What is a boat....really

[haulinvols]

It seems as of late, with the rising gas prices, and rising cost of ownership in general, that the age old addage of a boat just being a hole in the water you throw money in is correct. I have to admit I have done my fare share of complaining in the last couple of weeks, but after this weekend, no longer. This was the first weekend that all my friends and I have been able to really get together and hang out on the boats. We all work hectic schedules, and more hours than we would like, but as soon as we hit the water, all that stress just gets left in our wakes. Many of us have grown and gone our separate ways, leaving home, and starting new lives with new families, but those of us still around Knoxville remain close friends. So to me a boat is not just some vacume of funds, but a vehicle to revive old friendships, and start new ones. This has trully been the best purchase I have ever made, and I am sure after a fun filled weekend, many of you feel the same.:biggrin

[firehill19]

Matt, you are so correct. For me, when I get to the marina parking lot and make the long walk to the houseboat, i forget the problems i might have. And then to look over and see my Baja on the lift, i know "Life Is Good"! And it doesn't even matter that its a 1967 model houseboat and a 1991 model Baja. Its pure enjoyment for me and the Mrs.

[Beachin]

Matt,

You are right on the money with this statement. I would also add how great it was when as kids got older. They were always extremely busy and would always have reasons to not make some of the family trips or get togethers ,, unless it was to go boating. Then they could always figure out a way to make the trip. Many great memories created on the boat.

Ross

[hp500]

Matt
I agree with Beachin your right on the money. I think I am one of the lucky ones. I have had one kind of a boat or another for 38 years. I have a very high stress job and I own a company so when my wife and I go out in the boat I don't care how much gas I burn or how much it cost.:biggrin

[Pointerman1967]

Amen Brothers! A day on the water makes me feel like jello when I finally get home. I am never as relaxed as I am after a day of boating. I sleep like a baby and have great times with my friends and family. Besides, when you do the math the extra $.30 a gallon or so only comes out to around $20 (for those of us with OL 20s). Considering all of the other expenses involved here that just isn't that much.

It is worth every penny. I think we all complain to make everyone think it is a miserable hobby to prevent the waters from getting too crowded.

[Rusty Jug]

OK!! I will jump on the Band Wagon!!

Matt, your right!!:lol The boat is the best medicine a person can get to relieve stress and have some fun. I will admit Baja's do make it better.:dancinbanana


P.S. We won't talk about stress from boat problems!;)

[calvys]

I understand what you mean and how you feel about boating. this is my 3RD boat and my first baja. We live in canada and our boating season is short. So we only get to use our boat for 41/2 months out of the year. But we get to live at the lake for 3 months so if the weather is nice we are out on the water every day. Some people I know think Iam crazy for spending 40k on something I can only use for a short time through out the year. My wife and I are only 28 and we enjoy it immensely. we are lost when were not at the lake.I told her when I die I want her to take my ashes and throw them off the back of the boat into the wake at 60 mph.In the sun set.:evil 202 islander.

[Seize n Ticket]

Hell, Yes!!! We start talking about the next weekend on our way home on Sunday. It is unbelievable how much stress can be lost on a boat. People on and at the lake are generally much happier and easier to deal with. I can have a blast just hanging around the docks talking to friends. I have been a lake rat for years and hope it never changes to where we can't enjoy our favorite hobby.

[bajacraig]

It is unbelievable how much stress can be lost on a boat.

So that's what you were doin out in the rain :tiphat

:party

[xZenxNemox]

It definitly is my medicine of choice. No matter how bad a week @ work I have, I'm still smiling because I know exactly where I'll be on the weekend.

Currently I am dating a wonderful woman who has more work pressure than I have, she was skeptical about this "boating/floating" thing until 3 weeks ago. She is asking me at the beginning of the week what lake/cove we will be "relaxing" in next weekend.

Yes, it is a hole in the water we just toss our wallets in to and I love it!!

[thebigtman]

xZenx....,
I can't agree with you more. The wonderful lady that I'm dating was hooked the day we went out on my friend's Bayliner. When I told her I was looking at a few boats, she was excited.
I knew that if she had fun on my friend's Bayliner, I couldn't wait to see her face when I got her on a HP boat. Sure enough, when I took her for a test ride on the Baja she was pushing me to get the boat more than I was. I think she had a bigger smile than myself when she was driving.
Now, we look forward to revolving our weekends around the lake. Since we are both in high stress jobs, we feel that the money spent on the boat/water is only helping our longevity. In fact, it's hard to have one conversation without discussing the boat and the upcoming weekend.

[24OutlawSE]

Well here is my two cents.....When I bought my boat a few years ago I was so excited to finally have one of my own. My freinds and family almost immediately saw a change in my behavior and attitude. My Mom told me, the first winter I stored the boat, that she hadn't seen me so happy in a long time. I guess I kinda walk around with perma-smile. :biggrin
As many of you have said, I have also made new friends, rekindle old relationships, it's amazing how many people remember you when they find out you have a boat, and drank a ton of beer. Some of my favorite times aren't even on the boat at all. The dock parties are always a blast! Since my accident people have been asking me if I intend to sell the boat???? My answer "HELL NO"!!!! When I can get up and moving, you all know where I will be. Even if I can't take her out I can still visit her. Lay out on the deck with a few cold ones, good tunes on the stereo with just me and my thoughts to pass the time away.
My new girlfriend absolutely loves the boat also. We popped her Party Cove "cherry" last weekend. She's hooked. She was so cute. On Friday at LOTO we rolled into PC and within 30 seconds she tells me she loves this, then she preceded to tell me that in two years we can buy a house and a bigger boat at LOTO. All I heard was bigger boat. Right on....I think I love this gal. Later we were talking about it and I told I just want a shitty little trailer that doesn't cost a dime and spend all the money on the boat. Well she didn't like that idea. But hey she wants a bigger boat so I'm cool!
Anyways, yeah boats to me mean alot more than just a money pit. If I wasn't spending the money on the boat what the hell else would I be doing with it???? Stashing it away in some account making money for someone else so that my kids could have money when I die? I don't think so! Especially after my little incident. You have to live each day to the fullest and make the best out of your life here and now! You just never know what the next day will bring. So for me right now I want that hole on the water.

[ckmansell]

One motto always to live by........

If your home costs more than your boat, then your priorities are all f@#$ed up!!

[haulinvols]

Well said Tod:tiphat

[24OutlawSE]

That has got to be the best motto ever!!!!!!

[missouri]

Ahhhhh yes, the relaxing days on the sandbars with my beautiful girlfriend in her tiny bikini getting a tan....her friends in virtually nothing but still called a swimsuit fueling the fire for that evening....floating in coves at the lake knowing if you got too drunk, you just stayed all night in the boat, the only worry was cleaning off all the sand before sex....wonderful wonderful times, ahhhhh...

then I had kids! And they screwed everything up!
THEY, needed cloths! THEY, needed food! They, had to go to school! And I, had to pay for all this sh!t...

Now it's "hey DAD, the boats out of gas the jet ski has something stuck in the impeller the lift is stuck I didn't get my turn can you take me and my 7 friends to the party cove the seadoo is out of gas....where were these little a$$holes of mine when I was putting on the wax?
I HATE boating, in fact, I hate it so bad, I'm leaving in a half hour or so for the lake.

The only shining light I have is my youngest daughter Brooke, 8 , who after being givin the ok buy a therapist and blood test proved she was really mine, loves to help me clean and wax the boats!

[haulinvols]

:rollin :thatsfunny :rollin

[firehill19]

Dan, your too much.........:lol :lol :lol

[Rusty Jug]

Dan your to much!!!:lol :thatsfunny :lol

Go back to the tanning and and worrying about if I have the sand all off.

I have been married for 12 years and we tried to have kids for 6 years and now we have a 16 month old daughter. I can't believe how much a child changes your life. I have had to eat my words to many times on how a child would not change my life.:lol
But I would not change a thing!!!! I am going to train my daughter better than I did on my wife.;)

[jal4sas]

Good Luck training your daughter.. I've got two and they are a worse money drain than the Baja. Spoiled rotten brats, hmm, could be my fault, nah, must take after their mother.

:spineyes

[Pointerman1967]

My almost two year old sons loves boating. I just have to go a little slower with him on board so he doesn't get launched out of my wives arms when going over a cruiser wake. Looking forward to many years on the water with him and the joy of seeing him having as much fun as I am. :biggrin