A Black Hole of Happiness

[Pretty Little Flower]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
What sort of boat?

If access is difficult for any reason, it's a pain in the ass to have a boat. I have an eighteen foot hobie cat sitting in a barn for over 20 years that I've sailed probably a half dozen times. Rigging her is a two person job, and it takes awhile before she's even set to get in the water. Unrigging her is just as much of a pain. She's too small to really justify any sort of boat storage outside of the barn she's sitting in, and she's sort of become an albatross for me. She's close to forty years old, and the repairs I'd need to make to make her either salable or sailable are quite significant.

I understand the lure of boats though. I'd love to have the time, experience and money to get a 25" or so foot sail boat to tool around Galveston Bay and even go on overnight trips down to Matagorda or even down to Vera Cruz if I were adventurous.

I think instead, I'd be better suited to get my barefoot certification and rent when the sea calls me.

In the meantime, I'll ride on friends' boats.

I will not sit here passively while you all urinate on Coltrane's boat dream. It's disgusting. Unless Coltrane and his boat dream are into that sort of thing. In which case, it's cool, I guess. I mean, whatever floats your boat, sts. Anyhoo, I think Coltrane should get a big ass boat. Big and expensive. Because Coltrane is young and a big time player, the whole wifey thing notwithstanding. Players gotta play. In boats.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Pretty Little Flower
I will not sit here passively while you all urinate on Coltrane's boat dream. It's disgusting. Unless Coltrane and his boat dream are into that sort of thing. In which case, it's cool, I guess. I mean, whatever floats your boat, sts. Anyhoo, I think Coltrane should get a big ass boat. Big and expensive. Because Coltrane is young and a big time player, the whole wifey thing notwithstanding. Players gotta play. In boats.

Maybe I'm being too literal, but Coltrane's boat doesn't sound large enough to have a bathroom, which mean I might have to urinate off the side of his boat....... or worse. So I agree he should get a bigger boat with a bathroom, and a fridge and he should have his firm stock it with alcohol drinks, and Vernors.

[ltl/fb]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Maybe I'm being too literal, but Coltrane's boat doesn't sound large enough to have a bathroom, which mean I might have to urinate off the side of his boat....... or worse. So I agree he should get a bigger boat with a bathroom, and a frig and he should have his firm stock it with alcohol drinkes, and Vernors.

Um, fridge?

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by notcasesensitive
Where are you planning to put it during the summer and have you priced that out? I am biased against boat ownership, but I think that I just don't "get it". My mom had an 18' motorboat that she bought new (bad idea) and owned in Albany, NY for about 15 years. There were a lot of extra costs (cleaning, storing, upkeep, mechanical issues, etc.) and she basically gave the thing away when she moved away from Albany. I think you'd have to be pretty serious about devoting time to using it for the cost/benefit to work out in your favor, but I don't know anything about the Chicago boat market or costs (I'd imagine they are higher than costs on the upper Hudson River, though). What is the season for actual boat use there and are you in town and free for enough of that time to have it be more than merely something that you will feel bad about underusing? Are you prepared to spend time and/or money cleaning (or paying for people to clean) and maintaining (or paying people to maintain) the boat?

There is some cheesey saying meant to convey how hard it actually is to sell a boat, but I'm too lazy to look for it right now.* Probably a good sign that I wouldn't make a good boat owner. Your assumption that you could turn around and sell it for not much less money than you bought it for may be flawed though. I think as the boat gets older, the market of potential buyers decreases fairly dramatically.




*Cletus, John and/or anyone else who cares to take a crack at finding that stupid quote should have at it.

I would like to lease a slip in or near the city. I'm not actually sure how much that costs. I would actually love to moor it in a south side harbor (like Jackson Harbor). Wonk/Cletus: do you know how much that would cost for a summer?

I have a friend who would potentially split the boat/slip with me. So even if I can't sell it at all, I'm only out $4k (excluding maintenance fees, etc.)

I have cleaned/maintained smaller boats my entire life. We had an 18' deck boat growing up that was essentially mine when I was 16 (after its engine was rebuilt b/c I, at the age of 15, filled the old 2-cycle engine up with just gas - oops! Sorry, dad. You never fail to bring that up, though).

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by taxwonk
There's an old joke about the definition of boat being "a large hole surrounded by water into which one unceasingly pours money and time."

That said, if you buy one, I want to go out on it.

I think it just depends on the person. My father owns two and has never regretted owning either of them.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
On an unrelated note, owning a boat is like owning a car in college, people you don't really want to see keep wanting to mooch off you.

Especially when you have access to a boat in HS.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by Replaced_Texan
What sort of boat?

If access is difficult for any reason, it's a pain in the ass to have a boat. I have an eighteen foot hobie cat sitting in a barn for over 20 years that I've sailed probably a half dozen times. Rigging her is a two person job, and it takes awhile before she's even set to get in the water. Unrigging her is just as much of a pain. She's too small to really justify any sort of boat storage outside of the barn she's sitting in, and she's sort of become an albatross for me. She's close to forty years old, and the repairs I'd need to make to make her either salable or sailable are quite significant.

I understand the lure of boats though. I'd love to have the time, experience and money to get a 25" or so foot sail boat to tool around Galveston Bay and even go on overnight trips down to Matagorda or even down to Vera Cruz if I were adventurous.

I think instead, I'd be better suited to get my barefoot certification and rent when the sea calls me.

In the meantime, I'll ride on friends' boats.

I don't know how to sail, but I'd love to learn. Plus, sailboats are astoundingly cheap, and they haven't changed much in the past 50 years.

[Did you just call me Coltrane?]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Maybe I'm being too literal, but Coltrane's boat doesn't sound large enough to have a bathroom, which mean I might have to urinate off the side of his boat....... or worse. So I agree he should get a bigger boat with a bathroom, and a fridge and he should have his firm stock it with alcohol drinks, and Vernors.

Many 21-23' boats are cuddy-cabins with a bathroom, sink and fridge. For Vernors. And Ale 8.*

*which is unbelievable with Makers Mark.

[Not Bob]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
Many 21-23' boats are cuddy-cabins with a bathroom, sink and fridge. For Vernors. And Ale 8.*

*which is unbelievable with Makers Mark.

Ale 8, the Softdrink of Tomorrow? Combined with the earlier Travis McGee (well, Meyer) shout-out? Impressive.

[Hank Chinaski]

I'm starting to think the Tigers might actually be good for awhile. I've been hurt before, so I'm entering into this slowly. But damn we have some great young pitching. And even the old past his prime former star we got, who in the past have always tanked, is hitting the ball. Once the Sox (both) tank, I can see Tigers/Yankees fights coming. And no Kenny did not doctor the ball last fall.

[robustpuppy]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
Many 21-23' boats are cuddy-cabins with a bathroom, sink and fridge. For Vernors. And Ale 8.*

*which is unbelievable with Makers Mark.

You are after my own heart. My father owned a boat nearly his entire adult life, and the only thing he ever regretted about them was that he sold his last boat after he retired and didn't get another. He didn't know what to do with himself after that. My uncle is nearly 81 and still owns a boat, which he keeps at his own dock at his house on the Choptank River in Md. , on a hoist that keeps it out of the water. Sigh.

You have it in the blood. You should do it. Is there an option of dry storage near you -- around here there are places where they store it essentially on a big shelf for you, and will truck it into the water for you if you call in advance. Cheaper than a slip and reduces the need for barnacle scraping.

[Tyrone Slothrop]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
Once the Sox (both) tank

Don't hold your breath.

[Cletus Miller]

Originally posted by Did you just call me Coltrane?
I would like to lease a slip in or near the city. I'm not actually sure how much that costs. I would actually love to moor it in a south side harbor (like Jackson Harbor). Wonk/Cletus: do you know how much that would cost for a summer?

I have a friend who would potentially split the boat/slip with me. So even if I can't sell it at all, I'm only out $4k (excluding maintenance fees, etc.)

I have cleaned/maintained smaller boats my entire life. We had an 18' deck boat growing up that was essentially mine when I was 16 (after its engine was rebuilt b/c I, at the age of 15, filled the old 2-cycle engine up with just gas - oops! Sorry, dad. You never fail to bring that up, though).

Here's the link--http://www.chicagoharbors.info/ Looks like $1000 to $1500 for the season on the south side. I know there's a waiting list for stalls, and I think the wait is longer at the northside/downtown harbors. I have heard, in previous years, that moorings don't have the same waitlist, but moorings are a real pain and would decrease the amount you use the boat.

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
I'm starting to think the Tigers might actually be good for awhile. I've been hurt before, so I'm entering into this slowly. But damn we have some great young pitching. And even the old past his prime former star we got, who in the past have always tanked, is hitting the ball. Once the Sox (both) tank, I can see Tigers/Yankees fights coming. And no Kenny did not doctor the ball last fall.

1. Yes, he did.

2. The ump that called the no-hitter was the same ump that did Schilling's 1-hit game last week. He has a generous strike zone.

3. Ignore 2, because Verlander is awesome and will be a huge asset for years to come.

4. The Spurs intentionally fouled Lebron, but mistakenly did so in such a way that the refs could have called a continuation foul. All eyes were on Lebron when Bowen clearly threw both of his arms at him. If I were a Cavs fan, I'd be pissed.

And I don't understand this attitude from Brown that he won't say one word about the officiating in any of their playoff games. He could be the worst coach to ever reach the finals.

TM

[ThurgreedMarshall]

Originally posted by robustpuppy
You are after my own heart. My father owned a boat nearly his entire adult life, and the only thing he ever regretted about them was that he sold his last boat after he retired and didn't get another. He didn't know what to do with himself after that. My uncle is nearly 81 and still owns a boat, which he keeps at his own dock at his house on the Choptank River in Md. , on a hoist that keeps it out of the water. Sigh.

You have it in the blood. You should do it. Is there an option of dry storage near you -- around here there are places where they store it essentially on a big shelf for you, and will truck it into the water for you if you call in advance. Cheaper than a slip and reduces the need for barnacle scraping.

Translation: You are the perfect man for me. You have all the qualities I dig in my husband and my father, without the respective drawbacks of dirty socks on the floor or the sick incestuous vibe. And I plan on stalking you in a not-so-subtle way for quite some time. Please ask me to suck it. Thanks.*

TM

*Is this what you mean by black hole of happiness, fringey?