The things women think important

[ducked]

We live on board for months at a time and wish we had room for a washing machine. However as we are at anchor in the Caribbean 99% of the time Mrs M hand washes her knicks. They then get hung on one of these:

View attachment 205276

Now always referred to as

“The knicker chandelier”

Doesnt the sun blast that into powder in about a week? Would in Taiwan, but I suppose if you take in as soon as dry (I'm a bit lax thus) it'll live longer.

 

[ducked]

I rather like tke the simplicity of boatlife. Sailing mostly solo for months I wash assambled underware every few days. If the sun doesn't shine I use a sweeper (image) to take first 50% of the moist out. And no, I don't use the device for letuce off course

That gizmo made/sold for the job, or is it a re-purposed salad spinner?
Does it get dryer than hand wringing?

 

[ducked]

If I was cruising round the world, living on the hook and having to take a dinghy ashore to do washing then I’d understand the attraction. As a holiday boat, hopping from marina to marina / harbour to harbour not so much.

For the cost of a washing machine, or more importantly the extra boat to accommodate a washing machine (and its running costs) you can buy a lot of spare pants and socks!

And shoes
To go in the Imelda Marcos Memorial hanging locker.

 

[potentillaCO32]

Weird outlook! Maybe if you actually took her opinions into account properly she’d be just as keen as you to use the boat! Ah I see the problem - if you think a washing machine is “to keep the wife happy” you’ve picked the wrong wife - or at least got the wrong outlook! Our boat was bought to keep us both happy and my wife spends almost as much time on board as me.

Why is that a weird outlook? If you look at the demographic of posters on here it must be 98% male or greater. Back in the early days of this forum there were several lady posters but i don't think many/any now.

Does that reflect the demographic of the sailing community? Probably not but it possibly reflects who drives the desire for boat ownership in families.

There are clearly many wives who happily sail with their husbands. And many on here.

However i would contend that is not the majority of cases and sailing wives are a happy minority.

I know many people who bought a boat for the galley, the shower, the nice open space and then their family barely went on it anyway.


Edit. retraction to this as I have just spotted it is in the motorboat forum. I think the demographics of motorboat use are far more family friendly than wet sailing boats that take all day to get out of the river.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Why is that a weird outlook? If you look at the demographic of posters on here it must be 98% male or greater. Back in the early days of this forum there were several lady posters but i don't think many/any now.

Does that reflect the demographic of the sailing community? Probably not but it possibly reflects who drives the desire for boat ownership in families.

There are clearly many wives who happily sail with their husbands. And many on here.

However i would contend that is not the majority of cases and sailing wives are a happy minority.

I know many people who bought a boat for the galley, the shower, the nice open space and then their family barely went on it anyway.


Edit. retraction to this as I have just spotted it is in the motorboat forum. I think the demographics of motorboat use are far more family friendly than wet sailing boats that take all day to get out of the river.

You’re sailing on the wrong sort of boat

 

[potentillaCO32]

You’re sailing on the wrong sort of boat

I knew I should have bought one of those triple hulled fast thingies.

Although a mouldy old boat might have been a cunning tactic to have some quiet alone time on the water.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Doesnt the sun blast that into powder in about a week? Would in Taiwan, but I suppose if you take in as soon as dry (I'm a bit lax thus) it'll live longer.

I guess it would do if we left it out in the sun. I imagine that the tropical sun in the Caribbean is just as strong as the tropical sun in Taiwan. However, we always hang it under the Bimini.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I guess it would do if we left it out in the sun. I imagine that the tropical sun in the Caribbean is just as strong as the tropical sun in Taiwan. However, we always hang it under the Bimini.

The sun presumably would have the same unfortunate effect on the laundry. Mrs Morris might not enjoy that.

 

[Sandydog2]

Why is that a weird outlook? If you look at the demographic of posters on here it must be 98% male or greater.

I’d genuinely like to know how you think you know this. Because they aren’t reporting some of the worst sexist posts, or some of the extremely offensive jokes on the joke thread ? Most people post under their boat name. I’m sure it’s true a lot of female posters have been driven away. A lot of stuff on these forums would get you disciplined in a modern workplace.

 

[Alicatt]

Never buy a boat to keep the wife happy. She won't go on it anyway and you will end up with a boat that you wouldn't have chosen.

It was down to my wife's choice of galley locations - now she complains about lack of space in the cockpit where the other boat had the galley further away but a bigger cockpit....

Funny thing is it's only on the boat that she does the cooking

 

[Alicatt]

Oh, the other thing it has that amused them but they didn't think essential is a powered, folding mast.

After a few times taking down a heavy radar arch and putting it back up manually they will change their minds ... ask me how I know

 

[Fr J Hackett]

The sun presumably would have the same unfortunate effect on the laundry. Mrs Morris might not enjoy that.

Depends on whether Mrs Morris's knickers are made of synthetic or natural materials. But we shouldn't be discussing such things.

 

[dunedin]

You’re sailing on the wrong sort of boat

Yes, and/or sailing in the wrong place. We are sailing in open water within 100m of the marina entrance, no tidal constraints, and a choice of 4 islands within 15 miles.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Depends on whether Mrs Morris's knickers are made of synthetic or natural materials. But we shouldn't be discussing such things.

I thought I was quite discreet. You’ve just blown the doors off.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

Yes, and/or sailing in the wrong place. We are sailing in open water within 100m of the marina entrance, no tidal constraints, and a choice of 4 islands within 15 miles.

We have just the one island, but we like it. It takes us about 10 mins to open water, but that’s because we got cheap on our mooring and have a swing bridge to negotiate. Beats me why people pay a fortune to be up the Hamble, or Beaulieu rivers. It’s bliddy miles to the sea, and what if the tide is against you?

 

[jon and michie]

I was going to say a cupboard with a Corby trouser press and a Iron with foldable ironing board (that's if there is no Passerselle fitted)

 

[SimonX]

After a few times taking down a heavy radar arch and putting it back up manually they will change their minds ... ask me how I know

The Broom we saw in Amsterdam had a powered arch and that looked very nifty although we didn’t see it operate as it was raining.
The Linssen has a foremast and it looks very easy to fold manually. I can’t find a video of the hydraulic one.

Turns out the hydraulic one wasn’t on the one we are interested in but a newer, more expensive one the same broker has.
Wife is very interested and keen for us to go look for ourselves although she is not supposed to travel for another week.

 

[potentillaCO32]

I’d genuinely like to know how you think you know this. Because they aren’t reporting some of the worst sexist posts, or some of the extremely offensive jokes on the joke thread ? Most people post under their boat name. I’m sure it’s true a lot of female posters have been driven away. A lot of stuff on these forums would get you disciplined in a modern workplace.

There have been threads on here in the past.

 

[Alicatt]

The

The Broom we saw in Amsterdam had a powered arch and that looked very nifty although we didn’t see it operate as it was raining.
The Linssen has a foremast and it looks very easy to fold manually. I can’t find a video of the hydraulic one.

Turns out the hydraulic one wasn’t on the one we are interested in but a newer, more expensive one the same broker has.
Wife is very interested and keen for us to go look for ourselves although she is not supposed to travel for another week.

The mast is no problem, just unclip the stays and fold it forward, the arch however after a few ups and downs the weld on the hinge broke, had to get the youngest son to come and re-weld it, his comments on how the hinge was aligned and the quality of the welding were not complimentary.
The hinges look fine when the mast is up, but they are slightly the wrong angle to fold without putting strain on the hinge.
I can put the arch up and down on my own but it is not that easy, and if the radar scanner was still on it then I doubt I could do it.

 

[ylop]

Why is that a weird outlook?

Because it’s 2026 and most people in a successful marriage, don’t expect the other partners views to be irrelevant, and enjoy doing (at least some) activities together.

If you look at the demographic of posters on here it must be 98% male or greater.
Back in the early days of this forum there were several lady posters but i don't think many/any now.

There’s definitely still a small handful but probably the “don’t listen to your wife’s view” nonsense chased many off! If you look at the demographics here you’d believe that sailors were almost all retired old men. Yet when I look around the water/marinas where I go, there seems to be plenty of women, and people of working age.

Does that reflect the demographic of the sailing community? Probably not but it possibly reflects who drives the desire for boat ownership in families.

my personal experience would contradict that. It’s possible we are “odd” but the OP is based on two couples looking to buy a boat together - and it sounded like it was the wives who were driving the cooperation rather than the husbands. I think the idea that men are boat owners and women let them get on with it probably dates to an era where men were breadwinners and so felt entitled to (or wives felt they should) decide on major purchases.

There are clearly many wives who happily sail with their husbands. And many on here.

Which answers your own question! Most people are married because they actually quite like their spouse (although may not admit it) and therefore an activity which involves spending large amounts of time is better if they work in partnership on it.

However i would contend that is not the majority of cases and sailing wives are a happy minority.

Not from what I see. Heck, there’s even women sailing on their own, or with other women! And do you know what? They aren’t sailing wildly different boats from the men - except for the really old codgers who are refer a (wet) hair shirt and are grumpily “enjoying” their MAB.

I know many people who bought a boat for the galley, the shower, the nice open space and then their family barely went on it anyway.

Do "men" like being in cramped, gloomy spaces with minimal sanitation and eating pot noodles? Or is it just easier to attribute having bought "comfort" to the "wife". If one's wife won't join them sailing on a nice comfortable boat - perhaps the problem is not the boat?

Edit. retraction to this as I have just spotted it is in the motorboat forum. I think the demographics of motorboat use are far more family friendly than wet sailing boats that take all day to get out of the river.

I’m not sure the distinction is as extreme as you think - although it might be for those who have chosen wet boats lurking up some murky river.