Will it get any better?

[plk987]

After years of sailing and more recently gin palacing on my dads boats, I moved near the sea and decided to finally take the plunge into the world of boating.

I'm looking at the nice shiny boats on sail at LIBS but in the mean time I bought a nice little (v old-v cheap) fast fishing boat to practice on and get ready for the practical on my yachtmaster.

I've already come to terms with the fact my bank account is draining pretty quickly (gps, ff, radio,flares, life jackets, life jacket for the dog....?, engine service) etc, but what I didn't expect was the attitude of a large proportion of other boaters. I've had complete strangers walk up as I'm working on 'fast lady' (the wife says it has to change) and be down right rude. One to quote said 'people like you shouldn't own boats' especially a pile of c*** like that'.

Question is, will it get better when I have £50k worth of new boat...I expect so which makes me wonder if I want to get involved.

 

[gcwhite]

I am really surprised. Where do you keep the boat?

Envy is a terrible emotion

 

[Gludy]

I am frankly ashamed that some people can behave like that or even think that way. Just ignore them, for its is them who have the problem not you.

In answer to your question .... it should get better when you find a more normal place to keep the boat - I cannot imagine it being that bad everywhere.

 

[studgies]

Wow, never ever experienced that, we are gradualy working our way up boat wise but even with our first boat we could go anywhere and only get encouragement from others who started on similar boats!

As for the comment about people like you should not own boats, well I am of the oposite opinion, you are at least making the effort to yet some qualifications and it sounds like you genuinly like boating. The person that made the comment probubly has no idea what they are doing on a boat and only owns it as a status symbol.

Enjoy your boat I know we do, with any luck the comment was a one off but the wallet draining will only get worse!

 

[kindredspirit]

Never had any comments like that. Although, have, from time to time, "sensed yachties looking down on the fact that I just have a motor boat". No-one ever made a derisory comment though.

Where do you keep your boat? Anyway anyone who's sarcastic just puts their own character down.



.

 

[plk987]

I live on Alderney, there does seem to be three groups of boat owners; those who live abroad and store their boat here ( moorings are only £400 a year), genuine local enthusiasts who are very warm and welcoming, and professionals. It's the first and especially last group who are the most difficult. One ex-fisherman is very vocal on the subject of how non-professionals should not be allowed to own boats....period.

 

[gcwhite]

Yes, I have experienced this from fishermen. They also seem to delight in ignoring the ColRegs when leisure boats are involved.

My experience with other boaters whether sailing yachts or power yachts has been good.

 

[gonfishing]

Yes it will without a doubt, I am almost at the bottom of the boat owning food chain and have made numerous friends over the last 3 yrs, since being Marina based,
I am surprised you have received that sort of response, considering that you live on a small Island, where boat ownership of some sort would be accepted as the norm!! If I remember rightly there is another forumite on Alderney who goes by the name Blue Blazes, He doesn;t visit here often last I heard he was taking on a restoration project.

Any way good luck and just ignore the idiots

 

[Roy]

I agree totally with Gludys sentiments. There are nasty people in this world, but thankfully not many around boating!

 

[kindredspirit]

Had exactly the opposite experience with fishermen. I've always found them friendly and co-operative and helpful.

And when I go into a strange port, the first people I chat to, are local fishermen, for local tips and pilotage.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

And the fisherman wil be right, of course, with his vast experience and his salty-dog tall-tales...

Err, no! This type of pain-in-the-arse bloke can be seen putting out to sea in his aging rusty knackered old tub, with its rusty streaks and rusty old lobster cages banging against the knackered gunwhales. And the hidious blue hull pain that was applied with a yard brush 10 years ago, is flaking off in sheets to reveal the dangerously knackered planking. Whilst up on deck he has managed to leave lying around, all manner of useless rusty artifacts, perloined from visits to various ports. And all the filthy rubbish, nets, ropes, plastic bottles, and all manner of detritus that you have ever encountered out at sea or on an otherwise lovely beach, were tossed careless overboard by blokes like him. And its blokes like him that choke up any nice harbour with their stinking, poorly serviced, knackered diesels, which they leave running all the time, coz they would never get 'em started again if they switched them off.

Get the picture?

Take no notice (as I'm sure you will) of this type of fishy-bloke.

Welcome to this forum, which is full of all sorts of boaters from all walks of life, with boats big and small, expensive and cheap. If it floats and it motors, then you are OK here with us.

Cheers
Dave

 

[hlb]

Well Alderney is not noted as posh boaty land, it must be rough as a bears arse for them to complain!! Only joking /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

By the was, when is my favourite pub. The Divers. Reopening, hope they dont change it much, and have they saved the pork pies!!!

 

[duncan]

no chance a gentleman with similar views to yourself considers our new friend to actual fall into this 'fisheman' category Dave?

Welcome anyhow, it will vary rather than get better; you should however stand a reasonable chance of making more friends' than enemies. Hope the restoration goes well and look forward to meeting you in Braye or on the banks.

 

[plk987]

thanks all..made me feel much better....

hlb...the Divers is a long way from completion I'm afraid, maybe next year.

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Yeah - large amounts of tongue-in-cheek here Duncan (exept for the original ex-fisherman in question) and it should be read as if you were listening to Basil Fawlty delivering one of his best long-sentence, non-stop diatribes like the "Torquay Hotel Window" sketch. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif