Why are motorboaters generally nicer than people who sail?

[Searush]

Noticed in marinas, during my sailboat tidal dayskipper practical and elsewhere that generally people who motorboat are nicer than people who sail, why is that? Many people who sail seem to have a stick up their *** like we say in Swedish?

Any thoughts on this fascinating subject? i love sailing, my wife just doesnt like people who sail, and often I agree with her..

How odd that you think that. I find that ass holes are still ass holes, whatever they drive or sail. In general, people are more approachable, chatty & friendly the further North you go in the UK. It seems to be partly linked to population density, where humans are crowded together they seem to become less sociable & more private.

Maybe as you gain experience your attitude & opinion will change, mine has, especially as I have good friends on both sides of the alleged divide.

 

[KevB]

The only difference I have noticed is it's slightly in the favour of a mobo'er starting up the initial conversation. Beyond that, no difference.

 

[bigwow]

The only difference I have noticed is it's slightly in the favour of a mobo'er starting up the initial conversation. Beyond that, no difference.

Is this something to do with the size of their "funbox"?

 

[KevB]

The only difference I have noticed is it's slightly in the favour of a mobo'er starting up the initial conversation. Beyond that, no difference.

Normally with something stupid like "How do cope with all those ropes. It'll confuse me"

 

[KevB]

Is this something to do with the size of their "funbox"?

Probably because the mobo'er has been tide up for four hours and slightly intoxicated so doesn't give a stuff who he speaks to :encouragement:

 

[volvopaul]

How odd that you think that. I find that ass holes are still ass holes, whatever they drive or sail. In general, people are more approachable, chatty & friendly the further North you go in the UK. It seems to be partly linked to population density, where humans are crowded together they seem to become less sociable & more private.

Maybe as you gain experience your attitude & opinion will change, mine has, especially as I have good friends on both sides of the alleged divide.

I'd agree with that , especially the up north bit .

I have friends and customers on both sides but I will say from experience this . Some years back we were moored in berthon for a night , we met a couple in the pub over dog chat as they had one too, we chatted for quite some time discussing how long we had been boating , never was the point raised As to what floaty type either we're . The next day we bumped into them again and the subject was broached.
When I told them I had a stinky you could have cut the air with a knife!! In which they just walked off In the opposite direction .

 

[Fantasie 19]

..generally people who motorboat are nicer than people who sail, why is that?

Then you're mixing with the wrong types...

PS. I fought the urge to just respond "plank"... Why do people feel the need to continually do-down fellow boat owners just because of their choice of motive power????

 

[Seahope]

Perhaps Mobo owners know that at some point that they will suffer some sort of mechanical failure and therefore will need help - so it isn't a good strategy to deliberately antagonize fellow boaters.

 

[KevB]

Perhaps Mobo owners know that at some point that they will suffer some sort of mechanical failure and therefore will need help - so it isn't a good strategy to deliberately antagonize fellow boaters.

We've been sussed fellas!

 

[Greenheart]

...met a couple in the pub...chatted for quite some time...next day we bumped into them again...When I told them I had a stinky you could have cut the air with a knife...they just walked off...

That's pretty extreme! Sounds like a sort of fervent religious intolerance. I suppose very insecure people stick exclusively with others of their outlook, avoiding any of a different mind...

...but in yachting circles, anyone that averse to differences is likely to have few pals even amongst sailing crews...sounds more like a foolish, friendless pursuit of exclusivity itself.

 

[Nigelpickin]

Those who agree with the OP, (myself included), are probably not detecting contempt, more likely just a difference.

It is perfectly reasonable to broadly categorise folk by their tastes , hobbies and past-times, football supporters differ from rugby fans, snow boarders are very different to skiers, Northerners like pies and southerners prefer couscous...

The two hobbies might share the same arena but they are very different and so are their subscribers...same goes for our past time....

Oh and of course the raggies are in the main, bitter and jealous

 

[rustybarge]

Those who agree with the OP, (myself included), are probably not detecting contempt, more likely just a difference.

It is perfectly reasonable to broadly categorise folk by their tastes , hobbies and past-times, football supporters differ from rugby fans, snow boarders are very different to skiers, Northerners like pies and southerners prefer couscous...

The two hobbies might share the same arena but they are very different and so are their subscribers...same goes for our past time....

Oh and of course the raggies are in the main, bitter and jealous

I think it's more of a social thing, just like golfers. New members of the golf club aren't there a wet day before they are taking on the affectations of the social melee; committees, speeches, dress codes etc etc...

Same for saily people, they are all club members, blazer wearing commodores on the committee boat blaa blaa blaa....

Most mobo owners are just ordinary people having fun on their boats, and not members of snooty clubs.

 

[l'escargot]

I'd agree with that , especially the up north bit .

I have friends and customers on both sides but I will say from experience this . Some years back we were moored in berthon for a night , we met a couple in the pub over dog chat as they had one too, we chatted for quite some time discussing how long we had been boating , never was the point raised As to what floaty type either we're . The next day we bumped into them again and the subject was broached.
When I told them I had a stinky you could have cut the air with a knife!! In which they just walked off In the opposite direction .

Funnily enough we had a similar experience, but the other way round, some years ago in Beaulieu...

 

[l'escargot]

....Oh and of course the raggies are in the main, bitter and jealous

...see all the bitterness and jealousy that comes out when comparing fuel bills - I think I must have bought nearly 20 gallons in the last year...:encouragement:

 

[Greenheart]

The two hobbies might share the same arena but they are very different and so are their subscribers...

How true.

I'm reminded of one of those prisoner-of-war films, where one bunch of POWs is busy chasing a football, and another group is endeavouring to perform a Shakespeare tragedy...

...the noisy boisterousness of the sporty lot, doesn't gel at all happily with the subtle pursuit of something less easily defined, by the others.

But the mistake made by motor-boatists, is to expect sociability. Simple courtesy, sure, as one may expect courtesy in a car-park. But don't expect to find anything else in common.

Oh and of course the raggies are in the main, bitter and jealous

There, sir, albeit in humour, you perpetuate the foul ignorance that is easily as bad as all the weird, objectionable airs of superiority exhibited in certain wilfully aloof sail-racing clubs.

There is a dominant mass of amateurs afloat, probably 80%, who know broadly how to behave. At one end is a small, mad 10%, determined to propagate a belief in their superiority...

...at the opposite end is another 10% of grumpies, who seem sure that almost anyone who uses sails, must be the freaky, over-dressed, exclusivity-squadron types. We're really not.

 

[ricky_s]

Always an interesting subject and one that brings a smile to my face.

I must admit that since getting a "Peche Promenade" we seem much more acceptable to sailors than we did when we have a sportsboat.

 

[l'escargot]

....But the mistake made by motor-boatists, is to expect sociability...

I think there you have identified an important distinction. It never ceases to amaze me how many people you see in even small motorboats or RIBs, 6 or 8 is not at all unusual, and even more in larger boats - stinkies seem to want to share their boats with groups of friends (is it to share the fuel bill out ) and treat the whole event a social gathering. Whereas raggies, apart from school boats and charters, tend to be crews of 2 or 4, more often than not immediate family. There isn't generally a desire to bring along another family or two for the day. I look at sailing time as time with SWMBO with daughter and partner sometimes coming along forcing me to tidy up the spare cabin...

 

[Sandy]

Noticed in marinas, during my sailboat tidal dayskipper practical and elsewhere that generally people who motorboat are nicer than people who sail, why is that? Many people who sail seem to have a stick up their *** like we say in Swedish?

Any thoughts on this fascinating subject? i love sailing, my wife just doesnt like people who sail, and often I agree with her..

I find the world full of lovely people, I suggest you are going to the wrong places.

 

[oldgit]

I think I must have bought nearly 20 gallons in the last year...:encouragement:

H,mm most of us Moboers drink more gin than that

"Most mobo owners are just ordinary people having fun on their boats, and not members of snooty clubs. "
Oi....most club members are ordinary folk having fun in their boats...

You can always tell those few weeks before the season get properly underway...all the grumpy posts !

 

[Greenheart]

I think there you have identified an important distinction. It never ceases to amaze me how many people you see in even small motorboats or RIBs, 6 or 8 is not at all unusual, and even more in larger boats - stinkies seem to want to share their boats with groups of friends (is it to share the fuel bill out ) and treat the whole event a social gathering. Whereas raggies, apart from school boats and charters, tend to be crews of 2 or 4, more often than not immediate family. There isn't generally a desire to bring along another family or two for the day. I look at sailing time as time with SWMBO with daughter and partner sometimes coming along forcing me to tidy up the spare cabin...

Well said, L'escargot.

The whole challenge that underscores navigation under sail, requires continuous calm concentration and consideration of the various forces that influence movement of the boat...

...a group of people close at hand, all waving and yelling or chattering or laughing, however happily and agreeably, makes it harder to apply the mental process required...

...whereas in many cases, the whole purpose of a motor-boat trip seems to be encouragement of noisy, delirious excitement. And if indeed the motor-boat is going somewhere rather than just round in thrilling circles, the main objective often appears to be covering distance as quickly as possible...suggesting that being aboard is much less significant than arriving.

That couldn't be more different from journeying under sail - wherein a passage that is carefully planned, maintained, modified if required and finally concluded without exciting incident, is in every case a rewarding achievement. No need for blasting noise, acceleration, wave-top bouncing or conspicuous arrivals; the calm work of sailing is what we like about it.

So perhaps sailing men are less gregarious than motor-boaters - it's the result of focussed mental processing: continuously essential under sail; largely optional under power...

...and that must split the parties that do these separate activities, into different types. No need to be offended by the difference when you meet it; just keep a respectful distance.