The Hidden Dangers of Cruising

[Pat Ross]

We rent one side and have the other vacant for us, solves the insurance issues of vacant dwelling. Yes a management system for sure.

Sooner or later, if you are couple cruising, there is only one left with the boat. We want to make sure when that time comes that person has options, we like our home location and we think having something familiar will make that transition easier. So we are protecting it and whoever has to make those choices when that time comes. We are fortunate that the boat can be slipped there as well. So for us it is a win win.

To me it is like choosing a boat, there are always compromises, you give something to get something. We could have a newer or "better" boat but by maintaining a land dwelling we have a backup plan if serious injury, etc... occurs. To me this takes stress off, just like having a Air travel kitty if the kids need help and they need us there. Obviously if you are independently wealthy these are non issues, if you are an average person then to me all this needs to be successfully planned for. This insures a great time cruising, there is no pressure.

Originally Posted by S/V Alchemy

Frankly, it's not because we love the house too much to part with it so much as we love the trickle of cash into our cruising kitty. Bird in the hand logic, really.

We will hire a sort of "minder" to handle tenant issues and maintenance. If there's a leaky tap, I don't want to get a phone call in Fiji.

[svBeBe]

Originally Posted by annk

..................
When I see the proliferation of 'in denial' cockpit enclosures, electronic gizmo's, et al I am curious as to how the sailors on these boats connect with the elements around them? Does it make the experience feel 'safer' in some way or does it add to feelings of fear and trepidation?

The glory of sailing is also it's downside in that it forces us to confront things about ourselves. So I'm with Pirsig all the way! :-)

That seems an odd take on cockpit enclosures and electronic gizmos, IMHO. Our cockpit enclosure isn't to 'feel safer' in some way.....it is to protect from the elements. Who wants to be cold and wet when they can sail warm and dry! Not to mention shade from tropical sun and those damaging UV rays. And the electronic gizmos (radar, AIS, electronic charts, etc) just make the whole sailing process at night a lot easier. A side benefit of the electronics are that they do make the experience safer, but they are not essential. That cockpit enclosure IS essential. At least on for us.

Fear and trepidation? Nope; got past that years ago.

Judy

[Pat Ross]

Originally Posted by svBeBe

That seems an odd take on cockpit enclosures and electronic gizmos, IMHO. Our cockpit enclosure isn't to 'feel safer' in some way.....it is to protect from the elements. Who wants to be cold and wet when they can sail warm and dry! Not to mention shade from tropical sun and those damaging UV rays. And the electronic gizmos (radar, AIS, electronic charts, etc) just make the whole sailing process at night a lot easier. A side benefit of the electronics are that they do make the experience safer, but they are not essential. That cockpit enclosure IS essential. At least on for us.

Fear and trepidation? Nope; got past that years ago.

Judy

We see it the same way Judy. I get his meaning of what he is saying and anything can be taken too far, even his point of view. I am reminded of when I started riding motorcycles and anybody who put a windshield on their bike was not a TRUE rider and baloney like that. Some would say having an auxiliary engine means your not a purest, for example, much less two as some cats have.

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by annk

[snipped]

When I see the proliferation of 'in denial' cockpit enclosures, electronic gizmo's, et al I am curious as to how the sailors on these boats connect with the elements around them? Does it make the experience feel 'safer' in some way or does it add to feelings of fear and trepidation?

The glory of sailing is also it's downside in that it forces us to confront things about ourselves. So I'm with Pirsig all the way! :-)

While working for YachtCare in Seattle, I delivered a 40' Catalina (motoring) a few miles from a marina to a haulout facility.
It had one of those complete cockpit enclosures you describe with a very tall instrument panel above the wheel.
It was so tall, I couldn't see over it.
I kept thinking "How does anybody actually SAIL this thing?" as the visibility and access to halyards etc, was awful as well.
In reality, it's probably one of those boats which is motored everywhere regardless of weather or wind, a perfect example of the 'denial' theory.

[Blue Crab]

Little question in my mind that their next boat will be a trawler. Nutin wrong with that.

[zeehag]

life is an adventure meant to be LIVED... and anything else is something to deal with , each in own way---we will get thru anything handed to us--sailing is fun, and sailing is scary but sailing is a part of living for many of us...

[Johnny Cruiser]

Originally Posted by zeehag

life is an adventure meant to be LIVED... and anything else is something to deal with , each in own way---we will get thru anything handed to us--sailing is fun, and sailing is scary but sailing is a part of living for many of us...

Deo Gratis, Amen!
zeehag

Johnny

[Hudson Force]

Is the "hidden danger" really cruising or is the "hidden danger" subjecting yourself to big life changes without preparing or adapting. I remember reading "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance around the time when it first gained renown in the mid seventies after we had been living aboard and cruising for a few years. We cruised during the summers and during vacations while employed for thirty years before retiring. We cruised before children, with children, after children and after employment. We thought very seriously about the changes that would come with the greater time together and without the other relationships with our jobs, but all our transitions were made without downsizing or moving onto a boat or leaving a life to which we were accustomed or suddenly living in new places. No, I don't think that there are any hidden dangers in cruising, but I think there is a great risk in doing all these other things at one time!

[anjou]

Another danger which I dont see mentioned here is a more basic and direct form of depression,

Picture a person, most likely to be a man, who wished to drop out from the hard nosed commercial, plastic and high pressured world, maybe following divorce.

He buys a boat with the dream of sailing away into the sunset and sticking two fingers up to the cruel world and living in peace. So he happily lives at anchor, partly to save money, partly to distance himself from the undesireable factions of society.

Do that for a few years and it becomes not only habit but established personality behaviour. The now twisted view of life ashore becomes morose and cynical and reinforces the original motivation.

The circle is complete. Depression is complete.

[mbianka]

Anjou:

You lost me after: "So he happily lives at anchor, "

[Ram]

Originally Posted by anjou

Another danger which I dont see mentioned here is a more basic and direct form of depression,

Picture a person, most likely to be a man, who wished to drop out from the hard nosed commercial, plastic and high pressured world, maybe following divorce.

He buys a boat with the dream of sailing away into the sunset and sticking two fingers up to the cruel world and living in peace. So he happily lives at anchor, partly to save money, partly to distance himself from the undesireable factions of society.

Do that for a few years and it becomes not only habit but established personality behaviour. The now twisted view of life ashore becomes morose and cynical and reinforces the original motivation.

The circle is complete. Depression is complete.

OR-- that same guy could contemplate his own life and existence asking himself "Who am I" and become enlightened ,wakes up to a whole new world around him -like many have done in the past-and live in joy and love the rest of his days

[virginia boy]

Originally Posted by anjou

Another danger which I dont see mentioned here is a more basic and direct form of depression,


Do that for a few years and it becomes not only habit but established personality behaviour. The now twisted view of life ashore becomes morose and cynical and reinforces the original motivation.

The circle is complete. Depression is complete.

OK...I think I'll go shoot myself now.

[Yachtmops]

Anjou,

My philosophy on the concept of depression is simple. It is a luxury I could never afford. The reality is life can be brutal & anyone who finds a way to live an alternative life that works for them, who are we to find fault with this or predict their imminent depressive state upon their return to mainstream society?

I can only go on my own experiences & observations of others, but I can not imagine being part of the status quo - damn, life is too short.... The odd times I've blended into ' normal' society', I am thankful for my sense of humor.

Off topic, who wrote your quote:

Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.

[Johnny Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Yachtmops

Anjou,


Off topic, who wrote your quote:

Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.

I am not British but remember my freshman college English class FYI

"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."

Winston Churchill, winner of the 1953 Nobel Prize for Literature

Johnny

[Yachtmops]

' Winston Churchill, winner of the 1953 Nobel Prize for Literature '

Thank you, guess its not tooo obvious that english literature wasn't my BEST subject in university! now you understand ' why' I live on the fringe.....