For the Love of Boat

I once heard it said  - that we get far more enjoyment out of our older boats than do those owners of those  proud , new , everything  latest and greatest yachts.

It is truly a labor of love and a huge sense of accomplishment to see an old and maybe neglected boat come to life once again. Doubly so, when the owner can point all over the boat to various improvements and say “I did that!” Maybe he says it to himself, but just the same.

“Tarry Not” built in 1975, is a wooden hulled, 35 foot Ketch Rigged Sharpie. A replica of the old Chesapeake Bay Brogans. With a draft of about 3 feet she is perfect for Cruising the shoals and flats of the Lower Chesapeake Bay.  Although a little short on creature comforts she’s perfect for an overnight or weekend getaway.

To find a way to complete a repair or find a replacement part without spending a fortune at the huge marine supply stores has become somewhat of a game with me. Having an old traditional style boat helps. There are some nearby consignment stores and general “boat junk “shops that are like a gold mine.  Some times with a little imagination I can make the part I need.

I do know with my “Tarry Not” there are times I can just sit in the marina parking lot and admire her lines, knowing all the work I have put in to make her look like this. Of course too, I can see all the projects that still need to be done!

I suppose for some of us that is part of the joy. For me, I can spend countless hours of my free time puttering about on “Tarry Not”. There are of course times when I think I am in way over my head.  But on a limited budget, I’ve learned to become very creative at solving problems.

Part of the joy and passion to owning a boat is the hours spent making repairs and improvements. The boat owner must master new skills and, in the process learns every aspect of the vessel. “From the top of the mast to the bottom of the keel!” This understanding will make him or her a better Captain.

A cleaner playground!

Another point we should consider, we are doing our part for a cleaner environment. When we bring these older boats back to life we are doing a little more to help our environment. All these old boat boats have to go somewhere to die.  With all the exotic materials involved – they never truly degrade or return to a natural state.

Fiberglass and plastics have an incredibly long lifespan and there is nothing more unsightly than an old production boat pulled up and abandoned in the shallows of some waterway. Any usable hardware or rigging usually has been stripped away and what is left is an old hulk that will never rot away and will never really become a part of their surroundings.

It is more than a little ironic that folks wanting to “get back to nature” or get out on the water use these materials with abandon. Plastic water bottles, food and drink containers even cigarette butts clog our waterways.  Even the clothes we wear, full of “micro fibers” have now been found to pose a hazard to our bays, lakes and coastlines.

So, let’s all try to get a little creative, let’s all do our part to minimize the impact that we have on our surroundings .Let’s embrace that old boat , give her back her life – I like to say make her smile again!

In doing so we can say we have really done our little bit to keep our waters clean