What type of people have boats?

[Tomahawk]

I seem to recall the RYA saying that boating of various guises is the most popular participatory sport across the UK when you take into account anglers, Kayacks, canal boats. So the question is possibly difficult to answer as there are so many guises of boating.

But I would like to propose that we all have one thing in common (yes raggies and stinkpotters together) ... we have all got disposable income to spend in a potentially expensive hobby. Which in turns means that in the main we are successful in life. From that I infer that boaters even canal boaters (I was going to say stinkpootters* but on second thoughts I think it is safer to take the Mik out of canal boaters as there are very few here) are reasonably capable and intelligent.

Would folks in the spirit of the Lounge disagree?

* I hope one is still allowed to have a jest with friends

 

[Alfie168]

For time on the water Illegal immigrants/ refugees must be included one tentatively surmises. They dont seem to have disposable income, well not any more they don't once they have paid the pirates who traffic them.

 

[Stemar]

I think most hobbies get expensive, but don't have to be. Yes, you need a bit of spare cash to join a club, but not much to use their dinghies on the local reservoir, just the same as you need a bit of cash to buy a tent and basic kit to go camping and pay site fees. When it gets serious, it gets a a good bit more expensive - just like buying your own dinghy, or getting a small cruiser. The equivalent of buying your "proper" cruiser - bigger MAB or AWB is getting a camper.

I'd put money on a lot of people who think boating is for rich gits spending more on tickets to football games and in the pub than I do on sailing.

 

[Tomahawk]

For time on the water Illegal immigrants/ refugees must be included one tentatively surmises. They dont seem to have disposable income, well not any more they don't once they have paid the pirates who traffic them.

That's a thought..
But are they actually participatory boaters or passengers?

 

[Tomahawk]

....

I'd put money on a lot of people who think boating is for rich gits spending more on tickets to football games and in the pub than I do on sailing.

Which points to my comment about boaters being reasonably intelligent?

 

[Blueboatman]

Lounge -virtual- boating ??

 

[XDC]

Which points to my comment about boaters being reasonably intelligent?

Apart from the ones talking about boating in The Lounge? ???

 

[Tomahawk]

Apart from the ones talking about boating in The Lounge? ???

I am not talking about boats..
I am talking about people ....who have boats

 

[Bouba]

To have a hobby (any hobby) means you are time rich.
The call of the sea (or ditch) is quite primordial. Even if you are a caravaner odds are you tow your box to the seaside

 

[Easticks28]

For time on the water Illegal immigrants/ refugees must be included one tentatively surmises. They dont seem to have disposable income, well not any more they don't once they have paid the pirates who traffic them.

Steady.... ?

 

[capnsensible]

I think most hobbies get expensive, but don't have to be. Yes, you need a bit of spare cash to join a club, but not much to use their dinghies on the local reservoir, just the same as you need a bit of cash to buy a tent and basic kit to go camping and pay site fees. When it gets serious, it gets a a good bit more expensive - just like buying your own dinghy, or getting a small cruiser. The equivalent of buying your "proper" cruiser - bigger MAB or AWB is getting a camper.

I'd put money on a lot of people who think boating is for rich gits spending more on tickets to football games and in the pub than I do on sailing.

What about yacht owners that are professional yachtsmen, love going to pubs to watch football and have got their own swimming pool? ?

 

[johnalison]

I don't think that the money I spent on boating in the '70s-'90s was any more than I would have spent on recreation and family holidays in the same period. One boat I sold at a 'profit' and the two cheaper ones not. I have to take into account the loss I incurred through not investing the money during a period of high interest rates, but all in all I don't think it was an extravagant hobby. In recent years it has become common for people to get into cruising at the expensive end of the market, but there are still plenty of ways of getting on the water without being wealthy.

 

[Sans Bateau]

To have a hobby (any hobby) means you are time rich.
The call of the sea (or ditch) is quite primordial. Even if you are a caravaner odds are you tow your box to the seaside

I think you are wrong there, if there is something you really want to do you make the time, other things do suffer though; visiting family and friends, the garden, attending other events etc. Boating becomes a way of life, unlike any other interest. Since selling our boat we have often said how the hell did we find time to use it, but we did.

 

[Davy_S]

What about the nutters who spend on Peleton, 2 grand for a bike and 40 notes a month, they must be barking, i could buy a bike for 40 quid and be just as fit.

 

[Never Grumble]

What about the nutters who spend on Peleton, 2 grand for a bike and 40 notes a month, they must be barking, i could buy a bike for 40 quid and be just as fit.

they are the same nutters who think we're nutters! People seemed to think owning a boat is extravagant. But then I dont buy take away coffee and if I go to work I make my own lunch.

 

[Alfie168]

That's a thought..
But are they actually participatory boaters or passengers?

They are passengers to start with, but once the wind and waves get up I suspect they become participants whether they like it or not.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

What about yacht owners that are professional yachtsmen, love going to pubs to watch football and have got their own swimming pool? ?

There is a place for everyone no matter how strange they may be. ?

 

[Caraway]

they are the same nutters who think we're nutters! People seemed to think owning a boat is extravagant. But then I dont buy take away coffee and if I go to work I make my own lunch.

I worked at a magazine, 2 or 3 days a month for a few years quite recently. The graphic designer would rarely have a coffee or tea when I made one. He would nip next door(ish) and get a Costa in a paper cup for a couple of quid.
We even had a filter coffee machine in the office. But he would rather spend money on (crap) coffee than bring his own coffee.

 

[SaltIre]

I worked at a magazine, 2 or 3 days a month for a few years quite recently. The graphic designer would rarely have a coffee or tea when I made one. He would nip next door(ish) and get a Costa in a paper cup for a couple of quid.
We even had a filter coffee machine in the office. But he would rather spend money on (crap) coffee than bring his own coffee.

There are a number of other explanations...
Did the Costa Coffee shop have bigger cups?
Did he have tea or coffee "in house" when somebody else made it?

 

[Blueboatman]

Joined up yachting for a crowded world of travel restrictions and ‘we envy your hobby’ taxes :

...Build a swimming pool in the garden , put a yacht in it ( reduces the displaced water fill bill) , sit on yacht and luxuriate , fly spinnaker tethered if you like , gangplank to decent flushing loos, , leccy power to on board beer cooler , sleep in yer own bed every night , sorted .
No mooring fees, no harbour dues, no annual lift out , insurance , fuel buying , winter storage ( just drain pool ) , no boat miles commute , no drink driving either ?
And put a tall hedge round it all if you’re not into ‘ look at me haven’t I succeeded ‘ status ..