The Benefit of having a good university degree

[Guest]

I studied very hard to get my degree and subsequent PHD, I feel a lot of you would understand more if you had been to university. It seems that you are missing out on the fountain of knowledge that is available, I am just joking and have never been to university in my life, I thought it may catch your attention though /forums/images/icons/wink.gif But out of interest do graduates make better sailers or powerboaters? There must be some on here, we can't all be thick /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

"You only see what you recognise, and you only recognise what you know"

 

[Guest]

I have an electronics degree. This, apparently, qualifies me to sit on top of the radar arch in a thunderstorm, with a mains soldering iron, while trying to repair the horn.

Lesser mortals would have waited till the rain/lightning stopped, and raggies wouldn't have bothered at all, relying on their 'interesting' vocabulary to warn off approaching stinkies...

 

[byron]

<font color=blue>With a literal lifetime afloat, as a child, as a profession and in my dotage. I would opine that sailors are born not made. If someone has a feel for it then the rest follows on naturally. You can take someone into a classroom and teach them every aspect but if they don't have that 'touch' then all they are is an encyclopedia.

http://www.alexander-advertising.co.uk

 

[Guest]

Re: encyclopaedia

...and a good source of safety gear as well, surely?

 

[Trevethan]

I think most here will agree that it makes no bloody difference at all.

I admire your enthusiasm, but, and please forgive me) you seem obessed by the theory (I was the same when I started sailing when I was about 11.. read everything) However I leaned more in my first twn minutes on the water than I had reading how to sail books for a year.

Get your boat. Try not to spend too much money on it at first, most people graduate to another boat pretty soon as they realise what their needs actually are, and b, while safety is important, you can take things a bit far.. life jackets yes, radio yes, flares yes, bilge pump yes, maybe a little inflatable if you hit a rock that wasn't marked on the plotter *grin* and yes back up for some of those bits and pieces, but when thrashing up and down the Medway, is a third VHF really needed? if you want to chatter to your crew ashore buy walkie talkies or use a mobile (save cluttering up the airwaves too)

I know for many people the real pleasure in boat owning is the dreaming stage, or the planning stage, before a lot of the harsh realities land on you.. but do yourself a favour.

Get the boat blam up and down in it. for the first few times maybe take someone more experienced along with you and after a while re-evaluate your equipment needs.. after all you only have 6 odd metres to fill up...

I am sure you'll find a hours cruise will be lots more fun and you'll learn more about your boat than reading up about hydrodynamics and prop pitch! And you'll save a shed load of cash!

Anyway good luck and have fun!

 

[ArthurWood]

If you had a degree

you wouldn't be asking such a daft question!