in that?
Click to expand...
Well, just bought my 3rd 'motor caravan' yesterday. Had them since my thirties. Ideal retreat in a remote location after a day's sea kayaking or mountain biking. Unlike sailing, the pleasure isn't in the journey, it's in the destination. Don't knock it until youve tried it.van in snow.jpg
 
If I become unable to get out, I would like to take up making model wooden ships.

Not from plastic kits but built from scratch with real planking and frames.
 
Daydream believer said:
I have just come back from our model flying club. Building & flying model planes is great fun & I get to meet a great crowd ofchaps.
I also have a lathe & mill etc. & I am building a model steam engine. So my winters are well spoken for & that is without jobs in the yacht club
Click to expand...

I have memories of E D Comp specials and J B Atoms when I used to build models in my youth. Preferred flying full scale though.
 
Poignard said:
If I become unable to get out, I would like to take up making model wooden ships.

Not from plastic kits but built from scratch with real planking and frames.
Click to expand...
Made some waterline models a few years back,sits flat on surface with still lots to do with rigging ,sails and deck work,best with models with bulwarks
 
Stemar said:
Presumably, one could get residency if one had the money to spend in the local economy. If it really is only 90 days out of 180, that could stymie a good few Brits who want to take their time going down the canal to the Med. ISTM than 90 days from Rouen or Calais to the Med would be unseemly haste.
Click to expand...
That is what was the picture put forward by the RYA at the South East Conference. Liveaboards will have to leave the EU (all states) an ensure they never stay for more than 90 days in any 180 day period. That also means you MUST ensure you check out otherwise the clock will still keep running. This is going to be a major problem for cruisers and liveabords in the Med.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top