Is it normal to be happier when washed and tied off than underway

If it is just my wife, daughter, and I we will usually anchor out within 5 miles of our house. If we have guests, we will cruise more. The good thing about an older boat that is not as pretty - I don't worry much if it is a little dirty. I have someone detail it in the spring, and then we use it. It seems to have the same relaxation value to us whether it is spotless or dirty. Maybe for lazy folks like myself it is better to buy smaller and/or older and then pay someone to maintain it.
 
my wife and I have never experienced marina or dock life. We come home from work and enjoy a slow cruise around and stop at the sand bar. We tie up with friends enjoy a cold one and a short dip. Instant Vacation any time we go out. Makes the week go better.
 
When we moved to TN - land of brown water, from MI - land of blue water, we never thought we would own a boat down here. Every summer, I would get that bug to boat. That was hatched in me as a child in Northern MI. Finally, we just got to walking the docks and looking around, and that resulted in the decision to 'look a little harder'. Then an opportunity presented itself and bingo, we owned a boat. As novice boaters, there's a little more anxiety for us, than there may be for the seasoned folks, when we take her out. We enjoy just putting around, and we enjoy hanging out at the slip, too. We've met a number of 'good folks' at the marina, too. I don't feel guilty about spending an hour or so washing the boat, and damn sure don't want our boat to look like some of those neglected, filthy boats. We're proud of our boat, whether moving or not, and its relaxing to hang out at the docks. And we can lust after that 52 parked next door....
 
Temptress, We were in South Shore Harbor as well with our 370. The docks and people were great but I didn't care for the water around there at all so we got out of boating for a while :smt021. We're back in the market but will probably go to Lake Travis with the next one.
 
I have had the feeling of being glad to be back at the dock, but that has never stopped me from wanting to go back out. I do enjoy the dock - I spend the night there about once a week, and I would spend almost every sunset there if I could.
 
I guess it also depends on the area you boat in. Honestly after reading some of your stories I feel a bit jealous! We are in a great Marina on Clearlake which is a brackash tidal lake where clear creek and Gavelston bay meet. The lake is about 4' on average but has a deep water channel out to the bay thru kemah which has a very popular boardwalk. There is a nice area called Nassah Bay which is a deep protected cove where alot of people raft up and hang out on the hook. We tried that last weekend, but yours truley switched off my shore power switch on accident when I left the boat two weekends ago so when we got to the boat this weekend my batteries were DEAD.

Funny story...

Once I switched the shore power back on I was able to start the boat and I after idling in the slip for about 30 mins I felt confident enough to head out. We idled into Nassah Bay and thats when my wife saw the "Do Not Feed The Alligators" warning signs. That pretty much ended the kids chance to take a dip!! even though there were dozens of kids swimming around all of the other boats.

we dropped the anchor and I started the generator and switched the batery switch to only one battery (thank God!) Though the whole time we were there I was worried that the boat wouldn't start and we would be stranded... sure enough when I went to start the boat all I got was the clicking sound of dread!! my wife was like what was that???

I, already feeling the sting of a costly tow bill, I told her to "just be quiet." (Not a good move)

I switched the battery switch to the number 2 battery and she had just enough juice to fire up the engine!! the next thing I did was grab my dixie cup full of Crown and diet coke and have a few sips with a shaky hand.

next step...act as if it was no big deal and try to get my wife to speak to me again!! :)
 
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If I had a nickle for everytime I had that same thought go through my head. Glad to hear that you were able to pull off the "I know what I'm doing so leave me alone" attitude! Good move to switch to one battery while at anchor. It only takes one tow or mid lake jump start to make that a habit!

:grin:

temptress said:
I

I, already feeling the sting of a costly tow bill, I told her to "just be quiet." (Not a good move)

I switched the battery switch to the number 2 battery and she had just enough juice to fire up the engine!! the next thing I did was grab my dixie cup full of Crown and diet coke and have a few sips with a shaky hand.

next step...act as if it was no big deal and try to get my wife to speak to me again!! :)
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Temptress,
"A ship is safe in the harbor, but that's not what ships were built for"- Richard LaPorte
Get on out there and enjoy other destinations, piloting challenges and new people to meet!!
The "talk" at our dock is that our diesels never cool down....and we like it that way! A couple weekends a summer is all we spend at our marina although we spend every weekend we can on the boat from mid April to mid Oct. Take your time and enjoy other destinations too!
 
Sounds like a Campground! This is real tying up and docking!

temptress said:
I am glad to see that there other s out there who share my feelings on the topic.

We are in a great Marina on Galveston Bay called South Shore Harbour. It has wide floating piers and they allow tennants to build out their slips with decks and add outdoor kitchens and coverings. We have made some great friends and have a great little pier "living room" right next to our slip. I think it all comes down to not having to worry about fuel, wind, waverunners who like to see how close they can get to my swim platform, batteries holding a charge while we picnic in a cove, "how deep it here?" "is that a wake jerking the boat or is my engine missfiring?"

Its funny.

Once we are tied off we are all expert boatsmen. Always ready to offer a hand to our piermates as they attempt to back in to their slip fighting a 25 knot afternoon gulf breeze in their face! Dock dings are no biggie when you can hand someone ELSE your can of rubbing compound and a cold one! : )
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:huh:Awesome pic! I am going to have to build up the wife to staying the night on the hook! She wont even stay overnight at the marina! of course we only live 5 mins from the boat so it is a tough sell to choose a cramped midcabin birth over her king size bed. Anyone else have this problem??
 
Both. But I have to admit I do love that tied up feeling..relaxing...etc.
 
temptress said:
:huh:Awesome pic! I am going to have to build up the wife to staying the night on the hook! She wont even stay overnight at the marina! of course we only live 5 mins from the boat so it is a tough sell to choose a cramped midcabin birth over her king size bed. Anyone else have this problem??
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1) go buy a couple of bottles of wine
2) do all of the shopping before hand. Have dinner and breakfast ready to go
3) make sure the boat is mechanically ready. batteries are good, no alarms, full fuel etc...
4) have things for the kids to do
5) no yelling or stress
6) have a place picked out. know where you are going to anchor and how to do it
7) make the bed comfy, maybe flowers, pillows, a movie
8) tell her she's never looked so beautiful in the moonlight anchored out.
9) Wine, helps with the sleep
10) no yelling and no stress.
 
temptress said:
:huh:Awesome pic! I am going to have to build up the wife to staying the night on the hook! She wont even stay overnight at the marina! of course we only live 5 mins from the boat so it is a tough sell to choose a cramped midcabin birth over her king size bed. Anyone else have this problem??
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yup...


we sometimes take 2 cars to the marina :grin:
 
This thread is a very interesting read.

For us, we seldom hang out on the dock unless it is for cleaning or maintainence. A lot of our neighboors are house boaters who seldom leave the dock...and it is a constant party! And thats OK, we just like the peace and quiet of of a calm cove to anchor overnight rather than staying at the dock.

We also like the raft up with friends much more than cruising up and down the dock, even though the shore power, Direct TV, etc is a great thing when at the marina, we seldom use it.
 
temptress said:
we dropped the anchor and I started the generator and switched the batery switch to only one battery (thank God!) Though the whole time we were there I was worried that the boat wouldn't start and we would be stranded... sure enough when I went to start the boat all I got was the clicking sound of dread!! my wife was like what was that???

I, already feeling the sting of a costly tow bill, I told her to "just be quiet." (Not a good move)

I switched the battery switch to the number 2 battery and she had just enough juice to fire up the engine!!
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Was your battery charger switch turned on while your generator was running? I would think this would be charging your batteries?:huh:
 
There are people in my marina that are afraid to take their boat out. :huh:
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They are called dock QUEENS. :grin:.
We have afew at my marina. They come there and just stay it on all weekend and never leave their the slip. :wow:
 
Was your battery charger switch turned on while your generator was running? I would think this would be charging your batteries?:huh:
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THATS WHAT I THOUGHT!! What gives?? I assumed that the generator would charge the batteries or at least keep them as charged as they were while the engine was running! When I first shut off the engine I restarted it right away with no problem, but after about 30 mins of sitting there, even with all of my switches to off on the panel the battery got too week to turn the fly wheel.

I probably need to replace the batteries. The were on the boat when I got it last year. Since I am hooked up to shore power all of the time I don't even know if they will hold a charge while overnighting on the hook somewhere. Is there some kind of device that I need to install to make the generator keep my batteries powered up while the engine is off?:huh:
 
temptress said:
:huh:Awesome pic! I am going to have to build up the wife to staying the night on the hook! She wont even stay overnight at the marina! of course we only live 5 mins from the boat so it is a tough sell to choose a cramped midcabin birth over her king size bed. Anyone else have this problem??
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Anchor on the lee side of the island, cove, shore, etc.
 
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