Skipper's Diary's Episode 2

Skipper’s Diary’s

What is the community like in the Boating world? Oh I could go on for days on this, but I will try to keep it simple. There are all kinds of wonderful and colorful people in the boating communities and around the marina’s. Everyone has a story just like in everyday life. The stories have a tendency to be a little more bizarre in the boating social arena, I have to say. Power boaters are different than sailors. Let’s examine.

Sailors are a laid back very hippy, off the grid hermit style clan. I think they live a lifestyle more than a hobby. They live from day to day just really enjoying sunrise to sunset, looking at the world from a boat perspective. Sailors are frugal, self-reliant, generally very friendly and willing to help. We are called sheet shakers, wind harvesters, and a whole other bunch of silly terms that explain our cheap living. We use the wind to get from one place to the next. Sailors are a breed than are always running from something, maybe the ex, maybe it’s a parent, or it could be the IRS. Like in the song  Down To the Banana Republic, from Jimmy Buffett. As a matter a fact Buffett’s songs are all stories of sailors and there life styles, and a huge favorite around the boats in the marinas, at anchor, or on the hook.  Yes sailors really are that rainbow gatherings  youth of the Boating world.

Power boaters are a different kind of group. They still love the water but live it a little more like the normal world view of life. What do I mean by this, well this is from my perspective only of course. Power boaters spend more money to get the amenities they want. They are more working class with a boat they visit on days off or vacations or when they have a minute to go down and see how they are sitting in the water. It’s more of a possession instead of like a child or a living entity as sailors see their vessels. Power boaters can be a little more arrogant, less respectful of other boaters, it’s like a guy with a Muscle car, get out of his way he needs to show off his manhood.  Now I’m only talking about some not all mind you. Also realize that this is my experience and only from what I have seen in the industry for the past 20 years. Generally all boaters are very awesome folks and small power boaters are very wonderful people to hang with. The boater’s attitude and respect seems to diminish as the boat size increases in length. Power boaters want to get there now, they are impatient, sailors are into the journey of getting there.

 

Well that’s my little perspective on sailors and power boaters. It’s only an opinion so don’t take it to heart, or become upset. Whether you are a power boater or a sailor we all love the water and we all love boats. Next Blog will be on the stories I have heard from boaters and why they are living on their boats, another interesting perspective and idea for life.     Skipper out.     

                                                             SKIPPER'S DIARY'S

The life we all live on our sail boats is not all what it’s cracked up to be. The floating house or cottage if you will is always in need of re-adjustments of lines, moorings, fenders, maintenance, and just plain keeping it clean. Then there is the problem of space or the lack of it.  You are always repositioning things in a boat. Does this item fit better here or should I move this over there. I have an idea maybe it would be better if I make this space my work area and this space my reading area, right.  Well it was a nice thought anyway.

So the life on a sail boat is not all that, but that said, I would not live anywhere else. I find that living on a boat is living small, free, and just about the best life one could ever imagine. The best part about living on a sailboat is the house you live in is not only your cottage on the water it’s your vehicle to the world.  A sail boat properly outfitted and up to par on sails, electronics, maintenance and a good dingy can go anywhere in the world if one chooses. The cost is very minimal compared to travel with a car or flying somewhere. The cost of fuel is cheap your sailing using the wind to get from point A to point B.  Every sailor is pretty good at cooking for themselves, plus you can fish and live on the sea as much as you choose to. When you reach your destination your home is right there with you, everything you have is always with you. One can stay in a marina at a cost or one can anchor in the harbor for free or place themselves on a mooring ball at a small cost. One can live cheaply on his or her boat or one can live very lavishly on their boat, it’s all on how much you have to live on.  The other great thing I have found on a boat an traveling is you can always find work somewhere to tide you over for six months fueling a nest egg to travel further down the oceans high way. I really like the solitude that comes with sailing and living on my boat. The world is slower out here on the ocean and it’s a world that existed 40 years ago, no traffic, no rat race, no real crime, nobody bothering you. The live you lead on a boat seems to be slower and more relaxed.  It’s been documented that people live longer on boats than they do in the mainstream world of traffic jams, work, phones, deadlines, stress, and the everyday bullshit that we put ourselves in just to make that mighty dollar.

So I guess I have told my tale of wool as to why I love living and existing on my sail boat. You can take the material I have presented you with and make your own conclusions.  As I have said some love the boat life others could never do this.  The ones that say they can’t do this,  I believe have just never really tried it.  The best way to go about this is to just try staying on some ones boat for a week and see how you like it.

 

The next time you drive down to the marina just look out at those boats sitting and blowing in the breeze, remember they are floating freedom. The people that own them tried it out once and fell in love with the freedom and island style life they live, whether it’s on weekends or full time.  Remember people, Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed in the things you didn’t do then in the things you did do, Throw off those bowlines sail away.   Skipper out.

Wayne L. Dewyer

 Living on the Wanderer II