Time for a break?

colhel

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9 Jan 2011
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I got back into boating in about 2010 after about a ten year break. So now after 12 years of sailing and motor boating being our main focus, my Wife and I had the discussion,should we do something else this year? With a house project on the go and the boat in the middle of a spruce up, I think its the right thing to do. Perhaps, with longer days and warmer weather, rather than trying to squeeze all the maintenance jobs in the Winter months, go a bit further in the Summer, ie engine out, fuel tanks properly cleaned etc etc.
Or re launch in a few weeks knowing there's still other jobs that though not essential, would be nice to get done.
 
Get the boat in the water. Get your fix, haul out late summer for those jobs and back in for winter glory days. No longer do I want to spend Jan- March on a freezing hard skinning knuckles and working in the freezing cold and dark while the winter storms rage. Thats for the birds man!
 
As BruceK says, enjoy the boat for a shorter Summer then lift out in August/September for the big work to begin then re-install in April/May.

Certainly boat yards should be a little quieter around those times to accommodate your needs and the heavy work will be done in the warmer months.
 
Its more to do with doing other stuff. I don't know about anyone else, but whenever we're invited to barbie or book a weekend away or a holiday, we're always hesitant incase we miss a good weekend boating. Maybe this year due to the boat being mid refit it might be an opportunity to do different things and be more sociable towards our non boaty friends and family. The boats in a nice spot albeit on the hard but we got the dinghy etc should we want a few hours on the water.
 
Its more to do with doing other stuff. I don't know about anyone else, but whenever we're invited to barbie or book a weekend away or a holiday, we're always hesitant incase we miss a good weekend boating.

Ahem! You need to be more organised. Send these out with the Christmas cards or at least make it your FB profile photo!

Boating Season.jpg
 
Just cos you have one you should not feel you are forced to use it. Others will cause you to feel that way. But it does not matter. If you use it good if you do something else also good.
 
Trouble is....metaphorically speaking, that once you close the shed door on a project its very tough to open to door again.

On the other hand, you need some credit in the emotional bank account with boating.

So, err, I dunno!
 
If you are minded to enjoy doing other things during the season whilst going the extra mile on the refit of the boat then I would go for it. The satisfaction of having the boat just as you want it will make it worthwhile in the longer term and you will enjoy being on the boat all the more having ‘missed‘ a season.

We are re-launching today and several months of flat out work on the boat and I am looking forward to boating this year but I have personally run out of steam and don’t have the appetite at the moment for things like engines out etc. That may come after a period of recuperation! ?
 
I wouldnt worry about it and go with the flow. If its a sort of chore to sort the boat out then time will tell what to do. Myself i would never get divided between the boat and folk. Not that i often go out to socialize anyway ha ha. Socializing is hard work ha ha.

As said above though, set aside a couple of months or so and keep that for the boat. if the time comes in that time to go and chatter then do so but dont feel bad if you dont go.

Do whats happier for you :)

from one boat obsessed antisocial boat faffer :)
 
The decision is made. Leave the boat on the hard for the time being where it'll be much easier to work on. The mooring is paid up till next January so I can always just get her dropped in later in year if I get the house finished and don't get invited to any barbecues.
 
Just to update. We're now working towards a launch date on the 24th October then move her round to her new home in Weymouth. Wareham has been a great base for the re-fit work the mooring was lovely, but just a bit too isolated for us.
So off to the boat show Friday with a small shopping list and "discuss next year's mooring plans" ?? .
We both think it's been worth having a break, not only to enable us to forge ahead with housey projects that would otherwise still be on the back burner, but having a refreshed boat and renewed enthusiasm.
 
Sounds as though the plan worked out and now you have a sorted boat and next season to look forward to! ?
 
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