Sailboats

[riverdog]

Hello all...Any sailor/sailoretts watching this great forum?Any coasties got your radar on?

[Star1pup]

No longer sailing, but we sailed our Columbia 8.7 all over Lake Erie for 12 years. She was a great boat and I miss her.

Now we are just running a pontoon boat that is et up for fishing on an Ohio Lake. Certainly not a boat for Erie as that fresh water ocean can get pretty cranky at times. We spent 12 1/2 hours in line squalls one time and it really wasn't a lot of fun. ;D

[spygrl]

I wish I owned a sailboat 8) .....I love sailing. I had friends who have a 40ft sailboat and I use to go sailing with them.

[riverdog]

Nothing like it. When you kill the motor and the wind grabs you......roll of the waves, soothing sound as the water washes by........There is a rhythmic flow that tunes you into nature. Quite a lot of live aboards now days are off the grid so to speak. It takes an independent spirit to leave shore side baggage and live simple. Tire of one place just slip the ropes and head to the next port.

[Thomas]

You know, odd this topic showed up. The other day my 16 yr old son kind of startled my by starting up a discussion about the possibility of taking a sailboat and just bugging out for a few years. Disappearing from society for a while. He had though a good bit about it apparently and had some good thoughts on the subject. Kind of surprised dad. But I did have a few books about doing just that to loan him.

[riverdog]

I'll send a list of good books that are in my library. What boat's are on your son's wish list? Will he make passages or coastal cruise?

[spygrl]

For me being on the sailboat was interesting to see miles upon miles of water and no one else out there. It is so quiet except the boat hitting the waves sometimes. I fell asleep to the rhythm of the boat/water and it was so relaxing! I thought it was eerie at first.

I had some other friends (I moved away that is why I say I had friends who have sailboats) who moved from Alaska and bought a sailboat and they were planning on going around the world and being gone for a year or two. Now I do not know anyone who has a sailboat where I moved to but I had great fun being on a sailboat. Someday I would love to own one. My friends that have the 40ft sailboat live on it all year long docked at a marina and they have been living this way for years. When they want to go away for the weekend, off they sail for the weekend. They told me that owning a sailboat, one cannot be materialistic. Sailboats have all modern conveniences.

Getting use to the bathroom (the head) was interesting on a sailboat but not as challenging as using a tile floor in a woman's bathroom in Europe. ;D ;D

[riverdog]

True about the head! Sailing full time(living aboard) is for do it yourself people. Challenges? no doubt. The rewards are fantastic.......See if there are sailing schools in your area. Hang out at larger marinas, some times folks need a spare crew member to help race/ cruise with. Most are willing to teach and share the joy of the sail.....

[leera]

I think it would be fun to sail around the world,just float around for a few years.........

Only one problem I see..........I get motion sickness. :P

[DonnaKay]

Me too Leera....I started turning green just thinking about it!!

Now a river...I could stay on a boat all day. Go fishing...have a picnic on the sandbar....that's a perfect day.

Donna

[riverdog]

No problem ladies. Good OTC stuff out there. And, your body will adapt. After the first few hours of wishing for death!!!!!! It hits most folks now and agin'.

[Star1pup]

We got caught in some Lake Erie squalls that lasted over 12 hours. They hit us a 0400 and lasted until about 1830. Waves got up to 15' and those Erie waves are short coupled. My First & Only Mate was so sick she didn't care if we sunk as long as it was over with. :) But, she didn't give up on sailing and we sailed more years before business got so busy we sold the boat.