A Lake Full of Unused Boats and Docks (borrow my kayaks for free)

[Bob W]

So I live in a very large lake community in the Midwesst.  (Lake of the Ozarks)     I seldom actually go on the lake but Saturday and Sunday were exceptions.    Took the kayaks out and paddled about a mile up the cove to the main channel both days.   

My observations --  I saw boats ranging in price from 10-800K setting in tricked out teaky barred docks.  It was kinda eerie that so few of the boats were being used on a summer weekend.   I'm guestimating that I saw 200 boats in dock.   The other thing that was freaky is that I saw so few people out.   I think I saw 4 kids jumping on one of those big floating mats.   I did see several boats idle in from the main channel to the gas dock and restaurant. 

I also saw houses that ranged from mobile homes to $700,000 tricked out lake houses with mini water falls.

I had my mustachian glasses on and could only add the dollars spent vs. enjoyment people were getting from their high dollar boats and houses. 

We had a family reunion and probably spent $600 for my portion of the family.   We took turns paddling our inexpensive kayaks.   We enjoyed the amenities of the resort, sitting pool side and using the state's longest water slide.  Fished off the deck and caught several.  Partied a lot.  Danced to the live band and disco, visited and generally cooked our own chow. Kids had a great time as well as everyone else. 

It was fun -- but was it fun enough that I would invest $600,000 in a lake house boat set up?

Nope --- We already booked for next year at the resort though.    Why own the cow when you can get the milk so cheap?

 

[Apocalyptica602]

Sad part is, the people were probably traveling or at the office for whatever high paying job or jobs that they need to work to afford those boats and lakefront houses.

Cue "Two happiest day's of a man's life ---" boating quote.

Not that I have anything against boats, but I feel that they definitely require a super high utilization rate to even begin to justify even a moderately priced boat.

[zephyr911]

I've had this same reflection on visiting nearly every beachfront in the U.S.... so many high-end properties that just sit there sucking up maintenance costs, such resources expended to keep these places ready for their owners.

I could cure world hunger pretty fast if I had command of all that.

[Bob W]

We used to go out with some friends on their $600,000 boat.  Nice boat!   

I used to like to do the math in my head for fun.    100 K down = 10 K in lost interest,  50K in annual interest,  50K in depreciation,  5K in docking,  5K in gas,  5K in taxes.  So yeah maybe around $125K per year.  But he said "the interest in deductible."

We figured they used the boat for about 125 hours per year and logged 500 miles.

Cost per hour $1,000.   Cost per mile $250.   The boat owned them. 

I wonder if I could rent a decent boat for the 4 actual days per year I would want to use it for $8,000 per day?   

The way I figure it, I had way more fun kayaking as I was actually using my boat.   My cost for 2 -  $400 all in so an annual interest cost of $40 -- no depreciation, no docking, no gas,  no taxes.  We do spend around $150 in shuttle fees annually.   So our annual cost is maybe $200.   We use them approximately 50 hours per year so our cost is about $4 per hour.   

Hey, and if you are ever in the Lake of the Ozarks area -- I'll do you a solid and loan them to you for free! I'll also advise you on the best rivers and lake spots.

[zephyr911]

We used to go out with some friends on their $600,000 boat.  Nice boat!   

I used to like to do the math in my head for fun.    100 K down = 10 K in lost interest,  50K in annual interest,  50K in depreciation,  5K in docking,  5K in gas,  5K in taxes.  So yeah maybe around $125K per year.  But he said "the interest in deductible."

We figured they used the boat for about 125 hours per year and logged 500 miles.

Cost per hour $1,000.   Cost per mile $250.   The boat owned them. 

I wonder if I could rent a decent boat for the 4 actual days per year I would want to use it for $8,000 per day?   

The way I figure it, I had way more fun kayaking as I was actually using my boat.   My cost for 2 -  $400 all in so an annual interest cost of $40 -- no depreciation, no docking, no gas,  no taxes.  We do spend around $150 in shuttle fees annually.   So our annual cost is maybe $200.   We use them approximately 50 hours per year so our cost is about $4 per hour.   

Hey, and if you are ever in the Lake of the Ozarks area -- I'll do you a solid and loan them to you for free! I'll also advise you on the best rivers and lake spots.

If you're serious, I might take you up someday. I love paddling and I do have a 'yak of my own, but hauling it is sort of a pain.

[brooklynguy]

In a somewhat related phenomenon at the other extreme, a few years ago a study in a nearby neighborhood in Brooklyn revealed that 45% of the motorists on the road at a given time were driving around in search of a parking spot.

[Bob W]

We used to go out with some friends on their $600,000 boat.  Nice boat!   

I used to like to do the math in my head for fun.    100 K down = 10 K in lost interest,  50K in annual interest,  50K in depreciation,  5K in docking,  5K in gas,  5K in taxes.  So yeah maybe around $125K per year.  But he said "the interest in deductible."

We figured they used the boat for about 125 hours per year and logged 500 miles.

Cost per hour $1,000.   Cost per mile $250.   The boat owned them. 

I wonder if I could rent a decent boat for the 4 actual days per year I would want to use it for $8,000 per day?   

The way I figure it, I had way more fun kayaking as I was actually using my boat.   My cost for 2 -  $400 all in so an annual interest cost of $40 -- no depreciation, no docking, no gas,  no taxes.  We do spend around $150 in shuttle fees annually.   So our annual cost is maybe $200.   We use them approximately 50 hours per year so our cost is about $4 per hour.   

Hey, and if you are ever in the Lake of the Ozarks area -- I'll do you a solid and loan them to you for free! I'll also advise you on the best rivers and lake spots.

If you're serious, I might take you up someday. I love paddling and I do have a 'yak of my own, but hauling it is sort of a pain.

Of course I'm serious!!   I hate to see unused assets just sitting around.    I have 3 kayaks and a large coleman scanoe as well.  No motor.  No trailer.  I roof top carry and have the pads and tie downs as well.   May eventually buy a trailer to haul boats and camping crap as well. 

So yeah,  any Mustachians are welcome.  I can tell you the cool camping sites as well. 

[BTDretire]

Sad part is, the people were probably traveling or at the office for whatever high paying job or jobs that they need to work to afford those boats and lakefront houses.

Cue "Two happiest day's of a man's life ---" boating quote.

Not that I have anything against boats, but I feel that they definitely require a super high utilization rate to even begin to justify even a moderately priced boat.

 I've told several potential boat buyers, "find a friend with a boat and buy the fuel when you go out in his boat."
I don't know how many took my advice, but it's free to you all.

[Debts_of_Despair]

Rule of thumb: the size of the boat or vacation home is inversely proportional to how much it is used.

[forummm]

In a somewhat related phenomenon at the other extreme, a few years ago a study in a nearby neighborhood in Brooklyn revealed that 45% of the motorists on the road at a given time were driving around in search of a parking spot.

Other congested areas have similar findings. The High Cost of Free Parking is a great (and very long) book if you care about urban planning issues.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/15/business/economy/15view.html
http://www.uctc.net/papers/351.pdf

[zephyr911]

Rule of thumb: the size of the boat or vacation home is inversely proportional to how much it is used.

Mostly because people who have the really spendy ones are too busy at the office paying for them to actually use them.
I used to run along Tybee Island at night and lament all the dark windows in the shoulder season... it's downright sad that people would pay hundreds of thousands (or millions) for such lovely property and only see it a few days a year.

[Slee_stack]

Sad part is, the people were probably traveling or at the office for whatever high paying job or jobs that they need to work to afford those boats and lakefront houses.

Cue "Two happiest day's of a man's life ---" boating quote.

Not that I have anything against boats, but I feel that they definitely require a super high utilization rate to even begin to justify even a moderately priced boat.

 I've told several potential boat buyers, "find a friend with a boat and buy the fuel when you go out in his boat."
I don't know how many took my advice, but it's free to you all.

Always subscribed to exactly this.  Not just for boats, but all toys, vacation homes etc.

Even with something like a kayak, I'll rent it because I just don't use them often enough to justify storing or transporting one.

[AZDude]

Read the thread title wrong, so I thought this was going to be about "borrowing" other people's kayaks without permission to save money. Relieved to find out otherwise.

[Bob W]

My guess would be that at the homes that actually had people if I would have brought my cute 8 year olds son and asked to borrow their kayaks they would have said yes.   In fact,  people can be so darn nice around here they may have just taken us for a spin in their boat just to have something to do with it.

Reminds me at the bar on Saturday night.   I met some gents and the older guy kept insisting to buy me drinks.   He bought me two.  I ended up giving one away. 

[CU Tiger]

My husband wanted to sail. We live and work near the Chesapeake Bay. At his work they have a great sailing club. For $100 per year he gets to use the club's three boats for a low fee per trip. He is now a water instructor, and gets almost all his hours for free.

Most people who have boats at the same marina the club uses take their boats out five or six times a summer. It is crazy.

[OneDollarAtATime]

We used to go out with some friends on their $600,000 boat.  Nice boat!   

I used to like to do the math in my head for fun.    100 K down = 10 K in lost interest,  50K in annual interest,  50K in depreciation,  5K in docking,  5K in gas,  5K in taxes.  So yeah maybe around $125K per year.  But he said "the interest in deductible."

We figured they used the boat for about 125 hours per year and logged 500 miles.

Cost per hour $1,000.   Cost per mile $250.   The boat owned them. 

I wonder if I could rent a decent boat for the 4 actual days per year I would want to use it for $8,000 per day?   

The way I figure it, I had way more fun kayaking as I was actually using my boat.   My cost for 2 -  $400 all in so an annual interest cost of $40 -- no depreciation, no docking, no gas,  no taxes.  We do spend around $150 in shuttle fees annually.   So our annual cost is maybe $200.   We use them approximately 50 hours per year so our cost is about $4 per hour.   

Hey, and if you are ever in the Lake of the Ozarks area -- I'll do you a solid and loan them to you for free! I'll also advise you on the best rivers and lake spots.

And this doesn't even include the insurance!  On a $600,000 boat?!!?!

[Bob W]

Whoops forgot the insurance.   So add another 2k per year.   

[Bric-a-Brac]

I would never own an expensive boat.  The semi-rational thing I hated about home ownership -- the anxiety that water is slowly destroying my huge investment -- is an absolute fact with boats.

That said, other people's boats are awesome.  I'm going to be using this website to hitch rides on sailboats as I make my way around the world over the next few years.  It's so exciting!

[Bob W]

I would never own an expensive boat.  The semi-rational thing I hated about home ownership -- the anxiety that water is slowly destroying my huge investment -- is an absolute fact with boats.

That said, other people's boats are awesome.  I'm going to be using this website to hitch rides on sailboats as I make my way around the world over the next few years.  It's so exciting!

Oh yeah,  totally agree that OPBs are awesome when they take me along. 

[shotgunwilly]

Sad part is, the people were probably traveling or at the office for whatever high paying job or jobs that they need to work to afford those boats and lakefront houses.

Cue "Two happiest day's of a man's life ---" boating quote.

Not that I have anything against boats, but I feel that they definitely require a super high utilization rate to even begin to justify even a moderately priced boat.

My main hobby is fishing (out of a boat).  I own a fairly nice bass boat and I use it ALOT.  I still tell people boats aren't worth owning whenever a friend mentions they wish they had a boat or contemplate buying one.  You better use the thing ALL the time if you want to make it worth it.  They definitely are a pain in the ass. 

[iamlittlehedgehog]

Being in the Florida this seems to be the land of under-used boats. However some brilliant business-minded entrepreneur set up a fairly lucrative boat share company throughout the state. You just need to be of age, have you boating license and pay the yearly fee which is on a staggered system, or at least used to be. 

[Gone Fishing]

My grandparents live on a lake.  We used to spend several weeks there each summer.  When I was a kid, the boat traffic would become almost obscene, to the point all you could do was a left hand loop around the lake like a race track.  Over the years, most of the year round residents have been bought out by weekenders that only show up occasionally.  Now the boat traffic is quite tolerable.  I guess there are some upsides to other's idle assets.   

[Dicey]

Tangent warning: I live in CA, where this situation is rampant at lakes everywhere, due to extreme drought conditions. Scary as shit, yet people don't get the importance of conservation, which really pisses me off. End of rant.

[Le Poisson]

Selling my sailboat was my toughest step to coming into mustachy ways. I still miss it. It wasn't much of a boat - a Catalina 25, but it was mine and it was an escape.

I paid $6500 for it, and spent more in slip fees/maintenance than it was worth every year. We raced on Wednesday nights - the most fun you can have a 11 km/h. On th eboat my daughter would open up to me and share secrets that I would never have heard elsewhere, and we had friends at the marinas and yacht clubs all over the lake. Momma hated it, and she feared for the kids' safety so it wasn't much of a family pursuit, but I loved it. And I miss it.

Now what you are saying about the boats sitting there is absolutely true. In every marina the boats are 95% toys and 5% houses. A liveaboard lifestyle can actually be extremely mustachian, but very few would have the fortitude for it. I did the math once and the break
even point between owning a house and living on a boat is at 3 years. After 3 years, the liveaboard model kicks home ownership's butt, but only if you never leave the dock and don't maintain the boat.

I dream of a Caribbean charter or sailing around the Dalmatia coast, or gunkholing along the Beagle Channel - of course those are just dreams, but with my own boat, I could at least live a sort of proxy for that. 

I gave sailing up (reluctantly) so I could live a better life and sometimes I wonder if it was my quality of life change that was a mistake. For me anyways, there is something mystical about standing in the cockpit, tiller in hand - watching the clouds build and anticipating the puffs and gusts, then trimming for the wind and feeling the boat surge beneath me as we took off across the lake. Once I'm FIRE, I may buy a dinghy or a trailer sailer. I dunno.

[Bob W]

Selling my sailboat was my toughest step to coming into mustachy ways. I still miss it. It wasn't much of a boat - a Catalina 25, but it was mine and it was an escape.

I paid $6500 for it, and spent more in slip fees/maintenance than it was worth every year. We raced on Wednesday nights - the most fun you can have a 11 km/h. On th eboat my daughter would open up to me and share secrets that I would never have heard elsewhere, and we had friends at the marinas and yacht clubs all over the lake. Momma hated it, and she feared for the kids' safety so it wasn't much of a family pursuit, but I loved it. And I miss it.

Now what you are saying about the boats sitting there is absolutely true. In every marina the boats are 95% toys and 5% houses. A liveaboard lifestyle can actually be extremely mustachian, but very few would have the fortitude for it. I did the math once and the break
even point between owning a house and living on a boat is at 3 years. After 3 years, the liveaboard model kicks home ownership's butt, but only if you never leave the dock and don't maintain the boat.

I dream of a Caribbean charter or sailing around the Dalmatia coast, or gunkholing along the Beagle Channel - of course those are just dreams, but with my own boat, I could at least live a sort of proxy for that. 

I gave sailing up (reluctantly) so I could live a better life and sometimes I wonder if it was my quality of life change that was a mistake. For me anyways, there is something mystical about standing in the cockpit, tiller in hand - watching the clouds build and anticipating the puffs and gusts, then trimming for the wind and feeling the boat surge beneath me as we took off across the lake. Once I'm FIRE, I may buy a dinghy or a trailer sailer. I dunno.

Sounds amazing --  And a $6,500 boat sounds reasonable.  Especially if you used it 20 times per year.   Heck around here you can buy a $6,500 pontoon in November,  use it for 2 seasons,  clean it up and sell it for $6,500 that spring.   Still a bit of a cost but not a bad strategy if you actually use it.   The reason those pontoons are for sale though is that generally people come to the realization in year 3 that they only used the boat for 2 days that year. 

[SailorGirl]

We live on our sailboat as do a dozen or so others at this marina.  We rarely go out because it involves packing up "the house" and stashing anything that is loose, which means that if you show up for a weekend you'll likely see us as one of those unused vessels.  Slip fees are about $400 a month and include water, sewage, wifi and a small workout room.  It also includes quiet days, friendly neighbors and glorious sunsets.

Not only do you not need a $600,000 boat to live on, you can easily maintain your home for quite a bit less than something on land.  My WR is 1.3% when I choose not to work the 2 hours a day I need to cover my expenses.  Sounds pretty Mustachian to me.

[Bob W]

We live on our sailboat as do a dozen or so others at this marina.  We rarely go out because it involves packing up "the house" and stashing anything that is loose, which means that if you show up for a weekend you'll likely see us as one of those unused vessels.  Slip fees are about $400 a month and include water, sewage, wifi and a small workout room.  It also includes quiet days, friendly neighbors and glorious sunsets.

Not only do you not need a $600,000 boat to live on, you can easily maintain your home for quite a bit less than something on land.  My WR is 1.3% when I choose not to work the 2 hours a day I need to cover my expenses.  Sounds pretty Mustachian to me.

Does to me as well.   

You would freeze your ass off in our subzero degree winters around here.   In fact,  what I was describing was the busy season.  After labor day there will only be a handful of boats on the lake and close to zero after Halloween.   All that money just sit around 100% of the time for 8 months and 95% of the time for the other 4 months.   

I think the living on a boat makes a lot of sense in many areas and I would consider it.   

[Leftside]

We live on our sailboat as do a dozen or so others at this marina.  We rarely go out because it involves packing up "the house" and stashing anything that is loose, which means that if you show up for a weekend you'll likely see us as one of those unused vessels.  Slip fees are about $400 a month and include water, sewage, wifi and a small workout room.  It also includes quiet days, friendly neighbors and glorious sunsets.

Not only do you not need a $600,000 boat to live on, you can easily maintain your home for quite a bit less than something on land.  My WR is 1.3% when I choose not to work the 2 hours a day I need to cover my expenses.  Sounds pretty Mustachian to me.

I have a few questions for you if you don't mind.

What size boat do you live on?  Is it a yacht type, or a houseboat type?  What did it cost and what does it cost to maintain?

Do you ever get cabin fever as in not enough room?  What about pets like dogs, do you have an area where you can bring them to let them exercise?

Lastly, does yours have a larger/normal size bathroom and shower?  every time I think about doing the RV/boat thing, I shudder when I think about how small most of those bathrooms are.

[SailorGirl]

We live on our sailboat as do a dozen or so others at this marina.  We rarely go out because it involves packing up "the house" and stashing anything that is loose, which means that if you show up for a weekend you'll likely see us as one of those unused vessels.  Slip fees are about $400 a month and include water, sewage, wifi and a small workout room.  It also includes quiet days, friendly neighbors and glorious sunsets.

Not only do you not need a $600,000 boat to live on, you can easily maintain your home for quite a bit less than something on land.  My WR is 1.3% when I choose not to work the 2 hours a day I need to cover my expenses.  Sounds pretty Mustachian to me.

I have a few questions for you if you don't mind.

What size boat do you live on?  Is it a yacht type, or a houseboat type?  What did it cost and what does it cost to maintain?

Do you ever get cabin fever as in not enough room?  What about pets like dogs, do you have an area where you can bring them to let them exercise?

Lastly, does yours have a larger/normal size bathroom and shower?  every time I think about doing the RV/boat thing, I shudder when I think about how small most of those bathrooms are.

$30k about ten years ago.  The boyfriend bought it when he got divorced.

36 foot sailboat, not a houseboat at all and it is completely seaworthy.  Maintenance costs are almost zero while we're at the dock, but other repairs/replacements aren't that bad because we (well....he) does all the repairs himself.  We have the time to shop around for most things so even parts aren't too scary.

If the cabin starts to feel crowded, either of us can go out for a walk or just sit on deck and read a book.  If you consider the world as your back yard, it isn't small at all.  :)

We have cats and they sleep most of the day, checking out the world outside periodically until it's dark enough that they can wander the docks without fear of being seen.  Many others have dogs that they take up the hill for a walk.  There's a park less than half a mile away that's kind of a default off-leash area for longer walks and more exercise.

Tiny bathroom but it works.  I can always trot up the ramp to use the showers next to the office but I hate the idea of spending two bucks for ten minutes of water.  Other sailors are gym members and take glorious long showers after a workout (something I'm considering when the weather gets colder).

[SailorGirl]

You would freeze your ass off in our subzero degree winters around here.   

Lots of people liveaboard in colder areas, using pellet stoves or diesel furnaces for heating.  A friend just came back from three years in Alaska living on his steel boat.  He uses a wood stove for heat and kept warm enough for comfort.  I think the frigid outdoors got to him though. Walking a dog in subzero temps and blinding snowstorms would get old fast I think, but that's true for land dwellers as well.

[Lis]

My best friend's parents have a lakehouse in the north east and I absolutely love visiting there. Her parents aren't mustachian by any means, and have one of the nicest houses on the lake, but I'd love to live there. I dream of retiring to a lake like that in the northeast, with a nice little house, a big porch, and a firepit. I've been up there summers and winters and love them both. In the summers, the lake is full of families and everyone (literally, everyone) is super nice to each other. Speedboats respect kayakers and paddleboarders, and everyone loves to swim. In the winters they have a huge fireplace and a firepit outside (I'd prefer the fireplace when it's 0 degrees out, but my hosts think otherwise). Ice skating on the ice is amazing, or just sitting inside playing a board game while enjoying the scenery.

I know nothing about boats other than it's fun to be on a speedboat and even more fun to go tubing. I'd love to learn more about the ownership and whatnot, but wouldn't consider getting one unless I was on the lake full time. But that's what FIRE is for, right?

[Leftside]

We live on our sailboat as do a dozen or so others at this marina.  We rarely go out because it involves packing up "the house" and stashing anything that is loose, which means that if you show up for a weekend you'll likely see us as one of those unused vessels.  Slip fees are about $400 a month and include water, sewage, wifi and a small workout room.  It also includes quiet days, friendly neighbors and glorious sunsets.

Not only do you not need a $600,000 boat to live on, you can easily maintain your home for quite a bit less than something on land.  My WR is 1.3% when I choose not to work the 2 hours a day I need to cover my expenses.  Sounds pretty Mustachian to me.

I have a few questions for you if you don't mind.

What size boat do you live on?  Is it a yacht type, or a houseboat type?  What did it cost and what does it cost to maintain?

Do you ever get cabin fever as in not enough room?  What about pets like dogs, do you have an area where you can bring them to let them exercise?

Lastly, does yours have a larger/normal size bathroom and shower?  every time I think about doing the RV/boat thing, I shudder when I think about how small most of those bathrooms are.

$30k about ten years ago.  The boyfriend bought it when he got divorced.

36 foot sailboat, not a houseboat at all and it is completely seaworthy.  Maintenance costs are almost zero while we're at the dock, but other repairs/replacements aren't that bad because we (well....he) does all the repairs himself.  We have the time to shop around for most things so even parts aren't too scary.

If the cabin starts to feel crowded, either of us can go out for a walk or just sit on deck and read a book.  If you consider the world as your back yard, it isn't small at all.  :)

We have cats and they sleep most of the day, checking out the world outside periodically until it's dark enough that they can wander the docks without fear of being seen.  Many others have dogs that they take up the hill for a walk.  There's a park less than half a mile away that's kind of a default off-leash area for longer walks and more exercise.

Tiny bathroom but it works.  I can always trot up the ramp to use the showers next to the office but I hate the idea of spending two bucks for ten minutes of water.  Other sailors are gym members and take glorious long showers after a workout (something I'm considering when the weather gets colder).

The gym idea is good, but who goes to the gym every day. 

Do you know if boats exist, or have seen any boats with more regular sized bathrooms?  Obviously this would take up a fair amount of the total boat, but I think it would be worth it - as most other areas (living/sleeping/hangout) can be combined.  My ideal boat would be a houseboat type with 4 main rooms;  Bedroom/computer room, hangout/living, kitchen/dining, and bathroom.

[Le Poisson]

You would freeze your ass off in our subzero degree winters around here.   In fact,  what I was describing was the busy season.  After labor day there will only be a handful of boats on the lake and close to zero after Halloween.   All that money just sit around 100% of the time for 8 months and 95% of the time for the other 4 months.   

I think the living on a boat makes a lot of sense in many areas and I would consider it.

Well I can tell you that there is a thriving liveaboard community in Toronto and another on Lake Huron in the Penetang area. Mostly bachelors who lost everything in a divorce. Once you get an ice eater or a bubbler going, the ice isn't a problem. Since hydro is included in your slip fees, you can crank the heat all winter so insulation isn't an issue.

I've hear marina hockey games are a blast too.

[Le Poisson]

Do you know if boats exist, or have seen any boats with more regular sized bathrooms?  Obviously this would take up a fair amount of the total boat, but I think it would be worth it - as most other areas (living/sleeping/hangout) can be combined.  My ideal boat would be a houseboat type with 4 main rooms;  Bedroom/computer room, hangout/living, kitchen/dining, and bathroom.

I haven't spent much time on power boats, but you are describing a Dockominium. The big ass powerboats that have all teh amenities of a condo. We once shared an anchorage with a guy in one, and he was happy to tour us through is floating mansion. Looked like a lot of work to keep up, but it made him happy.

From our blog:

"It’s hard to say how long I slept before Cutie shook me awake. She was worried about another boat that had come into the anchorage. I came up on deck, and we were up to 3 boats anchored, and this one setting his hook. Cutie told me that he had tried to anchor multiple times unsuccessfully, and now was over here trying again. At best he was 30 feet from us.

His boat was a 42 foot fly bridge, very shiny and new, with a designer wife out front and 2 kids in designer clothes on the back deck. On the back he had a RIB for a dinghy that was worth more than our boat. Hereafter he will be referred to as Pompous Prick – PP for short.

I pointed out to him that he was awful close to us, and that he may want to allow more swing room for his boat since sail boats move differently than power cruisers. PP said not to worry he’d set an anchor watch, and we wouldn’t have to worry. Then he went inside and turned on his AC and generator, leaving us to listen to the noises created so he could enjoy nature from the bowels of a boat as big as our house.

We settled in, keeping a wary eye on PP’s boat, and had dinner. Then he came over in his dinghy and invited us to go watch the sunset with him. Taking the olive branch, we scrambled into our life jackets, and rode out to see the sun go down. On the way we were delighted to hear about PP’s cars, house, boat, private schools for his kids, how his wife would never have to work, and how to choose only the best tenants for his various rental properties. PP had much to be pompous about. When we got back to the boat, he took us aboard his boat so we could see first-hand what a cruising boat looked like. It looked like a lot of leather and chrome. Cutie and I both agree that we would rather be in our little boat and in touch with our surroundings than in the floating house PP showed us. To his credit, PP passed on the laundry room, in favour of a third stateroom, since he wanted to be roughing it. He did have 2 fridges though since having to go below to get a beer was too inconvenient, and his stereo was “exquisite.”

When we left PP announced that he was going to set out a second anchor for peace of mind. I pointed out that this would totally change his swing pattern and that we would run the risk of hitting each other in the night. PP said he wasn’t worried about that. I decided I wasn’t either. His boat was worth a million and a half (by his figuring), mine is worth $10,000. He had more to lose than I did. I slept well."

[Posthumane]

Nice writeup Prospector, I enjoyed the read. I will have to give your blog a read.
I just got into sailing a couple of years ago, and decided to get a 16' dinghy (CL16). It cost $2500 CDN with the trailer, and requires very little maintenance (a few fiberglass repairs to damage caused by... "learning experiences"), so it isn't expensive to own. However, we had it out maybe 10 times per summer for the last couple summers, and this year we've barely been out at all so I was considering selling it for something smaller. I agree with the saying that boat utilization is inversely proportional to size. We borrowed a friend's canoe for a while and found that with it being much easier to transport and launch, it was much more likely that we would do a one or two our paddle. With the sailboat you basically have to commit at least half a day to the activity.

[russianswinga]

The kind of boat I would want to own....
Let's just say that renting it for one week would literally be enough money for me to FIRE right now.

[Dicey]

Hey Prospector - do you think there's any chance that PP was actually Cheddar's LC? Sounds like they're at least two peas in a pod...Great story!

[Le Poisson]

Nice writeup Prospector, I enjoyed the read. I will have to give your blog a read.
I just got into sailing a couple of years ago, and decided to get a 16' dinghy (CL16). It cost $2500 CDN with the trailer, and requires very little maintenance (a few fiberglass repairs to damage caused by... "learning experiences"), so it isn't expensive to own. However, we had it out maybe 10 times per summer for the last couple summers, and this year we've barely been out at all so I was considering selling it for something smaller. I agree with the saying that boat utilization is inversely proportional to size. We borrowed a friend's canoe for a while and found that with it being much easier to transport and launch, it was much more likely that we would do a one or two our paddle. With the sailboat you basically have to commit at least half a day to the activity.

Our old club on lake Simcoe used CLs in the sailing school. They're nice little boats. If you are in Ontario, it would be kindof cool to pull one up to OPeongo in Algonquin and sail to the campsites on the north end of the lake, camp out and sail back. There is a whole web-community dedicated to trailer sailing and sail-camping, but I bet you already know that.

You can sail into Massasauga as well and us teh campsites up there, but G-bay may be a little unforgiving unless you are a more skilled sailor. Remember the lake is always trying to kill you. Stay safe out there.

[Le Poisson]

Hey Prospector - do you think there's any chance that PP was actually Cheddar's LC? Sounds like they're at least two peas in a pod...Great story!

I haven't been following Cheddar's posts closely enough. I have no idea what you're talking about - Linky??

[Posthumane]

Our old club on lake Simcoe used CLs in the sailing school. They're nice little boats. If you are in Ontario, it would be kindof cool to pull one up to OPeongo in Algonquin and sail to the campsites on the north end of the lake, camp out and sail back. There is a whole web-community dedicated to trailer sailing and sail-camping, but I bet you already know that.

You can sail into Massasauga as well and us teh campsites up there, but G-bay may be a little unforgiving unless you are a more skilled sailor. Remember the lake is always trying to kill you. Stay safe out there.

I'd been reading a fair bit about wayfairers and CLs on a site run by a guy in Ontario. It sounds like there is a fairly active group out there. I'm in Alberta in the middle of the prairie where sail-camping is a bit more difficult I think, largely because the lakes are all surrounded by flat farmland so you'd be camping in someone's wheat field or cow pasture. So we just do day sails for now. I have a friend who recently finished building his own 12' sail dinghy from plans, so we go out with two boats and just cruise around with an odd mini-race thrown in.

[Le Poisson]

Oh Alberta - where the oil runs deep and the politicians run amok. You can have your Harper back ;)

When we lived in Calgary, the basin had a small sailing community on it. If you don't already know them, Binnacle Marine is a really good Canadian Chandlery. So is Rigging Shoppe. Both have online ordering, or the old school call in to the store and talk to a real live person.

Have fun between the sheets!